# The Carrie Diaries (2013)

> A teenage Carrie Bradshaw navigates first love, friendship and her dream of becoming a New York writer in suburban Connecticut.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/41855

## Facts

- Seasons: 2
- Episodes: 26
- Episode runtime: 42 min
- Status: Canceled
- Genres: drama, romance
- Created by: Candace Bushnell
- Network: The CW
- Cast: AnnaSophia Robb, Austin Butler, Ellen Wong, Katie Findlay, Stefania LaVie Owen, Brendan Dooling, Chloe Bridges, Freema Agyeman
- TMDB rating: 7.0/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2056366/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: measured
- Intensity: mild
- Complexity: accessible
- Violence: none
- Tone: wistful, nostalgic, breezy, sincere

## What critics say

Audience reception is mixed overall, with the second season rated noticeably higher than the first for its emotional romance and sharper teen storytelling.

## Synopsis

The Carrie Diaries (2013-2014) is an American teen drama series created by Candace Bushnell for The CW. Set in 1980s suburban Connecticut, it follows a sixteen-year-old Carrie Bradshaw (AnnaSophia Robb), an aspiring writer who keeps a journal and dreams of life in New York City. Her romantic pull toward the charming Sebastian Kydd (Austin Butler) runs against her steady best friend Mouse Chen (Ellen Wong) and the fraught world of her sister Dorrit (Stefania LaVie Owen), while her parents' marriage strains at home. Each episode is built from school dances, parties, part-time jobs and secret crushes, and the show's engine is Carrie's wish to escape her small-town life and find her own voice. The tone is wistful and bright, with a nostalgic glow for the decade's music and fashion. Fans of Gossip Girl, Dawson's Creek and the early seasons of Sex and the City will find the same blend of teenage longing, friendship drama and aspirational style. The two-season run was canceled, and the series remains a prequel that looks back at the origins of a famous voice.

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