'And Just Like That...' addresses Samantha's absence in premiere

And just like that, Sex and the City fans know what happened to Samantha Jones within the first two minutes of HBO Max's limited series revival And Just Like That...

Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), Charlotte (Kristin Davis) and Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) are waiting for their table when they're spotted by Bitsy Von Muffling (Julie Halston) at the restaurant. Bitsy asks where "the fourth musketeer" Samantha is.

"Oh, um, she's no longer with us," Charlotte says.

Bitsy assumes the worst, face falling.

"No, no, no, she didn't die," Miranda assures.

Carrie clarifies that Samantha is in London, and Miranda adds that she moved to the U.K. for work. After their lunch, Carrie and Miranda walk by Radio City Music Hall when Miranda wistfully points out, "You know, it is kind of like she's dead. Samantha. We never even talk about her."

"Well, what is there to say?" Carrie says. "I told her that because of what the book business is now, it just didn't make sense for me to keep her on as a publicist. She said fine, and then fired me as a friend."

Samantha was portrayed by Kim Cattrall throughout the original six-season SATC run from 1998 to 2004, as well as the full-length feature films in '08 and '10. Cattrall has publicly slammed Parker over the years, especially after SJP posted condolences on Instagram to Cattrall after the sudden death of her brother in early 2018.

At the end of the premiere episode, Mr. Big (Chris Noth) does die. He and Carrie, his wife and tumultuous love interest since SATC's early days, were planning a road trip to the Hamptons but delay it so Carrie can attend the piano recital of Charlotte's daughter, Lily (Cathy Ang).

While Carrie is away at Lily's recital, where we also get to see Stanford Blatch (Willie Garson)—Garson died from pancreatic cancer Sept. 21 and will only appear in the first three episodes—Big enjoys a Peloton ride that is a big deal because it is his "1,000th ride" with his favorite instructor, Allegra. Once he's finished the grueling workout, he texts Carrie before dropping his phone and suffering what appears to be a heart attack when he bends over to pick it up.

Carrie comes home to find him still sitting by the shower, grasping his shoulder, before life escapes his eyes. She runs toward him and kicks off her famous royal blue wedding stilettos as water drenches them both.

And Just Like That... will drop new episodes to HBO Max every Thursday until Feb. 3, 2022.