Emily in Paris Season 5 review: Lily Collins’ Roman transition is stylish, shallow, and ultimately hollow

Season 5 moves Emily to Rome, but the plot is repetitive and Emily is self-centred. Despite new vistas, the show feels stagnant, turning a guilty pleasure into mere "ambient viewing".

Lily Collins in a still from Emily in Paris Season 5

Emily in Paris Season 4

Emily in Paris Season 5 story:

In Season 5 of Emily in Paris Emily Cooper (Lily Collins) transitions from the City of Light to the Eternal City as she takes on a major leadership role heading Agence Grateau’s new office in Rome. While she attempts to find a better work-life balance and explores a passionate new romance with the charming Italian cashmere heir Marcello (Eugenio Franceschini), her professional ambition continues to spark chaos; an experimental work proposal backfires significantly, leading to career setbacks and emotional fallout. As she navigates this "tale of two cities," Emily is pulled back towards her French roots to regain her footing, only to discover a major secret surface that tests her closest bonds and forces her to finally choose between the stability of her new Italian life and the unresolved emotional business she left behind in Paris with Gabriel (Lucas Bravo).

Emily in Paris Season 5 review:

After a two-part fourth season released in 2024, the makers of Emily in Paris decided to subject viewers to a slow decline in quality. We have the fifth season of a show that's been consistent for five years now, showing the same story and the same conflict in new outfits and new exotic locations. I thought this time, there would be episodes shorter than 10. Well, Indian OTT has spoilt me by not expecting a full arc in one single season. However, Emily in Paris consistently presents 10 episodes at once, leaving you no option but to invest the same 5–6 hours of your life each year in every season.

There's always a unique way of showing the title of the series in every episode. This time, we begin with Emily talking and walking in Rome, which conveniently omits Paris from the title, reminding us of the story's setting. After Gabriel (Lucas Bravo) and Alfie (Lucien Laviscount), this time, Emily is dating an Italian heir, Marcello (Eugenio Franceschini). We see her in the middle of her honeymoon phase with him, and interestingly, he is also her only client in Italy.

ALSO READ: Ahead of Emily In Paris season 5’s OTT release, here's a recap to season 4

I would like to repeat what I wrote for Emily in Paris Season 4, Part 2: "Viewers will encounter new catalysts that will bring predictable twists to their lives, ultimately leading to the conclusion that Emily and Gabriel are soulmates and will end up together."

I wish to achieve a work-life balance that allows me to follow my job wherever it leads, with the ultimate destination being home. In this scene, we clearly see Emily deeply immersed in her work, constantly reminding herself that there is a job opportunity available if she aims to become the ultimate boss after working under Sylvie Grateau (Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu). However, her bitter boss, with a soft heart, sort of reminds her that she shouldn't become a liability for the company. Oh well, that also applies to discussing the show.

What started as a guilty pleasure show, Emily in Paris turned out to be ambient viewing for me. Even viewers are now expressing their frustration with the frequent repetition of dialogue. In Sex and the City, Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) often uses puns, and this time, Darren Star has made Emily's reliance on them increasingly noticeable. Puns almost entirely define her life, both professionally and personally.

The show has its high points when it doesn't involve Emily. We have Mindy Chen (Ashley Park) getting a better arc and multidimensional storyline that, to be honest, make her a lead of sorts. However, it becomes evident that Emily is so self-centred that every other person's subplot must relate to her, allowing her to make it entirely about herself. Her positive persona, even in grave situations, comes across as fundamentally selfish, and you might wish that the crisis could be dealt with a lot more intensity than it's shown.

Like how in the fourth season we had the show divided between Paris and Rome, we see the reverse, and Paris is back to the pavilion after five episodes. But this "Switzerland" hasn't taken a toll on Emily but on us; well, you must have noticed by now.

Emily in Paris is about finding love amid work in beautiful European cities, but I think the girl needs to take a trip back home to the US and introspect on herself first.

Emily in Paris Season 5 verdict:

While Season 5 attempts to give Emily a fresh “Roman-tic” start, the show remains stuck in a “Paris-ite” loop of repetitive conflicts and predictable pouts. What once sparkled as a guilty pleasure has faded into stylish “ambient noise-wear”—pretty to look at, but lacking a tailored fit.

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