There’s no place like Rome! Emily in Paris returns for a fifth season with a fresh coat of paint and an apt, albeit probably temporary, name change: Emily in Rome! All signs were pointed in this direction. We last left Emily (Lily Collins) relocating to help open a new Agence Grateau office there, also pursuing her blossoming relationship with gorgeous Italian businessman, Marcello (Eugenio Franceschini). This iteration wastes no time finding excuses to keep the gang in Rome, but it works—the city becomes a lush playground for reinvention, messy romance, and brand upheaval. That same comfort-watch escapism that has always helped propel Darren Star’s series to the top of the Netflix pack remains an essential part of its DNA.
At the top of the season, Emily works closely with Sylvie (Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu), Luc (Bruno Gouery), and Julien (Samuel Arnold) to prove that a French firm can outmaneuver the Italian giants. Meanwhile, Mindy (Ashley Park), seemingly in town only temporarily, and Alfie (Lucien Laviscount), Emily’s gorgeous ex-boyfriend who has apparently moved on at long last, end up staying in the same hotel. A breezy, fun setup episode resets the board, and immediately leans into Roman glamor. Marcello’s family drama hints at deeper emotional stakes than Emily is expecting. In order to rebrand Muratori, she will have to wow his mother, too. Gifting viewers with several glimpses of Marcello’s bare tush only adds to the veritable eye candy—is it any surprise that she chose him over Gabriel (Lucas Bravo)?
Gabriel isn’t out of the picture entirely. Despite earning his restaurant a rare Michelin Star in the season four finale, he may be facing some financial troubles. He also still has a bit of a thing for Emily, and if past seasons are any indicator, Emily has indeed been known to pivot. This season adds richness to the tertiary characters too, giving Luc a relationship with a client that could cost him dearly, and Sylvie gets the opportunity to direct a campaign video that could be a serious game changer for her career trajectory. Mindy performing Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” was the riveting musical performance I never knew I needed. Emily remains the central focus though, and in her perspective, there continues to be surprising moments and cutesy surprises. Only Emily would have the confidence to bring in a fake Fendi bag for an important pitch thinking it was real.
As before, the best episodes of the series are those that provide dramatic thrust. Funny, chaotic, and dripping with romantic disaster, episode four almost feels like a mini-finale. Injecting further stakes into Emily’s career arc should happen more frequently than the creatives allow. We often sets this aside for fashion and flirting, but the prospects return full force with potentially devastating consequences. Time will tell whether the show itself ends up imploding, or heads towards pretentious nonsense. Star’s Younger was excellent through most of its run until a whimper of a final season left a bad taste in many fans’ mouths. Yet, all signs point to further longevity for Emily in Paris, a silly Netflix delight that remains a sparkling good time. With or without the backdrop of Paris, expect further fabulous fashion and tourist hot spots, showcased with love and a playful wink of indulgence.
Emily in Paris books her ticket to Rome when the fifth season debuts exclusively to Netflix on Thursday, December 18th.
