SHOULD WE EVEN TALK ABOUT EMILY IN PARIS?

Netflix is notorious for its self-produced cinema masterpieces; take Stranger Things and You, for example. And in the midst of a global pandemic, when we all need new Netflix content the most, they hit us with Emily In Paris.

A pretty girl gets the opportunity to continue her fashion career in Paris, France, and somehow affords perfect outfits every single day and gains a ton of Instagram followers. It’s every fashion-obsessed individual’s pipe dream.

Created by Darren Star (who’s also responsible for Sex and the City, unsurprisingly) and featuring top talent such as Lily Collins as Emily, one look at the show’s elevator pitch would make said fashion-obsessed individuals swoon. But the truth is – it’s kinda cringey.

The French don’t seem to like it, and it’s understandable. Paris is depicted as a sunny, perfect place with pretty rude people. The ‘rude people’ thing is a common stereotype of the French that, believe it or not, the French don’t really like. But the show is also highly unrealistic, and many criticize it for making impressionable audiences believe that a life can be as perfect as this. And there’s lot’s to say about what Emily wears, too. Upon first glance she looks put together; on second, she looks like she’s enforcing French stereotypes. Again.

But on the other side of things, Emily is kind of a feminist. Or not. See (spoilers ahead!), Emily confronts a bunch of high tier industry workers and tells them flat out that their ad campaign of a bunch of guys wooing at a naked woman is sexist, which, amazing. But then she kisses her friend’s boyfriend. Not very feminist. Not following girl-code.

Emily does get credit for time and time again trying. The French hate her, until she makes them love her. And the show itself, while written rather poorly (in my opinion), touches on necessary social issues. It’s a lot of give and take, with this show. It’s undeniable that it’s beautiful; obviously, a lot of effort went into the ‘look’ of the show, with everything from the sets to the costumes.

Maybe season two will be better. Maybe not. You should probably watch it. Or not?