Leah Blough

I really wanted to like Emily in Paris but it was hard for me to care about the main character. This show is lots of style, not a lot of substance- that said, I had to remind myself that Emily in Paris is meant for entertainment and not to provide any meaningful insights on an American’s experience living in Paris. I did enjoy the Parisian scenery but the characters fell into the obvious but not always true stereotypes of Americans in Paris and of French people. Emily is a bit self-absorbed with her ongoing selfies and her stilettos on cobblestone streets but that’s Instagram culture for you. Her character plays into another sad but sometimes true stereotype that good looks will get you anywhere despite the lack of important qualifications (being able to speak French before taking a job at a French marketing firm in Emily’s case). Again, the show is eye-candy entertainment so it can’t be taken seriously-it’s a mindless but fine getaway from the pandemic life.