by: Tanya Chang

Sports Editor

Netflix’s romantic comedy, Emily in Paris, returned for its anticipated fifth season on Dec. 18, 2025, creating conversation around the show’s mix of romance, fashion, and European culture. Since its debut in 2020, the series has remained very popular, drawing viewers in with its fast-paced storyline. Even though there are diverse reviews, the new season has already shown that Emily in Paris holds a strong fan base.

The show follows Emily Cooper (Lily Collins), an American marketing executive whose dream job in Paris eventually becomes more than just a temporary stay. Over the years, Emily’s idea of a Parisian lifestyle changes as work conflicts with personal relationships. Before, season four had Emily left with her work life was unsteady, her relationships were unresolved, and her identity shattered. Her life in Paris no longer felt stable, leaving her unsettled and looking for redirection despite building a strong foundation there.

This season has a huge shift, presenting what feels like a rebrand of Emily’s identity, Emily in Rome. The show places her in a new city, giving her a fresh start with an unknown place and new restrictions that she has to learn to navigate. Emily is hoping that being away from Paris will bring clarity from the chaos from Paris, but instead is facing many of the same emotional challenges while trying to enjoy a completely new lifestyle.

As the season progresses, Emily’s love interest becomes important to her story, which eventually leads to a breakup and forces her to think about what she wants, either love and independence. In work, she struggles to build herself in a new space, and personal relationships continue to create an uneven division between self priority and emotional setback.

While Emily in Paris contains bold fashion, luxury, and romance, season five turns to a more limited and narrow perspective than before. The show tries to balance fantasy with character growth, resulting in a plot that feels both familiar to the viewers. Some watchers like this change, but others argue that the series relies on repetitive patterns. I think season five continues the show’s culture, it feels less memorable. The move to Rome felt random, and the story moved around so much that it was hard to see Emily grow as a person. It is still entertaining to watch, but I feel like the show cared more about outfits  and the overall scenery appeal than giving Emily character development.

The new season continues to attract audiences worldwide and keep online conversation weeks after its release. With the unofficial move to Emily in Rome, character dynamics, and emotional tests, season five proves that Emily Cooper’s journey is nowhere near the end.

(Sources: Netflix Tudum, Slant Magazine, TechRadar)