For fans of the hit show ‘Sex And The City’ or the movie ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ eagerly wanting more, then the new Netflix show ‘Emily In Paris’ is going to be your new obsession. If the name Darren Star sounds familiar to you, that’s because he’s the genius behind some cult hits like Beverly Hills, 90210 and Sex and the City. So before you even sit down to binge on Star’s newest creation you already know your in for something with a lot of romance, drama and heartbreak.
The 10-episode series stars Lily Collins as Emily Cooper, an ambitious twenty-something marketing executive from Chicago, whose company unexpectedly transfers her to Paris where she begins a new life, trying to impress her new Parisian coworkers while donning chic hats and shoes and, finding time to flirt with dreamy French beaux along the way. As her journey begins Emily is not fully embraced by some of the French; she’s an American girl who comes to France and doesn’t speak any French, she has opinions about how to do things, but finds out ‘the American way is the best’ doesn’t always hold true.
Ashley Park stars as Mindy Chen, a 20-something navigating life in Paris who becomes Emily’s confidant, a shoulder to lean on, and eventually a best friend. You can’t have a Darren Star show without love of course, and she forms a “will they won’t they” type relationship with her neighbour Gabriel (played by French actor Lucas Bravo). Of course that also can’t begin to blossom without some drama along the way. There’s a standout performance from French actress Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu I thought, who plays a powerful business executive and also, Emily’s boss.
As the show progresses you can see Emily grow socially as her workmates take a liking to her, of course not without difficulty, and her friendship circle begins to grow. I have to give a huge acknowledgment to the incredible acting from Lily Collins. Who shines in the lead role, and brings so much joy and light heartedness to the story. If you can’t fall in love with the city backdrops, or the Parisian’s, you’ll certainly fall in love with Lily Collins.
If you’ve ever seen any of Darren Star’s shows, you know that in addition to powerful female leads that are career-oriented and rely on their friends to navigate life, the characters are also trendy and stylish, gowned in some of the best designer pieces, in case you’re looking for a closet revamp. Collins not only stars as the lead character, but she also serves as a producer on the series. Patricia Field, the lady behind the flawless costumes in Sex and the City and The Devil Wears Prada, is in charge of wardrobe.
Expect nothing less than sartorial excellence, light hearted entertainment all delivered with trend-setting style.
‘Emily In Paris’ debuts on Netflix October 2nd.
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