Do you have hopes for a fantastical life where a dream job lands at your feet? Perhaps you are enchanted by unique designer fashion and foreign travel? Or maybe you are simply exhausted by the monotonous, COVID-dominated world and itching for a release beyond a walk or socially-distanced excursion? Similar to many people who have entered month nine of this pandemic, I have reflected upon past memories and longed for new adventures. As we work to find a new ‘normal’ in our ever changing reality, Netflix’s new hit show Emily in Paris has been my current solution for remaining calm amongst the chaos. 

The creators of Sex and the City and 90210 developed Emily in Paris, a new romantic comedy of sorts that follows an American marketing executive from Chicago who, according to Netflix, “unexpectedly lands her dream job in Paris when her company acquires a French luxury  marketing company.” Tasked with revamping their social media strategy, Emily arrives with the intention of adding an American perspective to her new company. Needless to say, her new colleagues are not exactly overjoyed; remember, Parisians already are “the masters of social media.” With her sunny disposition and ambitious attitude, not to mention her total inability to speak French, Emily is a stark contrast to her new home in every way. Still, she eagerly works to adjust to the new opportunities and challenges of her Parisian life.  

The start of an inspirational techno song plays and Emily Cooper bounds onto the screen literally and figuratively. Without fail, her overzealous American charm jumps out at viewers in all ten episodes. Her bright yellow jacket provides a pop of color against a dreary Chicago day. In the next scene, Emily is at work - perfectly put together in pink - where she learns she will be relocating to Paris, and *poof* she is there. The water-colored sky rises over the Eiffel Tower and the wind whistles through the gorgeous cobblestone streets. But of course, what is a moment if not documented? With her new view as the perfect start, it is @emilycooper no more; @emilyinparis is born, chronicling her #pictureperfect #adventures episode to episode. 

Quickly, though, Emily learns that distance is not the only thing separating Paris from Chicago. As she struggles to adapt to Parisian life, Emily repeatedly exclaims, “it just doesn’t make sense!” as she forgets that the fifth floor is the fourth and work starts at 10:30 am instead of 8:30 am. It is one thing to be an American in Paris, but too American in Paris - that is just a faux paus.

The cheesy, almost rudimentary, dialogue, and characters who each host foreseeable futures is what makes this show, dare I say, addicting. This stereotypical version of Parisian life with superficial triumphs and tribulations fabricates a sense of comfort that is absent in the present day. So if you are looking for a new perspective on the Parisian way of life or a plotline where each minute brings new drama, this show is not for you. Emily in Paris is about as close to an adult version of a children’s fairytale as one can get. Instead of violence, danger, or even spontaneity, there is laughter and puns, a stereotypical romance, and an overabundance of selfies. 

When filming in summer of 2019, the cast and crew of Emily in Paris could not have predicted the future. Yet, this wondrous life that our heroine suddenly leads provides a basic escape which many need; it may come as no surprise that Emily in Paris joined Netflix’s Top Ten list mere days after its premier. There is no coronavirus in Emily’s world, and for thirty minutes—or maybe three hours, depending on your binging habits—you can keep it that way.