Emily In Paris Season 5, Episode 1 Review: La Dolce Emily

Emily in Paris or Emily in Rome? It doesn’t matter to us what city she resides in; we are all in to watch what happens. Netflix has us hooked. The great thing about this show is that over the first four seasons, it has managed to keep us invested in every single character. It hasn’t mattered the mistakes they may have made or the growth that they need to do – we’ve had faith. We’re sure that season 5 is going to do the same thing for us.

I have been Team Alfie since he was introduced to the show. It took a little under three minutes for me to really change lanes. Marcello and Rome may be the best thing for Emily. We’re very invested in this.

Team Marcello for the win?

WHEN A WINDOW OPENS

Emily opens her window in Rome and sees the view, and that’s one thing that she did in Paris that I remember vividly. I feel like it is her sign that she’s willing to take on anything that comes her way in Rome because she sees the opportunity, just like she did in Paris.

People may think that Emily doesn’t have a clue what she is doing, but she does. Honestly, the way that she approaches everything – I am in awe of the creativity. The reality is that marketing is never as simple as she makes it look, but the joy of Emily Cooper is that she’s got big dreams, and she makes it look easy even when it is hard. Emily Cooper is a character who reminds you that there is always something you can do to make your dreams come true.

Now, when did I turn Team Marcello? Great question. That would be when he came up behind her when she was watching out the window and tried to lure her back to bed. It’s the way that he held her, and that is the sultry voice that just made me stop and think that I’d quit our job and stay in bed. But it is her first day running the office, and if there’s one thing we know about her is that she is committed to her job.

GIANCARLO INSPIRES

We did think that the team would be back in Paris, but everyone is still in Rome. Sylvie’s main Rome squeeze is making her think twice about leaving, but she needs to justify staying. She knows that she’s going to need to find more clients to justify ever staying in Rome for extended periods.

Not surprisingly, she finds inspiration in her espresso. I find my inspiration there daily. The company, Bavassa, is their client in Paris, so why not try to sign them in Rome?

If there is one character in this show that is underrated a lot of the time, it is Luc. Luc knows everyone, and go figure – when Sylvie decides to stay, she calls him and asks how his relationship is with the woman that they work with at the company. I had to laugh that Luc was covering up the fact that he was in bed with her. She legit did not like being called his friend.

Luc is not the only one living his best life in Rome. Julian has his man. He would be the one who has the hot guy from Dolce and Gabbana. The man is giving him free clothing and some leopard print undies. I can not with them, because I am not a leopard print anything. Like they should be outlawed. Hot take – it’s not cute.

Julian and Luc have made quite the impression in Rome. I think that part of them are jealous that Emily gets to stay, but I do think that they are happy for her.

INSPIRED

I find it inspiring that Sylvie isn’t just going to let opportunity pass her by. She knows that she needs to make the Rome office profitable. She wants to be around Giancarlo. I think it’s great that she goes for what she wants.

The team is staying in Rome for a bit – yes. It’ll be her having to balance out the clients in Rome and Paris that may turn out to be an issue.

The team has to take a meeting with Antoine and Alfie via Zoom and that isn’t sitting well with Antoine, as he’s being a big baby. Antoine doesn’t like being wrong, like he has been about that Bebe perfume. Yes, he’s mad, but that’s on him. He didn’t want to listen to Sylvie or her team’s expertise. Instead, he wanted a place to put blame and feel like he was in charge of things.

Antoine and Sylvie’s history will always be a force in this show, but I also think that at a certain point, it won’t save the team from his wrath or him from Sylvie’s.

LUNCH

When it comes to Emily and Marcello, I love everything about them together. I love that Emily finds herself being challenged by him, and he the same by her. What I don’t like about their “lunch” meeting is that he doesn’t tell her why she needs different shoes. Instead, he just takes her “I’ll be fine” as gospel.

He really should have warned her they were going truffle hunting.

I think that the truffle hunt is interesting, but I think that what’s important is that Emily is trying. She doesn’t let the fact that she’s wearing heels stop her. She’s doing everything that she can to show that she’s capable of doing things, but also that she really likes Marcello. Proving that to his sisters will be the hard thing. Marcello is rather well off, and I do understand that his sisters want to protect him. I also believe that Emily is not that person who would take advantage of anyone for money.

Being at Marcello’s house and having the chance to talk to his Mom is a situation she should take advantage of. For me I felt this horrible sadness for Emily when she finds out that Antonia only hired the agency to ride out the time that JCMA has and for Marcello to forget about it.

Antonia is so devoted to the name that her family has and what their name represents. Part of me wonders if that is a wall that she keeps up to honor her late husband or if it is because of tradition only.

That’s an interesting line for her to tread on, and I do hope they explore it.

For Emily, this presents even more of a challenge. This will not deter Emily, but gives her motivation to find a way to change Antonia’s mind. If there is anyone who shouldn’t be counted out, it is Emily.

GABRIEL

Gabriel coming to Rome and seeing Emily with Marcello was hard on him. You could see that in his eyes, but you could also see that he knew that he needed to let go. Their timing is never right.

And them not being able to find the right timing makes it hard. Of all people, it was Sylvie who made sense of their relationship and comforted Gabriel. I rarely think Sylvie is the smartest one when it comes to love. In this moment, she is though.

She reminds Gabriel that if it is meant to be, it will be. Emily needs to live her life.

Maybe Gabriel is going to give up on Emily. Maybe he will move on, and maybe he won’t. Time will tell.

I think that he needs to find himself without a woman in his life. I don’t think that he knows how to just be himself and define himself being just him. He doesn’t seem to know how to do that.

THE PRINCESS AND THE PARTY

We finally meet Minnie Driver’s character. She’s a Princess with an agenda. Sylvie runs into her on the streets of Rome, ending with the two heading out to have a few drinks. The way that the two talk about their past, Rome, and work.

Princess Gianna offers to throw a party to introduce Sylvie to everyone. There is an agenda – one bigger than we see here. You’ll never convince me otherwise. It’s as if she envies Sylvie, but also, there is this part of me that just thinks that she’s going to hurt Sylvie’s company in Rome.

At the party, she does tell Sylvie that she is willing to introduce her to everyone, for a fee. While I can not object to a person doing what they need to do to get ahead, I think that there is this point where we have to wonder, what is she really after? Is she going to be loyal to Sylvie? Is this more than money?

The Princess may be at a moment where she needs money – that is what she says. Can I respect the hustle? Yes. But she shoulda have talked to Sylvie first before putting her in a situation where she can’t say no.

HELLO BEBE

Antoine is making his way to Rome – not something I expected. Especially since he was so petty and mad that he had sent the team a bunch of bottles of perfume and told them maybe they could sell it in Italy.

Leave it to Emily to find a way to do just that.

Emily believes that it would be a good idea for Marcello’s family to sell perfume and introduces them to Antoine. We all know that Antoine can charm the pants off anyone, and I can appreciate that about him. However, what I also know is that when faced with an issue, he’s like Emily. He will find a way through.

He charms Antonia, even dancing with her so she can smell the fragrance. Hello Bebe may have been horrible in France, but the possibilities are endless in Rome. Marcello may not like his Mom dancing with Antoine, and she may be falling for what he’s selling, but we kinda love that for her.

Regardless of whether she says yes or no, she was charmed and felt special. What is better than that? LOVE that for her.

Marcello’s going to have to realize his Mom is a woman and she deserves to feel wanted and beautiful.

Emily in Paris feels very fresh and new. It feels like the same world, but also like a brand new one with experiences that will change this group to its core. While we may not be ready for that, we’re definitely here for the ride.

The show has not let us down.

Yet.