Power of Second Chances

Americans have often been accused of viewing the world through a myopic, if not entirely distorted, lens. The increasingly tone-deaf nature of some of the shows that saturate television and OTT platforms in the US serves as an enduring testament to this belief.

Similar accusations were levelled against the creators of Emily in Paris when the first season of the show aired on Netflix in 2020. Viewers were warned not to be fooled by the show’s innocuous-sounding title. It was believed that the premise of the show, though compelling, verged on an alarming ethnocentrism.

Critics were aghast at the stereotypical depiction of French culture -- and who could blame them? The first season portrayed French people to be insular, lazy and obnoxiously resistant to change. The script was also laced with clichés about Parisians as disloyal lovers with a penchant for libertine forwardness. This is primarily because the first season struggled to move beyond the narrow purview of the protagonist’s experiences as a misfit in the city.

The comedy-drama is about an American woman named Emily Cooper (played by the talented Lily Collins) who bids farewell to her life in Chicago and relocates to Paris for work. Her new workplace is a fashion firm with a distinctly French ethos that by turns stifles and liberates her. As Emily wades through her adoptive city in Season One, she can’t resist the temptation to romanticise the city that has been the muse for many authors and artists.

The latest season is mercifully devoid of the unidimensionality that was abundant in the previous instalment. In the second season, the storyline breaks free from the shackles of Emily’s narrow worldview and acutely examines the social milieu of Paris. The protagonist’s imposter syndrome and unintended faux pas still remain indispensable to the plot, but viewers also gain rare insights into the lives of other characters.

In the first season, the French characters were the equivalent of props or caricatures. They served to remind viewers that the show was set in Paris, not New York or Chicago. In the new season, these characters no longer remain on the sidelines. They have not only been provided intriguing back-stories, but are also shown having profound conversations in French. As a result, Season Two presents a seemingly realistic view of Paris and the motley crew of people in the city who Emily interacts with.

Viewers who haven’t binge-watched both seasons over a span of two days will find it difficult to instantly recognize people, circumstances and crises at the beginning of Season Two. If viewers can recall the shocking revelation at the end of the previous season, they will have a much-needed impetus to keep watching the show. Season One ended on an unexpected note as Emily finds herself mired in a love triangle. The emotional thrust of that revelation makes the latest season all the more potent as Emily struggles to salvage her friendship with Camille and keep Gabriel at bay. At the same time, she and her friend Mindy find themselves on disparate journeys in a city that was meant to be nothing more than a detour for them.

Heartbreak, love, laughter and unsettling revelations remain at the core of these voyages of rediscovery, and remind both friends about the power of second chances. All these ingredients serve to keep viewers entertained in a show that packs an emotional punch. Ending on a cliff-hanger, the season sets the stage for more drama and intrigue. We can only hope that the protagonist will be able to handle these challenges while preserving her charming whimsicality.

Season Two of Emily in Paris is memorable as it strengthens the protagonist’s roots on French soil. Gone are the days when Emily was a puzzled tourist and social pariah. Time has steadily transformed her into a discerning individual who successfully battles cultural shock with panache.