When the first season of Netflix’s Emily in Paris debuted in October 2020, it was met with both delight and ridicule: Delight at its escapism into sunny France from the election and pandemic. But also ridicule at Lilly Collins’ bubbly American abroad blithely Instagramming her croissants by the Seine. (“The whole city looks like Ratatouille!”)

Ridicule and delight are not mutually exclusive though, as Emily in Paris’ many hate-watchers can attest. So with the arrival of a second season, three writers with three very different opinions of the series sit down to laugh both at and with the show. They also attempt to process its exact appeal: Guilty pleasure? Hate-watch? Self-aware commentary on luxury?

Voices:

Sophie Gilbert

Spencer Kornhaber

Megan Garber

Further reading:

Netflix's Emily in Paris Is the Last Guilty Pleasure (The Atlantic)

The New Comedy of American Decline (The Atlantic)

Emily in Paris Is an Irresistible Fantasy (The Atlantic)

And Just Like That Is a Far Cry From 'Sex and the City' (The Atlantic)

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices