This Is Why Critics Find Emily In Paris Problematic
It is safe to say that the pandemic has us all hooked to Netflix, which isn't shocking considering all the entertaining shows Netflix has been releasing one after another.
From the hilarious sitcom Schitt's Creek to the dramatic romance set in the Regency period Bridgerton, everyone seems to be discussing one show or another.
Among the most popular and slightly controversial shows on Netflix at the moment is Darren Star’s Emily in Paris which has caused quite the stir among critics.
What is “Emily in Paris” all about?
Emily in Paris is a lighthearted rom-com television series on Netflix starring Lily Collins. The creator of Sex and the city, Darren Star, brings life to another glamorous show with views of the beautiful city of Paris, a wardrobe full of Chanel, and unfortunately multiple clichés.
The show revolves around Emily, a Chicago marketing executive, as she finds her way through a new job in a new city. With only one season out, it makes for the perfect show to binge-watch.
So why is it getting all this hate?
Emily in Paris can’t speak French?
That’s right! Emily decides to accept a job in Paris when she doesn’t even know a word of French (unless you count the ‘très bien’ she sprinkles in every other sentence).
Even though Emily somehow finds all these French people who are fluent in English, it is considered rude to talk in English in France unless absolutely necessary. Learning basic French would’ve been a good idea for someone working in France.
The American perspective in Emily in Paris
Throughout the show, Emily tries to bring the “American perspective” to the French marketing firm she works at which is what she’s there for.
However, she refuses to learn anything from the French people at her office. It isn’t hard to see why most people at her workplace dislike her.
When visiting or working in a new country, one must try to learn a thing or two from the culture of that place but Emily does the complete opposite.
French stereotypes in Emily in Paris
The show is full of French stereotypes and paints French people as rude and lazy. Emily who is considerably younger than most people in her office tries to teach them about work ethic. Moreover, she has no experience in working with luxury brands which is what her job’s all about.
Extramarital affairs in the workplace don’t seem to bother the French people in the show, they smoke even inside the office which is just unrealistic and are depicted as being sexist and insensitive.
While Emily is painted as a dedicated, full of energy young American who will teach the French all about doing things the “American way”.
Darren Star’s Response to critics
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter Darren star comments on the critiques, the show has received
The show Emily In Paris is a love letter to Paris through the eyes of this American girl who has never been there. The first thing she is seeing is the clichés because it's from her point of view. I'm not sorry for looking at Paris through a glamorous lens. It's a beautiful city, and I wanted to do a show that celebrated that part of Paris.
Is the Fashion in Emily in Paris bad?
Emily’s wardrobe is full of Chanel and Louis Vuitton but fashion critics are not happy with the way she styles these pieces.
Instead of bringing some classic Parisian chicness to her outfits, she wears some truly questionable outfits that make her look like an ignorant tourist. From a shirt with a Paris print on it to Eiffel tower charms on her handbag, our hopes of seeing the stunning Lily collins in beautiful Parisian outfits were definitely lost.
Why Emily Lacks character development
As the episodes go by, one expects her character to become more mature and for her to learn from her experiences. Alas, if only that would’ve happened.
Even after losing a two million dollar watch, sleeping with a seventeen-year-old and being fired from her job, Emily stays the same.
The characters that change are the French people. Sylvie, who is Emily’s boss becomes more sympathetic towards her and a renowned French designer takes Emily’s advice for his Fashion show in order to be more modern.
Emily as an influencer sets unrealistic standards
Emily becoming a social media influencer overnight is yet another unrealistic aspect of the show.
When she arrives in Paris she only has 48 Instagram followers but by posting a couple of pictures with cringeworthy captions, she gains 20k followers!
Her character undermines the efforts that go into creating engaging content as an influencer. Moreover, she posts pictures of people without their consent which is just unacceptable and rude.
Will there be a Season 2 of Emily in Paris?
On 11th November 2020, Netflix confirmed the renewal of Emily in Paris for Season 2.
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For better or for worse, another season seems necessary considering the last episode of season 1 left everyone with a lot of questions about Emily’s future in Paris.
When will season 2 of Emily in Paris be released?
Although Netflix hasn't announced a release date for the second season just yet, we can only hope for a late 2021 release.
A delay in shooting due to the ongoing pandemic can result in an early 2022 release as well. We'll just have to wait and see.
What to expect from Season 2
We can only hope that we’ll get to see a more mature version of Emily in the second season of the show. It’ll explore Gabriel and Emily’s complicated relationship and a deeper look into the lives of supporting characters. Maybe we’ll see her style evolve into something more sophisticated as the show continues.
In an interview with Harpers Bazaar, the star of the show, Lily Collins talked about what she hoped for Emily in season 2.
I really hope we get to go into more episodes, because there's so much that it leaves you hanging with. Emily has had to kind of pivot so many times in this experience already that I think she's ready and able to kind of just go with it and see what happens.
Is Emily in Paris worth the watch?
Although Emily in Paris is a show with resounding cultural dissonance and way too many stereotypes, it can be a good show to add to your list of guilty pleasures. It’s one of those shows that people just can’t resist to watch and once they do they love to hate it.
Opinions and Perspectives
The cultural misunderstandings could have been handled with more nuance.
I think the show would benefit from some actual French perspective in the writing.
The whole thing feels like a tourist's Instagram feed turned into a TV show.
I'm curious to see if they'll address any of these issues in the next season.
The show feels like a missed opportunity to create something more meaningful.
At least it sparked some interesting discussions about cultural representation.
The show seems more interested in fashion than actual character development.
It's strange how they never show her dealing with any real culture shock.
The show completely ignores the reality of visa and work permit issues.
I actually enjoyed watching it with French subtitles to practice my language skills.
Some scenes feel like they were written by someone who's only seen Paris in movies.
The show makes light of serious cultural differences that exist between countries.
The dialogue feels really forced, especially in the office scenes.
I'm surprised they got renewed for a second season with all this criticism.
The show could've done so much more with the fish-out-of-water premise.
I actually liked some of the supporting characters more than Emily.
Anyone else notice how clean and empty the streets of Paris always look?
The show feels like a missed opportunity to explore genuine cultural differences.
I think the show undermines the real challenges social media managers face.
The show needed more depth in its portrayal of cross-cultural relationships.
I actually appreciate how they show the French perspective on American work culture.
The way they handle the age difference with that young guy was really problematic.
I love how everyone in Paris seems to have unlimited free time for long lunches and parties.
The show seems to confuse being assertive with being culturally insensitive.
Why couldn't they show Emily actually trying to learn French? That would've been more interesting.
The relationships feel so superficial, especially the friendship with Mindy.
It's interesting how they made all the French characters eventually bend to Emily's American way.
The show completely glosses over the real challenges of moving to a new country.
I'm French and while some parts made me laugh, others were just plain offensive.
The fashion choices look more like costume party outfits than actual French style.
At least it's getting people interested in visiting Paris, even if it's a fantasized version.
Those social media captions were painful to watch. No real influencer posts like that.
I think the show needs better writers who understand both American and French perspectives.
The way Emily handles professional situations would get her fired in real life.
I actually liked how they portrayed Sylvie's character development, even if Emily's remained stagnant.
The show feels like it was made for Instagram rather than telling a compelling story.
Anyone else notice how everyone speaks perfect English? That's not realistic at all.
I wish they'd shown more of the real Paris, not just the tourist spots.
The food scenes are actually pretty accurate. French people do take their gastronomy very seriously!
My biggest issue is how she never faces any real consequences for her actions.
I appreciate what Darren Star said about it being through Emily's eyes, but that doesn't excuse everything.
The workplace scenes are just ridiculous. No real marketing agency works like that.
I think Darren Star missed an opportunity to create something more nuanced and meaningful.
As someone who's studied French culture, this show makes me cringe, but I can't stop watching.
The show would've been so much better if Emily had shown any character growth throughout the season.
I'm actually excited for season 2. Maybe they'll address some of these issues after all the feedback.
The way they portray French people as constantly smoking and having affairs is just lazy writing.
Can we talk about how she affords all those designer clothes on her salary? So unrealistic!
That scene where she posts photos without people's consent really bothered me. That's not okay anywhere, let alone in France.
I wish they'd focused more on developing the supporting characters instead of just using them as stereotypes.
At least the show gives us beautiful shots of Paris. The cinematography is gorgeous.
Her work situations are completely unrealistic. No junior employee would have that much influence.
I understand the criticism but I still found myself binge-watching the whole season in one sitting.
The love triangle plot was so predictable. We've seen this story a hundred times before.
I actually learned some things about French culture from watching this, even if it was mostly what not to do!
My French friends absolutely hate this show. They say it makes them look like caricatures.
The show definitely has its flaws but Lily Collins is charming enough to make it watchable.
I couldn't get past the first episode. The cultural insensitivity was just too much for me.
The whole premise feels like it was written by someone who's never actually lived in France.
I found Emily's character really frustrating. She never tries to adapt to French culture, just expects everyone to adapt to her.
The Instagram influencer storyline was ridiculous. Nobody gains thousands of followers that quickly from basic tourist photos.
Sure it's meant to be fun, but perpetuating stereotypes isn't exactly harmless entertainment.
I think people are taking this show way too seriously. It's meant to be a fun fantasy, not a documentary about French culture.
The fashion choices were so over the top! No one actually dresses like that to work in Paris.
I actually enjoyed it for what it is a light-hearted escapist show. Not everything needs to be completely realistic.
Let's be real, who moves to Paris for work without learning even basic French? That part really bugged me.
The show completely misrepresents French work culture. I've worked in Paris for 3 years and it's nothing like what they show.
I finally watched Emily in Paris and I'm honestly torn. The visuals of Paris are stunning but the cultural stereotypes are hard to ignore.