Emily in Paris” has taken the internet by storm. This new TV Show coming from Netflix depicts the story of an American girl who moves from Chicago to Paris. The result is as follows: the French are outraged for how the show pictures them, and the foreigners living in Paris complain about how inaccurate it is. As part of the latter group who have encountered the same struggles as Emily, we couldn’t let the discussion slip without our reaction. Is it really that bad? Or maybe it’s somewhat right? Let’s take a look at this widely commented Netflix show through the eyes of real-life Emilys.
Emily’s apartment (verdict: 50% true)
There are two things about Emily’s apartment. Let’s set the record straight and say that real chambres de bonne don’t look like that. More accurate would be a 15 square-meter apartment with a shower inside and a toilet in the corridor. Half of her apartment could match this description, but the rest of it is way too spacious. This big bed, which is not a convertible sofa, in a chambre de bonne? Let’s not be ridiculous. Oh, and add romantic trips to nearby laundromats because washing machines are a luxury here. But we have to add that sockets and pipes aren’t as old as the show suggests, and they don’t explode because, for example, you plug a vibrator. Now we have an accurate picture.
Now the second thing. It is a dream to get an apartment in Paris right upon arrival. Renting an apartment in Paris for foreigners is actually hell. The show doesn’t depict the reality of doing it on your own without a (rich) French relative or any external help based in Paris (like friends or good people who can host you for some time). It doesn’t show all the paperwork you have to do, the money and nerves it costs, as well as the scammers who hunt for desperate foreigners. While Emily’s case is technically possible, it would require her company to take care of the contract and sign it for her. And trust us, this happens, yet very rarely. In the real world, Emily would probably spend a month in an Airbnb looking for any place to stay. Almost nobody lands in Paris where a perfect studio in a nice area waits for him.
But this apartment is neither an awful cliché. The worst cliché about living in Paris, which you will find everywhere on Instagram or Tik Tok, is living in an enormously spacious and elegant apartment with a balcony and a panoramic view of Paris with the Eiffel Tower. You can read here why it makes people overly excited and how we feel about it. But we give the show a big plus for giving the apartment a bit more realistic size and a definitely true-to-life view.
French people (especially women) are vile and hate you for not being French enough. (verdict: 20% true)
“Emily in Paris” makes you believe that French people will turn on their hostile mode as soon as they realize that you don’t speak French. Even better, they will call you arrogant for that.
We must admit that there is some truth about this. French people generally don’t speak English well, and it is hard to communicate with foreigners. It can make the impression that they don’t want to become friends with a newcomer. Of course, it is worth adding here that Europeans are generally more reserved than Americans. Still, this is not their ill-will or enormous vanity.
However, indeed, French people are generally very attached to the inner circles they’ve created over the years. And it’s usually impossible to become their member. The scene where Emily fruitlessly tries to make new friends at Mindy’s party is painfully real. Yet, every newcomer struggles with this, and native French speakers are no exception. It takes some time to blend in, but eventually, everyone ends up having their inner circles. Of course, as long as they go out to meet some new people.
French men always flirt with you, and it’s rather obnoxious than charming. (verdict: no comments)
Romance is, for sure, a very significant part of the French culture. French people are unquestionably more open about their intimate life and used to more freedom in that matter, but it doesn’t mean they don’t have any boundaries or manners.
While it is true that French men often like to flirt, the show unfairly features them as obnoxious and creepy. In reality, they are mostly charming and know how to ensorcell a girl without obscene comments that are neither seductive nor pleasant. It goes without saying that a co-worker would NEVER flirt by sending expensive lingerie to your workplace. Yes, some French men are douchebags or cheaters. Thomas was an authentic representation of the most popular species of this kind. But there is no country in this world where arrogant or cheating people don’t exist, so let’s not make it a French specialty because it is not.
Funny, kind, and faithful men are abundant in France, and they don’t deserve such a terrible reputation. If another season of “Emily in Paris” comes up, on behalf of French men, we expect the creators to do them justice.
Yet, they don’t treat their work schedule seriously. (verdict: not true)
Even if they wanted to, they are not allowed to treat their working hours as carelessly as the show depicts. French people treat every paperwork more than seriously. There is no one hour more or one hour less, and every employer is strict about following the rules that stand in a contract. Not even lunch breaks are up to employees. The law imposes them so nobody can give them up in exchange for leaving earlier or take them whenever one pleases. But these famous French pauses déjeuner are part of respecting labor law, and therefore it is crucial to keep them. They have become an immanent part of French life and somewhat saint for the French. But they also made an opportunity for employees to bond with their co-workers, and French people appreciate it a lot.
Paris is beautiful, and everything appears magically at your doorstep. (verdict: 50% true)
So Emily arrives in Paris to a beautiful apartment with a handsome neighbor included who happens to be a chef in a restaurant downstairs. She works in a chic office, aces every challenge, and every person that matters in fashion or business adores her. Not to mention all the men who fall in love with her the minute they see her. La vie est belle, isn’t it?
As we said before, magic isn’t surprising in Paris. Many exceptional opportunities await you here, and unusual coincidences are more common than elsewhere on earth. These things could absolutely happen to Emily. Many of us have found our dream jobs, wives, and husbands, as well as overall happiness. Only it didn’t happen overnight within one building or company. You will have to meet hundreds (or thousands) of people, go to numerous meetings or apéros, and knock on even more doors before ANYTHING happens. Going to popular places like Café de Flore or Jardin Du Palais Royale does guarantee nothing. And it is way more likely that you will meet your sweetheart on Tinder and your friend during some meeting of foreigners in Paris than by bumping into them on the street.
And what about the beauty of Paris? Isn’t is as wonderful as the show pictures it? Well, Paris is beautiful, and many places will take your breath away and enchant you with their secret charm. But the show hides a lot of typical city accents like the notoriously crowded line 13, pickpockets, or not-so-chic people here and there. Also, it forgets to mention that we don’t dress as fancy as Emily and her friends all the time.
All in all, we really did appreciate the show. Sure, it is a kind of fantasy about Paris, but “Emily in Paris” wasn’t supposed to tackle all the problems of the city. Was it cheesy? A bit, but still better than most of the productions where people eat only at expensive restaurants and live in the most luxurious Parisian hotels with a view of the Eiffel Tower. “Emily in Paris” emphasized the glamorous parts of our lives and ignored the bad ones. We can’t deny that the show recalls the picture of Paris that we keep in our hearts, even though we are fully aware of the clichés. There is no love without hardships, but we keep on loving unconditionally, despite all the bad things, because we know what there is to love. And this is what makes our Paris beautiful.
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