Among the (many) criticisms that are levied at Emily in Paris, the unrealistic and unrelatable financial stability of its protagonist Emily Cooper, played with aplomb by former ELLE UK cover star Lily Collins, is one of its most ubiquitous.
Since the first season aired in 2020, fans have bemoaned how Emily, a marketing executive working in one of the most expensive cities in the world, is able to afford custom Harris Reed or new-season Jacquemus and Kate Spade? Add to that her apartment in the fifth arrondissement, often considered one of Paris’ most desirable locations and home to cultural landmarks Jardin des Plantes and Panthéon. The average salary for someone working in marketing in Paris is €40,000 (£33,772) – a figure that’s not to be sniffed at, but certainly not enough to afford Emily’s apartment, nor her covetable designer and vintage-filled wardrobe. Then there’s the rather more sentient struggle of Emily’s; when, in season three, she finds it hard to obtain a work visa, and her bureaucratic difficulties are expedited by Brigitte Macron retweeting Emily’s tweet sharing her frustration at the system.
These are all moments at which all of us – living through this current period of dramatic, breathless political, financial and societal pressures – may roll our eyes, or even let out a little ‘sacre bleu’! But why are people up in arms on social media about such a feel good TV show?
Emily in Paris is a work of fiction; it’s a work of art, merely a figment of its creator, Darren Star’s imagination. If there’s anything that I, for one, – but I would also argue that we collectively – are in dire, desperate need of, it’s escapism from the churn of heartbreaking and seemingly relentless news right now.
2023 © Netflix
Star is the man responsible for zeitgeist-defining TV shows Beverly Hills, 90210 and Sex and the City, the adaptation of his friend Candace Bushnell’s Observer column of the same name which, following its premiere in 1998, won seven Emmy, eight Golden Globe and three SAG Awards and spawned a sequel that’s currently entering its third outing. This is a man who knows what people want to watch; he creates characters that straddle party lines, they’re neither lovable nor deplorable. They exhibit personality traits viewers simultaneously bemoan, while also secretly seeing parts of themselves reflected in.
netflix
‘I think it’s great if people are watching for whatever reason they’re watching. I definitely feel like [my shows] are entertainment. Although I would ask, why would anybody watch anything if not to be entertained?’ Star told Harper’s Bazaar in January 2023, while also explaining that it was his first trips to Paris in his twenties that inspired the premise of the Emily In Paris series.
He’s right; why would you watch actively choose to watch something in your spare time if not to be entertained or informed? One of the beauties of well-made art lies in its ability to transport audiences without the requirement of endless funds, a passport or a one-way ticket to places they haven’t been, or maybe never will go. Television shows and films are created so that for just a few hours, we can step out of the hum-drum of our daily existences, and into that of somebody who runs around Manhattan in Manolo Blahniks or pops up in Paris clad in vintage Vivienne Westwood.
stephanie branchu
Audrey Hepburn herself and her projects are both a sartorial and visual inspiration for Emily in Paris, but ask yourself this: have you ever bemoaned the unapologetic romance of Roman Holiday? Were there ever any headlines calling Hepburn’s 1963 mystery-comedy Charade – which inspired the fourth season’s skiing scene – banal or, even worse, irritating? Did commentators deem My Fair Lady tired or antiquated? Of course not. Before the division between entertainment and real life became increasingly blurred, audiences knew that these creations were made to entertain them. Not to reflect their own existences back to them – who wants to watch a TV adaptation of rush-hour on the Central line, or a sad Pret salad eaten al desko at lunch? – but rather to transport them to somewhere frothier and fizzier. Somewhere far removed from the banalities of their everyday existence.
HBO/Sex and the City
When it’s done well, art can teach us pertinent lessons, too. Cooper’s foremother, SATC’s Carrie Bradshaw, taught us the importance of female friendships; she reminded us to never save your best sartorial investments for a rainy day, but rather to enjoy them every day. Sex and the City also reiterated to an entire generation how imperative prioritising pleasure really is; whether that’s sipping champagne with your best friends, running to sample sales at break-neck speed or, indeed, pleasure of a totally different nature à la Samantha Jones. Like SATC, Emily In Paris is a beloved TV show that will likely spawn sequels as a result of its legion of adoring fans. In many ways, yes, such shows are imperfect and relics of their time, but why don’t we stop analysing the minutiae and just allow their storylines to take us away for just a moment? Emily in Paris might never have been relatable or realistic, but therein lies its power.
News
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds quash ‘It Ends With Us’ backlash with shocking private video
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds put on a united front during an outing in NYC that came weeks after the actress faced extensive backlash amid her “It Ends With Us” press tour. The couple appeared to be in a good…
Did Diddy and Jennifer Lopez ever date? Are they behind Justin Bieber’s 48 hour obsession and 1000 bottles of bay oil?
Jennifer Lopez and Sean Diddy Combs were two titans of the entertainment industry who ignited a whirlwind romance, capturing the attention of fans and media alike. Their relationship came into the public eye in September 1999, when they appeared together…
Jennifer Lopez says Diddy gave her the ‘ick’ when she first met him while married
Being that J.Lo publicly dated Diddy from 1999 to 2001, the intricacies of their romance have been viewed with more criticism since the onset of Diddy’s countless allegations Pop sensation Jennifer Lopez’s name has been intertwined a lot with Sean “Diddy” Combs…
Ben Affleck cried in anger about the reason for breaking up with J’Lo “No regrets but so disgusting about her and Diddy”
Music fans have shared a theory that the raid on P Diddy’s house may have played a ‘factor in J’Lo and Ben Affleck’s split.’ Newsnation reveals Suge Knight’s claims about the former couple after Diddy’s arrest. Her shock split from…
Diddy’s ‘white list’: Beyoncé, J.Lo, Justin Bieber, Usher, and more. What celebs have said about infamous parties?
While some celebrities confirm attending Diddy’s parties, they deny involvement in the alleged ‘Freak Offs. Speculations about attendees, dubbed ‘Diddy list’… A growing list of celebrities, including Beyoncé, J.Lo, Justin Bieber, Usher, and others, is being linked to Sean “Diddy”…
Emily in Paris Season 4 Part 2: Alfie reveals his new girlfriend, leaving Emily in tears! It’s time for revenge
The video “Emily in Paris” Season 4 Part 2 is a bittersweet conclusion to the season. While Emily finds love with Marello, the departures of Alfie and Camille leave a void in the show. The future of “Emily in Paris”…
End of content
No more pages to load