Emily in Paris season 4’s finale has viewers wondering what, exactly, the Netflix show’s big move to Rome, Italy, means for the series’ future. In the wake of Emily in Paris season 4, part 2’s ending, Netflix was quick to renew the show for a fifth outing. However, Emily Cooper’s (Lily Collins) upcoming adventure is going to look a lot different from previous seasons. Created by Darren Star (Sex and the City), Emily in Paris‘ cast of characters is led by Emily, a Chicagoan who moves overseas to provide her unique American perspective to a French marketing firm.

Despite never learning the language, Emily becomes entangled in Parisian life. Forever failing upward, Emily winds up on her boss, Sylvie’s (Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu), good side; lands an incredible apartment; and has several whirlwind romances, including one with a burgeoning chef, Gabriel (Lucas Bravo). While Emily and Gabriel’s relationship (and love triangle) comes to define Emily in Paris, the pair seem to break up for good in season 4’s second half. This opens the door for Emily’s latest love interest, Italian entrepreneur Marcello Muratori (Eugenio Franceschini). Of course, Marcello also sets up Emily’s biggest move yet.

Why Emily In Paris Season 5 Is Taking Place In Rome

Emily Cooper Moves To Rome For Work In Emily In Paris Season 4’s Finale

After some surprising professional and personal developments, Emily moves to Rome for work at the end of the fourth season. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that Marcello’s family business is based just outside Rome. Although Emily in Paris season 4, part 1’s ending signaled that happy days were ahead for Emily and Gabriel, that didn’t really stick past part 2’s first episode. Thanks in large part to Gabriel and Camille’s (Camille Razat) unresolved issues, Emily finally asserted her boundaries. Later on, it becomes clear that Gabriel wasn’t thrilled with their relationship either, so Emily decides to move forward with Marcello.

Although Emily and Marcello’s initial meet-cute is a chance run-in, the pair realize they have a mutual friend when he is on a trip to Paris. The eagle-eyed Sylvie notices that Marcello sent Emily a gift from his family’s acclaimed cashmere business, casually noting that she would kill for Agence Grateau to pick up Umberto Muratori as a client. Emily brushes Sylvie off, hoping to keep her personal and professional lives separate — for once. When Emily takes Marcello up on his offer for a long weekend in Rome, the couple’s blissful holiday sours when Sylvie appears.

… Antonia Muratori [agrees] to a six-month contract with Agence Grateau under one condition: Sylvie’s firm needs a location in Rome.

Thinking that Emily only visited him in Rome to strike a business deal, Marcello gives the show’s eponymous character the cold shoulder. Emily salvages both her budding relationship and Sylvie’s long-awaited business deal by visiting the Umberto Muratori cashmere company. Recognizing the family’s passion and care, Emily connects with Marcello’s mother, Antonia Muratori (Anna Galiena), who agrees to a six-month contract with Agence Grateau under one condition: Sylvie’s firm needs a location in Rome. Ultimately, Sylvie selects Emily to manage the office’s Rome location, given how well she did as a fish-out-of-water in Paris.

What Being In Rome Means For Emily in Paris Season 5 & How It Changes The Show

A New Setting Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Emily In Paris Is Shedding Fan-Favorite Characters

There’s no denying that Emily in Paris season 5 will be a much different show. As the Netflix series’ title suggests, much of its foundational concept hinged on the culture clash between Emily’s overtly American sensibilities and Parisian society. That particular conflict was beginning to wear thin. Emily in Paris even took to making self-deprecating jokes about its title character’s inability to speak French after such a drawn-out stint in the country. Instead of maintaining the status quo, season 4 leveraged these issues into real story-shaping conflicts, with Gabriel admitting his frustration with the language barrier.

The move to Rome offers a fresh slate for Emily, as she delves deep into a budding romance with Marcello. To make matters even more exciting, moving the series to Rome means that other characters will feel just as out of their element as Emily. Sylvie previously lived in Rome, but other members of Agence Grateau have only visited the Eternal City. Somehow, Emily in Paris has already found convincing ways for most of its key characters to spend time in Rome, so even though the change of scenery will shake things up, most of the show’s characters are positioned to return for season 5.

Is Emily In Paris’ Title Changing To Emily In Rome?

Emily’s Roman Holiday Isn’t A Reason To Change The Netflix Show’s Title

When Netflix confirmed Emily in Paris season 5’s future, viewers were quick to wonder if Emily’s big move would impact the show’s title. Creator Darren Starr insisted that the series won’t become Emily in Rome any time soon. “Emily’s going to have a presence in Rome,” Starr explained, reiterating that Emily will return to Paris eventually (via Tudum). For what it’s worth, the current set-up is just for six months, which makes the transition back not surprising.

Assuming that it is still sticking with Emily ending up with Gabriel, it’s safe to say that she will be back in Paris, hence why the title change is unnecessary. For Starr, the unexpected jump to Italy was meant to prove that Emily in Paris can have “a bigger footprint” than its title suggests. It seems Emily’s Roman adventure will be another chapter in her story — not a new book entirely.