What “Emily In Paris” Gets Wrong About The French

Summary

The article "What “Emily In Paris” Gets Wrong About The French" critiques the Netflix show "Emily in Paris" for its inaccurate portrayal of French culture and the expat experience, emphasizing the importance of cultural sensitivity and the realistic struggles of living abroad.

Abstract

The author, an American living in Paris, initially anticipated a relatable experience from the show "Emily in Paris," but found it to be a misrepresentation of French life and cultural norms. The article points out that the show exaggerates cultural differences and overlooks the significance of food in French society, as well as the common practice of Parisians to engage in English with non-native speakers. It also criticizes the lack of depth in portraying the emotional challenges faced by expatriates, such as loneliness and the effort to integrate into a new culture, including learning the language. The author hopes for a more authentic representation in the second season, with a focus on Emily's personal growth and her attempts to connect with the French people and culture.

Opinions

The author's fiance and other French friends strongly disliked the show for its negative portrayal of French people.
The show's depiction of French people skipping meals in favor of cigarettes is seen as unrealistic, given the importance of food in French culture.
The article suggests that Parisians are more likely to practice English when they hear a non-native accent, making the city hospitable to travelers.
The author feels that the show fails to capture the true emotional struggle of being an expat, particularly the loneliness and difficulty in fitting in.
The author would like to see Emily making a genuine effort to learn French and integrate into French society, including making mistakes and persevering.
There is a desire for the show to depict a more balanced view of cultural exchange and understanding, rather than perpetuating stereotypes.
The author remains optimistic for the second season, hoping the writers will incorporate feedback to create a more honest and relatable narrative.

What “Emily In Paris” Gets Wrong About The French

I was so excited to watch “Emily in Paris” when it first came out. I thought that the show would be highly relatable as I, too, am a Chicago girl living in Paris! I remember sitting down with my fiance (who is French), ready to watch it. We made popcorn and tea and everything! Halfway through the first episode, my fiance told me he couldn’t bear to watch anymore. He hated how they were portraying the French. I remember asking other French friends what they had thought of it out of curiosity as well. Each one of them hated it. Why?

The little things

The show points out the vast differences there are between French and American culture. There are things they get right and things they miss. There are tiny things I didn’t find to be relatable. Like, for example, the fact I’ve never seen a French person skip a meal and only have a cigarette for lunch. If you’ve lived in France, you’ll know just how important food is to the French. I’ve also never had the experience of someone at the boulangerie correct my French. Something that might be more relatable is that as soon as they hear an accent, Parisians are ready to practice their English, making it a very travel-friendly place for those who don’t speak French.

The bigger things

There is something that I would have liked to see much more than getting these tiny insignificant details right. I didn't feel any of the emotion of what it feels like to be an expat trying to navigate their way in the unknown. For me, the thing that was missing in the show was seeing Emily’s struggle. I know that the show is a comedy, but I would have liked to see more emotion of how lonely Emily must have felt not fitting in anywhere. She briefly talks about it, but it’s in a way that demonizes the French. As an American who has felt lonely living in France, I know that this mindset isn’t helpful to anyone in a similar situation. Demonizing another culture doesn’t make your expat experience any easier. Instead, I would like to see Emily try to learn French when she realizes that if she’s going to live in France, she will also have to learn the language to integrate with the people there. I’d love to see a montage of her working hours and still making silly mistakes in the language.

What I hope to see in season two

I know for me, there have been so many times where I have felt misunderstood and lonely while living abroad. It isn’t fair, however, to conclude that French people are evil. Instead, you have to make an effort to speak their language and realize that you both have a lot you can learn from each other. I would have loved to see Emily have an ugly crying scene after she’s tried her best. Then immediately after a scene of her crying until she has raccoon eyes, we see her go back at it again to give it her best shot once more. Because God knows, that’s what my experience has been. Feeling stupid, deeply misunderstood, reevaluating, and then trying once again. Each time, I am grateful to have tried again. To remember that people are good and that it’s normal to feel lonely sometimes as a foreigner. I felt like Emily was shown as too perfect. The show wants us to believe that she’s perfect and that the French are just mean. I don’t think this is a healthy mindset at all. I hope to see her trying to understand others more in season two.

I’m excited to see the next season and what’ll they do because I think the writers and cast are listening. They have put out statements saying that they have heard the viewer's opinions. I’m sure they have heard lots of different ideas of how to make the show better. This is how I think they could make it a more relatable and honest show. I can’t wait to see what they do with season two.