‘Emily in Paris’ Season 3 Review: A Beautiful Light Dessert with Joy of Life

Lily Collins in “Emily in Paris”

Marilyn Fitussi, designer of Emily’s (Lily Collins) coveted wardrobe, gives sound advice on how to watch this divisive romantic comedy about an American marketing executive in Paris. Fitoussi, in partnership with the esteemed Patricia Fields ( Sex and the City, The Devil Wears Prada) in seasons 1 and 2, she said she instilled Fields’ “don’t care about reality” motto.

That’s how people need to approach this show; not as a careful observation of otherness, or a study of social anthropology, or even black satire (an impossible task indeed), but as a beautiful and superficial dessert. If you’re feeling a bit sick from all the empty calories, you can always have a little bread and water documentary.

Emily is still caught between two men – the dreamy British banker Alfie (Lucien Laviscount) she met in French class and the even dreamier Gabriel (Lucas Bravo), her neighbor and chef. She’s also caught between two bosses, a tough-as-nails Sylvie (Filipino Leroy-Beaulieu) and Madeleine (Kate Walsh) and two cities—Paris and possibly London.

Emily’s first friend in Paris, estranged Singaporean heiress Mindy (Ashley Parker), gets a break from singing at an exclusive jazz club; however, the invitation doesn’t extend to her band. She also meets Nicholas (Paul Forman), a friend from her boarding school days who now runs the family business. Both developments deeply upset her singer-songwriter boyfriend Benoit (Kevin Dias).

A trip to Provence has Gabriel rethink his priorities, while a visiting Greek artist makes Gabriel’s girlfriend Camille (Camille Lazart) think about the direction she wants her life to take. Emily’s colleagues Julien (Samuel Arnold) and Luc (Bruno Gouery) are still hilarious.

There’s a way the show dabbles in clichés with a joie de vivre that’s endearing in a way. You certainly know that Paris isn’t all beauty, light, and romance, but it’s no crime to indulge some superficial desire. We’re hardly the last word on authenticity when it comes to portraying foreigners, how many times has the Taj Mahal, or some random dune, or stepwell been short for India? On the other hand, do we really want to see the endless traffic jams at the junction of the Silk Roads become the hallmark of Bangalore?

fashion in Emily in Paris, As always, there was a lot of chatter on the internet, including Emily’s outfits being inspired by Alia Bhatt and Katrina Kaif. While some of Mindy’s fashion choices are pretty close to bad taste, sometimes risky (that skin tone with strategic fabric swirls, of course), many of Emily’s choices can be retina-straining (shiny shorts, lime green knees) – boots with a multi-coloured jumper), as well as sweet slip dresses, polka dot dresses and a cheerful peek-a-boo option. By the way, these boots cost $1,295. Don’t wonder how a middle manager can afford high fashion…we’re not doing realism, remember?

like starr’s sex and the city emily in paris There’s a very clear mission statement: label, love, and privilege delivered in bite-sized, delicious food. If it’s your thing, you can indulge, if not, it’s already on to the next thing.

Emily in Paris is currently streaming on Netflix