I am always terrified of falling for a new show, because if it gets cancelled, I am going to be devastated. Emily in Paris will be one of those shows that will destroy me if it gets cancelled, because it is just what I needed in this day and time.
I’ve long been a fan of Lily Collins. The girl has so much heart and so I admit that I first wanted to see Emily in Paris because she was a part of it. But what I didn’t know that I needed was a show that combined the things that I love the most – Paris, marketing, drama, angst, and coming of age.
Emily In Paris tells the story of a girl from the midwest who is given the opportunity to work at a marketing firm in Paris and provide an American perspective.
OVERALL IMPRESSION
Emily in Paris comes from Darren Starr – who we all know from creating Sex and the City. While I expected a certain level of raunchy and truth from Emily in Paris, I don’t feel like I completely got it. And I understand the reasoning why – Emily in Paris was originally meant to air on PopTV, and taking that into account it exceeded my expectations.
While Emily in Paris started off a little slow, it picked up and pulled me in so hard that I was unable to even think of letting go. Its wit, fashion, characters, and the city are beautiful. Lily Collins and Ashley Park are phenomenal. Lucas Bravo will be your new crush.
Emily in Paris is magic and reminds you of the great big world out there that is awaiting you. Living your dreams is a beautiful thing and never let anyone stand in the way of you figuring out what they are.
Emily in Paris will make you want to hop a plane to Paris and live life boldly and unapologetically. And of course, in fashion.
WHAT WORKED
The Cast – The cast is fabulous. A lot of times you watch a show and you realize that not everyone has chemistry. But this cast does. They have a lot of chemistry. Each one makes you invested in their character and you grow to like them for different reasons. It’s really great casting.
The Fashion – The fashion in the show is flawless. It’s beautiful. It’s Patricia Field at her finest. I want all of Emily’s outfits. I want all of Mindy’s outfits. It’s just so good.
The City – Paris is one of my favorite cities in the world and I love it. I love that they filmed there, but I wish that they would have shown more of the city. It’s both what worked and what didn’t work. Because the city is the perfect setting, but it needed to be more of its own character and it just wasn’t.
The Ship – You know what we say – you don’t choose the ship, the ship chooses you. And hey, Emily and Gabriel definitely chose me.
WHAT DIDN’T WORK
The Harassment – I know that it’s different cultures and a TV show, but I had an issue with the blatant sexual harassment at work that was used as comedy – it didn’t set well with me. It felt cheap at times and then after I laughed, I felt bad. I know it’s a TV show, but it also felt as though there were other ways that it could have been done.
WHAT WE WANTED TO SEE MORE OF
Mindy and Emily’s Friendship – I love Lily and Ashley and they are gems in this show. But I feel like their friendship was rushed and though I have fast become friends with people, I feel like we didn’t see what made them fast friends. We needed more of their time together.
Fashion Moments – Paris is famous for its fashion and I would have loved more of it. More of the people there, the shops, the couture.
The Ship – Seriously, if you don’t ship Emily and Gabriel – I just can’t with you. These two have chemistry and angst and it was like slow burn me, I can take it. I can take it all. Because they are my end game.
WHAT WE WANTED TO SEE LESS OF
The Sexual Harassment – Look, I get it. I know why it’s there. But the sexual jokes that were a little too forced when it felt like the rest of everything was trying to be PG. I felt like had the series actually pushed the boundaries beyond if LC actually went to Paris, and what her life would be like, it wouldn’t feel empty and forced.
FAVORITE EPISODE
1×10, “Cancel Couture”- I loved the season finale. Like most of Darren Star’s shows he manages to lead you on a route where you think you know what’s happening, but you don’t. You have no clue. And it sets up for so much drama that you’re wondering what will come and you can’t wait for it.
LEAST FAVORITE EPISODE
1×01, “Emily In Paris” – Yes, I said it. The episode I disliked the most was the pilot. I felt like it was missing more of the setup of Emily going to Paris, and I would have loved to see how that happened at work. I think that the way she reacts to her employer telling her would have set up more of her attitude and made us understand her more. I just wanted more of Emily’s story in Chicago, because I didn’t automatically take to her. And though I grew to like her more and more, I just never felt like in all 10 episodes, we ever really got to know Emily.
SEASON FINALE IMPRESSIONS
Look, I am all for a cliffhanger. I can respect a cliffhanger. I just don’t like it when it leaves my ship in the balance. And honestly, me being mad about it means that they did a great job.
Emily in Paris may have only been ten episodes, but it was ten episodes that made me so invested that I couldn’t look away. There wasn’t a character that I didn’t love. There wasn’t a character that didn’t make me want to laugh and smile and root for.
The season finale left Emily’s life all sorts of messy, but the episode wasn’t messy. I can’t figure out how she’s going to untangle everything, but that’s the sign of a good season finale. It leaves you questioning, wanting more, and feeling deeply.
The season was layered, setting you up to become invested – whether it be loving or hating the characters – and want to see more. You’ll know where you stand, what you want, and what you need.
Overall, the season finale was a fitting end to a great first season.
WHAT WE’D WANNA SEE IN A SEASON 2
- We need to see more of how Emily and Gabriel unfold. They are our ship, but when you watch the episodes you will know that it is so complicated.
- How Emily and Camille’s friendship changes and unfolds. I think that the way that Emily in Paris developed their friendship, the complications and the wrongs that happened, and the way that they can or can’t salvage it, is important.
- Mindy’s family. She talks a lot about her Dad and I’d love to see more of their relationship.
- Want to see more of Emily’s Instagram. Would have loved if they had made it part of the marketing – her coming to life and posting miscellaneous pics that made us feel like we were actually watching Emily experience Paris.
- More of Paris. Definitely, more of Paris.
