2020 is almost over, and many people need to dream of the places that they wish they could travel to. Darren Star's new Netflix comedy Emily in Paris is perfect because it's silly fun and also features beautiful scenery of Paris.
Some of the cast is well-known and the series stars Lily Collins as Emily Cooper, a young girl who works in marketing in Chicago. Her life seems fine as she's almost engaged to her boyfriend and rising through the ranks at her company. But when her boss can't relocate to the Paris office after all, Emily jumps at the chance.
Even though the 10-episode series is very entertaining, there are some characters who are more compelling than others.
Best: Camille
Emily meets Camille (Camille Razat) who couldn't possibly be a more fashionable character. She's exactly who people think of when they picture a chic Parisian, as she's got perfect long blonde hair and knows how to put together an outfit effortlessly.
While Camille is one of the show's best characters, since she's kind, welcoming to Emily, and artistic, she's a little bland at times, ranking her lower than some of the others.
Worst: Sylvie
Sylvie (Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu) is Emily's boss in Paris, and she's not a very nice person.
There are many TV shows that feature bosses with different personalities, but Emily in Paris seems to try too hard to make Sylvie mean. She hates Emily from the moment she meets her and she doesn't seem to appreciate anything that she brings to the table. It's frustrating to watch because there must be some way for them to find common ground. It's also unprofessional of Sylvie not to just accept that her company has hired someone for a year.
Best: Gabriel
Emily falls for Gabriel (Lucas Bravo) pretty much as soon as she meets him. He's a charming chef who lives in the same apartment building as her, and she even kisses him... before realizing that his girlfriend is Camille, one of her new friends in Paris.
Since both shows were created by Darren Star, Emily in Paris and Sex and the City have been compared to one another, and Gabriel is a love interest as great as the SATC characters. It's easy picturing him sweeping Carrie Bradshaw off her feet.
Worst: Brooklyn
Carlson Young plays Brooklyn, an actress who travels to Paris in episode 7, "French Ending."
Emily is thrilled to work with her, as she's been a fan since forever, but unfortunately, Brooklyn IRL doesn't live up to her rom-com characters. This character is one of the worst on the show as she's spoiled, rude, and inappropriate. She's also very awkward to watch.
Best: Luc
Emily's co-worker Luc (Bruno Gouery) is hilarious and quirky. He's the only one in the Paris office who treats Emily well and who wants her to feel like she belongs.
Luc is also determined to educate Emily on the way that the French live and think, and while some of it might be pretty stereotypical, it's rather entertaining to watch.
Worst: Doug
Emily's boyfriend Doug (Roe Hartrampf) couldn't be a more boring person if he tried.
He isn't excited for Emily when she tells him that she'll be moving to Paris for a year, even when she tells him that this means she'll get an awesome promotion when she returns. He flakes on his first planned visit and tells her that long distance isn't for him. He's very harsh and cold, and he doesn't treat Emily the way that he should.
Best: Emily Cooper
Lily Collins has taken on great film roles and it's nice to see her leading a TV series.
Since the whole show is about her moving to Paris and trying to find herself in this fashionable and pretty new world, Emily has to be a dynamic character. She isn't the absolute best person on the show because she has a tendency to think too highly of herself and doesn't understand that she can't just jump into the Paris office and do things her way. But other than those flaws, Emily is sweet, funny, and tries to be a good person. She's also very motivated in her career.
Worst: Antoine Lambert
Antoine (William Abadie) is a perfumer who is having an affair with Sylvie. He's arrogant and more than once, Emily wants to get as far away from him as possible.
This character really has no redeeming qualities. He doesn't understand boundaries and while the show is trying to say that the Parisian way is to have a wife and date many women on the side, not everyone is going to be okay with that. It just comes off as creepy.
Best: Mindy Chen
Ashley Park's Emily in Paris character, Mindy, is super nice to Emily when they first meet in a park.
Mindy is a perfect best friend character: she's supportive, hilarious, and always there to lend Emily a shoulder to cry on. She's always up for a lovely dinner outside on a beautiful Paris street — with wine, of course. Mindy has run away from her life in China as her family is strict and she doesn't want the life that her father expects of her. Instead, she's living the life as a nanny in Paris and having a great time.
Worst: Madeline
Kate Walsh plays Emily's Chicago boss, Madeline, and she's much different from her Private Practice character Addison Montgomery.
A few minutes into the pilot, Madeline throws up and Emily learns that because her boss surprisingly got pregnant, she can't go to Paris anymore. This gives Emily an amazing opportunity, but it's also confusing because Madeline could still work while pregnant and raise the baby. Madeline also isn't a very interesting person, so she's definitely the worst character on the series.