Falling out of love with Emily Cooper: Emily in Paris Season 2 review
I had started watching Emily in Paris primarily for Lily Collin’s chic blazers and stylish berets. Then, captivated by the hazel green eyes of the hot Parisian Chef Gabriel, I decided to stay. Yes, Gabriel has given me the hots for French men.
Well, I had my fair share of reservations about the show before watcing the first season. I assumed it to be too girlish and superficial which turned out to be partially wrong. The breath-taking views of the Paris city combined with skilful art direction and the character outline of Emily Cooper compelled me to finish the entire season in a day. However, too innocent and obnoxious she was portrayed as, her aspirations as an ordinary girl came to the forefront at different moments in the show. Even though Emily was absolutely annoying with her naïve and positive outlook on life and her fair share of kittenish foolishness, she was although likeable. But ever since I had eagerly clicked for season 2, my hopes have all been down the drain.
Why Paris would be better without Emily
In season two, Emily’s character arc takes a drastic downward turn. From a tactical American marketer who tries to blend into the Parisian way of her life in her own clumsy ways, Emily has fallen into utter stupidity and a questionable conscience. Even though Emily lives in her fantasy wonderland and tries to be all perfect, her intentions seem questionable and her decisions too rash. Her idea to hide the truth from her friend Camille while trying to fix her relationship with Gabriel turns to be a enormous disaster. Her irresponsibility at work and a pretty convoluted love life are other things to ponder upon. Emily seems to be too privileged and irrational to be relatable. With her extravagant clothing and handsome French men falling at her feet while she strives to mess it all up, Emily Cooper fails to be a relevant feminist icon. Perhaps the only thing Emily has seemed to achieve is an adequate number of love interests which further increases in the second season. Now we also have a hot British guy to ogle at. ( How do you manage this Emily?)
A little sex+ the city
The plot of this series has nothing more to offer. Rather than the corny love triangle trope and misadventures of the pretty, amiable protagonist, the story doesn’t take an effort to dig deeper into the audience’s minds. It is cluttered with cliches and a stereotypical image of the French as arrogant, indolent, and immoral beings. The series shows Sylvie describing Emily
“getting more French by the day”
as she gets involved in a forbidden affair with her friend’s boyfriend which regards as if the French does not have a moral conscience against infidelity. it just appears to be a banal cliched plot with fanciful ornamentations to cover up. It’s deficiency to portray the real French life rather than all the glamorous characters with their own clothing line, restaurants, and art galleries is pitiful. Darren Star has tried to create another feminist masterpiece like ‘Sex and the City’, but failed in that. But not to worry, the pointless story is well patched up with a pretty wardrobe and talented cinematography which makes it perhaps, watchable.
I’ll have the wine with the CHEESY.
The show has only strived to depict the characters as cheesy and shallow and nothing more. Gabriel who had charmed all of us in the initial season has turned to be self-absorbed and ignorant with no sense of integrity. Sylvie the rude disdainful lady boss stays the same even though we see the glimpses from a different angle of her life. The only character with a positive growth is Mindy who struggles to stand on her own feet while rediscovering her singing talent.
Although, being predictable and infuriating, if you are a vanilla teenager at heart and is looking for a show to kill while you turn your brains off, Emily in Paris Season 2 , is not that bad. Also I binged it for the two hot guys.
