“Emily in Paris” is a romantic comedy series on Netflix starring Lily Collins as Emily Cooper, an ambitious marketing executive who relocates to Paris to offer an American perspective to a French marketing firm called Agence Grateau. The story explores themes of ambition, friendship, and the pursuit of love in a foreign city. A recurring theme in the show is Emily’s struggle to balance her American ideals with French culture. Personally, I especially love the fashion displayed throughout the series.
Emily continues her mischievous ways as the forbidden romance with her neighbor Gabriel (Lucas Bravo) is a clear example, as Emily befriended Gabriel’s longtime girlfriend Camille (Camille Razat). A Camille, Emily finally took the plunge and slept with him in the first season’s finale. Then, a bombshell: Gabriel decided to stay in Paris as one of Savior’s clients Antoine (William Abadie) decided to invest in his future. What is Emily to do now, as she continues to be torn between Gabriel and Camille?
Emily is smitten with going to St. Tropaz, complete with a hotel reservation, alone. Camille remains in the dark about Emily’s rendezvous with Gabriel. Mindy (Ashley Park), who knows the truth, comes along to help ease the tension and awkwardness for Emily. Shortly after their return, Camille and Emily run into Mathieu. Emily leaves, but Camille confronts him. He tells Camille she doesn’t know the whole story and throws out that Emily has another man in her life, but leaves before she discovers that said other man is Gabriel.
Racked with guilt over sleeping with Gabriel, Emily tries to pretend it never happened and continues on with her life in the premiere episode. She doesn’t want to hurt Camille, and Gabriel deciding to stay has messed up any and all of her plans to not hurt anyone while pursuing her feelings. Unfortunately, running away from Gabriel and forcing herself into a relationship with Mathieu doesn’t solve any of her problems. In fact, it creates more. An ill-timed phone call with Gabriel on the train as she and love interest Mathieu Cadault (Charles Martins) ends with Mathieu discovering the truth and jumping off of the train just before it left the station.
As in most soap operas the truth does eventually comes out. During Emily’s birthday party, Camille finds a gift with Gabriel’s initials carved into, she puts the pieces together. There’s a massive confrontation with Emily and Gabriel at the party, with all finding out the truth. Gabriel continues to try to get Emily to give him a chance, but Emily doesn’t give in. Camille is also furious with Emily for cutting her out of the business affairs at Savoir.
It doesn’t take long for Camille willing to leave the past behind as long as Emily stays away from Gabriel. They share a pinky swear. Emily is overjoyed, not seeing the truth about Camille’s actions. Throughout the rest of the season, Camille continues to find ways to bond with Gabriel once again, leaving Emily out in the cold. This includes the opening of Gabriel’s restaurant and the trip to Camille’s parents’ house. Camille continues to push Emily toward her new love interest, Alfie (Lucien Laviscount).
Emily decided to focus on proving herself as a vital resource at her job, and Sylvie tabled her termination until a later date. However, given the big events of Netflix’s drama’s second season, Emily’s life changes even more when she least expects the third season to premiere on December 21, 2022.
Sarah Knight Adamson© December 26, 2021