The Emily in Paris discourse shaped so much of 2020. Some found the show — about a young Chicago woman arriving in the French capital to impart her American wisdom upon a marketing company — to be a bit naff, but in a good way. Others just downright hated it. But whatever opinion you had, one thing’s for sure: you most likely watched it. It dominated Netflix, racking up nearly 60 million household viewers in its first 28 days. It’s no surprise then that it’s back for season two, with a full trailer showcasing the continued chaos of Emily’s life in Paris.
Emily, played by Lily Collins, was famously starry-eyed in the first season, sauntering through Paris like a tourist completely ignorant to anything that wasn’t her own culture. But the show’s creator Darren Star, famed for Sex and the City, has explained why this framing was intentional. “For me, it’s the evolution of the character. I think when someone goes to Paris for the first time, they are overwhelmed by the beauty of the city and that’s what they’re seeing,” he told Variety. “I think, perhaps, a lot of viewers who lived in Paris for a long time didn’t quite understand that this was through the lens of a character who was experiencing the city for the first time. That’s how she was perceiving it — she was really struck by the beauty that was all around her.”
It seems like she’s going to get her act together for season two. “When she got there, she got a bit of a free pass in the beginning and I don’t think it will be quite as easy for her in the second season,” Darren said. “I think she will be more assimilated, in terms of living in Paris and stepping up to the challenges of learning the language”. However, that doesn’t mean we’re going to get any less drama as Emily navigates work and love in a new culture.
So what else is in store for the next instalment of Emily in Paris? Here’s what we know so far.
What’s the plot of Emily in Paris season two?
The show left us at a crossover point in Emily’s career. She may have just been fired (? idk lots about this show didn’t make sense), and her relationships with her boss Sylvie, lover Gabriel, her other lover Mathieu, and his uncle, the designer Pierre, who Emily works under, may have come to no clear resolution. Anyway, it seems while Emily has in fact not been fired, she’s still caught up in all the dating drama, with a potential third guy in the mix, Londoner Alfie, and her friendship with new bestie Camille at risk from Emily’s continued secret affair with Camille’s ex Gabriel. Jesus, we feel stressed just thinking about it!
So, the Emily in Paris trailer for season two?
Expect Emily’s DuoLingo score to skyrocket because she is becoming a real French woman in season two and the trailer shows her discussing her complicated and dramatic lifestyle while dining al fresco, going for strolls in Père Lachaise, attending runways and vacationing in Saint Tropez, all with the iconic bold fashion wardrobe we loved from the first season.
Is the whole cast returning?
All of the primary cast announced their return for season two of Emily in Paris in a video posted to Netflix’s socials in May to mark the start of production. Darren Star has even teased that there may be expanded storylines for characters he hasn’t fully fleshed out yet. Apparently Sylvie, Emily’s boss played by Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, is at the top of that list.
Is anyone joining the cast?
Scream Queen’s Lucien Laviscount will play Alfie, a charming but stubborn and cynical Londoner who refuses to even try to immerse himself in French culture or learn the French language. A banker, his “live to work” mentality often puts him at odds with Emily but it seems their antagonistic jibbing soon turns into something passionate and romantic. Zola writer Jeremy O. Harris is also set to guest star.
What’s the release date of Emily in Paris season two?
For those of you enjoy spending the festive season on the sofa watching mindless telly, you’re in luck! Emily in Paris Season 2 will hit Netflix on 22 December. J’excited!