| The man who manages
to stake a more than temporary claim on Carrie's heart
would have to be really something. We've seen a parade
of paramours - from a pee-happy politician to a jittery
jazz guy. Aidan is irresistibly charming, with laid-back
sex appeal - witness the slow smile, the twinkle in his
eyes, the sweet sayings - that slays Carrie. There are
actually two Aidans: the before Carrie had the affair
Aidan and the after they got back together for the second
time Aidan. And many audience members are specifically
in one camp or the other. The before Aidan was a little
more grungy and a little softer - the slightly scruffy
shaggy hair, the funky shirts, the leather thong around
his neck, the backward baseball cap.
Then there was the after Aidan - the new, slick look:
a short haircut, a sleek dark jacket over a crisp white
shirt, the buffed-up body. Those who like the new Aidan
say he used to have a belly and those who like the old
Aidan say heartbreak made him tougher. Both sides will
agree that he definitely looks good now. Aidan Shaw
- furniture designer, dog owner, guy with a country
cabin - he's the perfect opposite to the commitment-phobic,
hard to pin down Mr. Big. Aidan is so warm and accessible
and THERE for Carrie. He even refinishes her floors
and makes her a home-cooked meal.
They met when his furniture designs were featured in
a newspaper article. Best guy pal Stanford dragged Carrie
down to Aidan's shop. After a slight contretemps between
Aidan's dog and Carrie's thigh, the woodworking hunk
soon had her eating out of his hand - or at least plunking
down her credit card to acquire one of his sensuous
seating designs. "This leather is over 100 years
old," he says. "Feel it." Who could resist?
If Aidan tells a girl to feel something, she will. And
how. Several thousand dollars later, Carrie's almost
hooked.
Aidan has the courage of his convictions. Carrie finds
out on their first date that, to him, smoking is a no-no.
He's even willing to risk losing the girl. But never
fear, the course of true love will be helped along by
the nicotine patch.
And then there are the nicknames: Puddin' and Ladybird
(Where is he from?). Who wouldn't love a guy who says:
"I have a life, I'm just making room for you in
it," or "You make me happy," or even
"Let's get you a donut." There seems to be
nothing wrong with him - not a flaw. He goes to help
Miranda (sprawled naked on her bathroom rug) when her
back goes out. And he doesn't even sneak a peek. Not
Aidan.
His downside may just be those darn convictions. His
inability to bend his slightly rigid moral code. When
Carrie reveals her secret steamy affair with Big, Aidan's
out. Carrie's thrown back on the Manhattan singles merry-go-round
for a while. And Aidan nurses his broken heart off screen.
But one look at the improved, spiffed-up Aidan at the
opening of his and Steve's new bar, and Carrie's a goner
- she just has to convince him. Aidan needs serious
convincing - he's been burned. Once Aidan realizes that
Carrie is serious, he manages to get past their past.
When he gets down on his knees in the middle of a moonlit
street and proposes, we all sigh and join Carrie in
saying, "Yes". For a while, Carrie is swept
along by Aidan's excitement, but as the reality of marriage
sinks in, Carrie is increasingly fearful. As Aidan tries
to tie her down more and more, Carrie realizes that,
unlike Aidan, she needs to be out in the world of Manhattan.
And then there is the realization for Carrie that Aidan
does not really trust her. With unbelievable sadness
but with great respect for each other, Carrie and Aidan
call it quits for the second time. Although, this time,
it appears there's no going back.
- from HBO.com
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