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Four years ago, Emily Cooper burst onto our screens with her cringeworthy Americanisms, a wardrobe that seemed plucked from the Capitol in The Hunger Games, and a host of cultural missteps. As I watched from Cornwall during lockdown, likely still in my post-gym sweat, I couldn’t help but reminisce about my own blunders and romantic escapades during my student year abroad in France. Emily’s abrupt relocation to Paris to fill in for her pregnant boss seemed unexpected, though my own move was even more unforeseen—triggered by the profound loss of my father.

Unlike Emily, who seems to thrive in Parisian high fashion, I found solace in the comfort of my gym wear and chose Lyon over Paris. As Emily in Paris gears up for its fourth season, I’m starting my fourth year living in France. While the show remains entertaining, I often find myself questioning the reality of Emily’s expat experience. Strangely, the show’s depiction of office life at Savoir, with its dramatic office politics, offers the most accurate glimpse into French working culture. It’s not the snide remarks—thankfully, no one has ever called me 'la plouc' (country bumpkin)—nor the blurring of business and pleasure, but rather the work hours.

In my co-working space, long lunch breaks at restaurants are the norm, and an expat friend with a traditional job finds herself arriving at work at 8:30 AM, only to spend the first hour alone, mirroring Emily’s often empty office scenes. Just like Emily, she has arrived to find the office dark and locked.

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From the very beginning, Emily in Paris has dazzled viewers with its visual appeal. At the start of season four, Emily excitedly tells her best friend Mindy, who’s in the shower (although unbeknownst to Emily, Mindy’s actually chatting with Emily’s love interest, Gabriel), “I saw hot men everywhere.” I had a similar experience when I moved from Cornwall to Lyon, my eyes widening at the array of attractive people around me. But was I really seeing more handsome men, or was it simply that my small, lockdown-era world had suddenly expanded?

In Emily in Paris, the romantic entanglements—love triangles, infidelity, and ever-shifting relationships—paint a picture of a world where love is anything but simple. While I’ve witnessed my fair share of complicated relationships and open arrangements in France, the same can be said for my social circle back in the UK. The show’s portrayal of French relationships perpetuates a certain stereotype, suggesting that native English speakers are either unable or unwilling to learn French. In reality, many French people speak English quite well, often thanks to its prevalence in popular culture.

However, in the mixed-nationality relationships I know, including my own, French often becomes the primary language of communication. Yet, there are certainly some anglophones who, like Emily, have lived in France for years and still struggle with basic phrases, such as ordering a coffee.

Read more: Where is Emily in Paris filmed? How to visit every Instagrammable location from each season

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One aspect of Emily’s life in Paris that feels particularly far-fetched is her extravagant lifestyle. The average marketing professional in Paris earns around €40,000 (£33,772) per year. While this is a decent salary, it’s not nearly enough to cover the cost of Emily’s chic apartment in the 5th arrondissement, which averages €1,756 (£1,483) a month—more than half her monthly income. And that’s not even considering her lavish wardrobe, unless she’s miraculously finding everything at French thrift shops.

In reality, with Emily’s salary, she’d likely be residing outside the city center or sharing a flat with three other people. Despite her impressive social life on-screen, Emily’s circle of friends is surprisingly limited, with her closest companion being fellow expat Mindy Chen. Do expats naturally gravitate toward each other? Absolutely, especially when you’re new in town. I, too, found comfort in connecting with fellow outsiders when I first arrived. They’re often more flexible with social schedules and less set in their ways.

However, unlike Emily, I’ve managed to blend into a diverse social network that includes both French and international friends. My workplace is predominantly French-speaking, and many of my friends are with French partners, creating a rich mix of cultural backgrounds. There are moments when the show captures some real challenges, such as Emily’s visa troubles in season three—though it would be nice if our paperwork could be expedited by a retweet from Brigitte Macron. Instead of splurging on extravagant hats, perhaps Emily should focus on improving her French skills.

Read more: The six Paris districts you should know

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How closely does Emily's glamorous Parisian existence align with the actual experience of living in the French capital? Stephanie Branchu/Netflix

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