The original post: /r/television by /u/southernfirefly13 on 2025-12-31 01:29:54+00:00.
So after adamantly refusing to watch this show, I caved and gave it a try, mostly because I’ve watched and rewatched all my other shows to death and wanted to try something new. And I’m enjoying it more than I thought I would. Is it a good show? No, but it’s not bad. It’s shallow, mindless, and fun escapism. I understand why fans do enjoy it, especially those who fantasize of living their dream of living in an international city like Paris. However, the main character, Emily Cooper, is genuinely an awful person.
I cannot stand this girl! The show posits her as this picture perfect, bubbly, wide-eyed, romantic idealist that doesn’t acknowledge her own flaws: she lied to Camille about her affair with Gabriel and doubled down on her lies even after Emily made half-assed efforts to apologize - her letter to Camille, though poorly translated into French, highlights that she’s not really sorry about it. Even after their “reconciliation”, Emily continues to act like she does nothing wrong and admonishes Camille from time to time. She’s arrogant and ignorant, having spent two seasons making very little attempt to actually immerse in the French culture and even spent time attempting to impose American work/life culture IN FRANCE. Not to mention she’s supposed to be 29 but the way she handles her relationships - platonic and romantic - she comes off as being by much younger.
And she slept with a 17 year old?
I understand characters don’t have to be likable, but damn, they can write Emily out of the show and the rest of the cast would make the show more interesting. Emily is literally one of the worst TV characters.