Emily in Paris follows Chicago Marketing Executive Emily, portrayed by Lily Collins, as she makes her way around Paris after being hired by a marketing agency in France to bring an American perspective to the company. Emily explores love interests, creates an instagram called @emilyinparis, and explores French culture. 

Having never bothered to learn French before she arrived, Emily comes across as ignorant and annoying, and it was hard to root for her in the show’s beginning.

Though Emily comes around, the French stereotypes and unrealistic depictions of France make the show controversial. While the series seems fun and quirky, French critics have ripped the series to shreds. With every cliché thrown in, such as mean French locals, everything romanticized, the stereotype of easy-going French people, this show is both underwhelming and expected.

Despite all of this, I still managed to finish the entire series in two days. Viewers become invested in Emily’s relationships and her work life, making it hard to stop watching. While the series has almost no substance and viewers may feel numb after watching, there is something endearing about the series that makes it tolerable. 

The series’ first episode aired on Netflix on October 2, 2020. All 10 episodes are on the platform. Since its release, it has been in the top 10 this week. Each episode lasts around 30 minutes. The show is rated TV- MA.

Before watching, please consider the series’ mature content.