The good and the bad
First let me tell you that I am a Swiss living at the French border and every once in a while I am in France although it has been years when I was in Paris. I am also a guy who doesn't binge at relationship dramas in TV.
I happen to be a bit torn by how I should look at "Emily in Paris". Admittedly I watch it, admittedly I like the main character and some others and I have no problem with the acting. I am no actor and can't comment on that like so many critics seem to be capable of.
The show is good at evoking good emotions. They producers bring a lot of production value and show Paris from its very best side. The truth is, that even in my own family, it happens that people fall in love in Paris and having said, many other clichès are absolutely true.
To be honest, the sugary coat on the French capital is just the icing while below, life can be tough for many, if not most Parisiens. The criticism of the show being superficial is well understood and it can't be denied. But Emily in Paris isn't a social drama, it's a fantasy. I would call it a spin off of "Sex and the City", just in a different location with a different set of the Dramatis Personae. Maybe also like the next level of every teenage or coming of age show. Because it never wants to something else than being a lightweight romanticized drama it's got its place on the market and I am fine with it. It is escapism for certain people and escapism is one of the pillars of entertainment.
The cinematography, well, let me just tell you that I like to mix of day and nightlife, the awesome sets, the beautiful fashion, food, colors, backgrounds. Does it look like advertisment? At times it does and it is allowed to be advertisement.
The actors are all very beautiful, looks matter here a lot. My problem is the overacting at some part and that there is no room to expand on the sidecast. They are often just mannequins for the developing love affairs. There's plenty of room for improvement.
The plot makes you wonder about all the coincidences in the life of Emily. Often you pray that the next totally contrived and trivial move doesn't happen until it happens. The show is also pretty open when it comes to free love and affairs of all sorts. It may startle conservatives a bit (being a European conservative myself), but here in Europe I witness that kind of behaviour a lot. As already mentioned, it's merely Sex and the Parisian city.
Social media and communication is also a big part in the series and that makes it more real than an American picket fence tv show. The vibe of 2020+ is definitely for real and that might be reason why people watch it.
As a conclusion I'd say that Emily in Paris is kind of a guilty pleasure for me, even with all flaws I find it entertaining, inspirational. Easy on the eye and mind. I would give it a six but because critics are so harsh on the show I give it a seven.
I happen to be a bit torn by how I should look at "Emily in Paris". Admittedly I watch it, admittedly I like the main character and some others and I have no problem with the acting. I am no actor and can't comment on that like so many critics seem to be capable of.
The show is good at evoking good emotions. They producers bring a lot of production value and show Paris from its very best side. The truth is, that even in my own family, it happens that people fall in love in Paris and having said, many other clichès are absolutely true.
To be honest, the sugary coat on the French capital is just the icing while below, life can be tough for many, if not most Parisiens. The criticism of the show being superficial is well understood and it can't be denied. But Emily in Paris isn't a social drama, it's a fantasy. I would call it a spin off of "Sex and the City", just in a different location with a different set of the Dramatis Personae. Maybe also like the next level of every teenage or coming of age show. Because it never wants to something else than being a lightweight romanticized drama it's got its place on the market and I am fine with it. It is escapism for certain people and escapism is one of the pillars of entertainment.
The cinematography, well, let me just tell you that I like to mix of day and nightlife, the awesome sets, the beautiful fashion, food, colors, backgrounds. Does it look like advertisment? At times it does and it is allowed to be advertisement.
The actors are all very beautiful, looks matter here a lot. My problem is the overacting at some part and that there is no room to expand on the sidecast. They are often just mannequins for the developing love affairs. There's plenty of room for improvement.
The plot makes you wonder about all the coincidences in the life of Emily. Often you pray that the next totally contrived and trivial move doesn't happen until it happens. The show is also pretty open when it comes to free love and affairs of all sorts. It may startle conservatives a bit (being a European conservative myself), but here in Europe I witness that kind of behaviour a lot. As already mentioned, it's merely Sex and the Parisian city.
Social media and communication is also a big part in the series and that makes it more real than an American picket fence tv show. The vibe of 2020+ is definitely for real and that might be reason why people watch it.
As a conclusion I'd say that Emily in Paris is kind of a guilty pleasure for me, even with all flaws I find it entertaining, inspirational. Easy on the eye and mind. I would give it a six but because critics are so harsh on the show I give it a seven.
- pascaloetterli
- Jul 15, 2023