Emily in Paris Season 5 Review 2025 Tv Show Series Cast Crew Online
One thing we forgot to mention about Emily in Paris‘ Season 4 cliffhanger? Gabriel (Lucas Bravo) was seemingly on his way to Italy to win Emily back! While the Season 5 premiere gives us closure on that endeavor, Gabriel’s grand romantic gesture doesn’t unfold the way you might think. In fact, if you’re a diehard Team Gabriel fan, Season 5 likely won’t be your favorite, as the Hot Chef’s scenes are scarce. (Trust us, it’s for the best!)
Rather than exploring familiar territory with Emily and Gabriel, the latest chapter shines a spotlight on the Agence Grateau team (Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, Bruno Gouery, Samuel Arnold) as they ambitiously try to grow the company and navigate romantic relationships in the face of many obstacles. On Emily’s long list of Season 5 setbacks is also an unexpected rift in her formerly rock solid friendship with Mindy (Ashley Park), who catches feelings for Emily’s ex, Alfie (Lucien Laviscount). When Mindy’s ex, Nicolas (Paul Forman), comes back in the picture, things get even more complex. And new characters Princess Jane (Minnie Driver), Jake (Bryan Greenberg), and Yvette (Michèle Laroque) help keep everyone on their toes.
When I woke up this morning, the first thing I saw on Instagram was a carousel of quotes from a real French woman critiquing the accuracy of Emily in Paris, and five seasons in, I would hope we’re all well aware that it is, as she says, “the Disneyland version of Paris.” That’s part of the reason why it’s so dang charming! As I said in last year’s review, “To paraphrase the great Nicole Kidman in her iconic AMC ad: We come to this show…for magic. We come to Emily in Paris to laugh, to cry, to howl in the group chat. Because we need that, all of us — that indescribable feeling we get when Lily Collins appears on-screen in another ridiculously extra outfit. And we go to a Paris we’ve never been to before; not just entertained, but somehow reborn. Together. Dazzling delusions, on a small TV, laptop, or phone screen. Joie de vivre that I can feel. Somehow, heartbreak feels good in a place like this. Our heroes feel like the most chaotic part of us, and stories feel imperfect and imagined. Because here, they are. Darren Star. He makes ‘compulsively watchable TV.’”
To Emily in Paris‘ credit, while Season 5 does have more of the same spirit, pizazz, bold fashion, relentless brand promo, romance, drama, and unbelievable antics as seasons past, the latest chapter makes a noticeable effort to switch things up — from creating friction in Emily and Mindy’s friendship and exploring new character dynamics, to sending Gabriel on a much-needed journey of self-exploration and forcing Emily face failure head-on. One of my favorite Season 5 journeys shows Sylvie reexamining her worth and relationship desires, while taking on a more maternal role in Emily’s life. Rather than staying stagnant and repeating a proven formula (even location-wise!), there’s growth in these characters, and the show as a whole. We get an engagement, a big breakup, and even Season 6 location potential.
It’s easy to knock Emily in Paris for not being prestige television, but crucially, it never set out to be. Emily in Paris knows exactly what it is and owns it. Like it or not, there’s a real place and need in this world for escapist television. When life gets dark, there’s something comforting about shows that dare to embrace whimsy and campiness while creatively balancing comedy and drama. As The A.V. Club’s Saloni Gajjar argued, elevated-trash TV found its footing in 2025. And five seasons in, Emily in Paris still serves its purpose.
