Emily in Paris: Season 1
Ratings: 4/5
Episodes: 10
Created by: Darren Star
Producers: Stephen Joel Brown, Shihan Fey, Jake Fuller, Lily Collins, Raphaël Benoliel
Executive Producers: Andrew Fleming, Tony Hernandez, Lilly Burns, Darren Star
Genre: Comedy-drama
Release Date: 2nd October 2020
Streaming Platform: Netflix
Star Cast: Lily Collins, Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, Ashley Park, Lucas Bravo, Samuel Arnold, Bruno Gouery, Camille Razat, Roe Hartrampf, Kate Walsh, William Abadie, Arnaud Viard , Charley Fouquet, Eion Bailey, Charles Martins, Julien Floreancig , Carlson Young, Elizabeth Tan, Victor Meutelet , Camille Japy, Claude Perron, Isiah Hodges, Christophe Tek
Plot:
Emily Cooper, a 20 something American girl, is working in the marketing team for a Chicago based Gilbert Group. She is in great terms with her manager Madeline Wheeler and that relation is about to bring her, her dream job. Madeline bumps into the news of her pregnancy and decides to slide the opportunity to work with the renowned French luxury marketing Company, Savoir. From her, the opportunity to work at Savoir slides right in Emily’s lap. The only twist here is Emily must move to Paris for a year, which she generously accepts.
Enthusiastic Emily brings with her fresh ideas and can-do American attitude at the new workplace. But her inability to speak the French language becomes a faux pas. She is forced to deal with her unwelcoming and snobbish colleagues on several occasions in a day, who don’t appreciate an American girl telling them how to do their jobs. It is all sour until her idea of taking the Sexy or Sexist campaign wins hearts and gets her a place at the table.
How can one not talk about love while mentioning Paris? There is a love triangle waiting to enter Emily’s life. A new city brings many new experiences packed with unfathomable troubles. Emily is no exception to the greets of a new place. And how can one not fall for a guy who is always ready to help? Gabriel, a guy, who lives in the same apartment, one floor lower to Emily’s, becomes her go-to person aka her rescuer. His strikingly handsome face makes it easier to slip. Eventually, she starts to fall for him, but the twist is that Gabriel is already in a relationship. To spice it up, Camille, Gabriel’s girlfriend, and Emily hit a cord and become friends. Gabriel sticks to his relationship with Camille despite having feelings for Emily till the time he discovers that he would be moving to Normandy, his native for work.
Emily betrays her friend, Camille, and spends a night at Gabriel’s. The story ends on an open note as to how the love trio will work out.
Review:
Emily in Paris, a comedy-drama, is a little more than an excuse for Lily Collins (Emily – the character) to espouse the American way. The show is more alike with the series the Gossip Girl – which also broadcast fancy places, high-end wardrobe, fashion at its peak, and charismatically charming characters.
Darren Star, who is the creator of the show is also responsible for Sex and the City. Star also made Younger, which touches on a similar corporate world, but with more wit and bite.
The show is trending on Netflix, but critics have a different story to cook. In a nutshell, it is an overall portrayal of all the French clichés the writers could think of, spewed out as if they could not keep them in. The critics are not very happy as to how the French and Parisians are shown.
Even the character of Emily is called out for being amoral. The romantic relationship between Emily and Gabriel was trolled on the internet right after the release of the show.
One of the few positives is the visuals, including the picturesque scenery and the costume design.
In all, if one is not looking for any rhyme or reason and mere entertainment, then Emily in Paris is one hundred percent bingable. With all the seriousness the world is put through right now, this is most definitely a no brainer comedy-drama!
