TV Show Recommendation: Emily in Paris
Anonymous
You know that feeling when you get stressed thinking about all the different things you have to do? Whether it’s studying for the bellringer, for the mastery exam, working on an extracurricular project, or just freaking out about life? Instead of doing the smart thing of working through the tasks, we open our laptop and log onto Netflix. We tell ourselves we deserve a break and browse through the recommendations to find a show, one that is the perfect escape from our own reality -- one that is mind- numbingly stupid and far removed from our own lives.
Well, I decided to watch Emily in Paris to shake off my own ‘Stressed in Mississauga’ situation, and it was just what I needed!
The show follows the life of a beret- wearing 20-something-year-old American from Chicago named Emily. She moves to Paris to work at a French marketing firm, bringing an American perspective to the company. Right from the start, the show is very clear about tone - it is not to be taken seriously. Every trope and stereotype
about the French - from flirtatious men and mean people, to the love for wine - is covered within the first few episodes. Emily somehow manages to thrive in France without speaking any French, magically making friends at every corner, and is successful in everything she does in her professional life. It is truly a fantasy.
And while the show made me cringe and pull out my hair every other second, I can’t deny that it also made me laugh. Compared to our current pandemic situation, Paris is a distant dream - Paris aside, even dressing up in nice clothes, going to a cafe, meeting up with friends, and sharing a meal are distant dreams. So Emily and her obnoxious outfits, stupid relationship troubles, and ridiculous work situations made it very easy to laugh, and to momentarily forget my troubles and the realities of COVID. The show is definitely not winning an Emmy anytime soon, nor does it feature Oscar-worthy acting, but it’s a good watch if you just want to turn your brain off for a little while.
