‘Emily in Paris’, the hugely popular Netflix show is also in Rome for season 5. The French President, light-heartedly presumably, asks for it to return to Paris.
French President Emmanuel Macron says he’s not happy with the idea of ‘Emily in Paris’ relocating to Rome. He argues the move “makes no sense” and the series should stay in the French capital.
“We will fight to keep them in Paris,” Macron told Variety in an interview.
Rome’s mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, responded to Macron with a playful retort on X, saying, “Dear Emmanuel Macron, don’t worry: Emily is fine in Rome. And as we know, the heart goes where it wants; we let it choose.”
In a later interview with The Hollywood Reporter Roma, Gualtieri added, “You can’t pressure Netflix to change their plans. That’s just not how it works.”
Meanwhile, many Romans seem unfazed by the controversy. Social media reactions suggest many are indifferent, with comments humorously proposing to “send Emily back to France” in exchange for the Mona Lisa.
The fantasy that is ‘Emily in Paris’
‘Emily in Paris’, the Netflix show about a Chicago marketing executive’s awkward adaptation to life in France, is hugely popular. It has resulted in a huge boost in the number of tourists, and for local businesses. It has also brought about an increase in enquiries about property in the French capital.
But what viewers are getting is a sanitised version of Paris. Walking the streets of Paris on a normal day is nothing like a Fashion Week catwalk – not everybody is dressed to the nines. The Seine, as we know from the recent Olympics, is not a beautifully vibrant blue.
In the season four finale, the show’s protagonist, Emily Cooper, played by Lily Collins, trades Paris for Rome to launch an Italian branch of her marketing agency. Meanwhile, she continues her romance with Marcello Muratori (Eugenio Franceschini), a luxury cashmere entrepreneur.
And the same is true of scenes shot in Rome. It’s remarkably clean. It looks like it was filmed during 2020 there are so few people and cars on the streets – not the pulsating crowds and honking traffic jams you will find on a standard day in Rome.
However, that’s kind of the point of the show. It’s fantasy – and it doesn’t hide it.
More tourists in Rome?
If the same is true of Rome as Paris, then there will be an increase in visitor numbers to Rome. However, a word to the wise – next year is not the year to make your first trip to Rome, unless you’re coming for the Jubilee. I’d start booking for 2026.
2025 will see the Catholic faithful from all around the globe heading to Rome for the Jubilee celebrations. Already, lots of work is underway to the public transport systems to improve them ahead of the influx. That means what is already a packed city is going to be even more so.
The mayor of Rome has already said he is going to limit numbers to the Trevi Fountain next year. Queues to get into the Vatican, even with prepaid tickets, are enormous, not to mention being jostled once inside. And so it goes on.
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That’s not to say Rome is to be avoided, far from it. Just think carefully about when you visit, and don’t be misled by a Netflix series – people live and work in Rome, it’s a busy capital city. Be prepared and you’ll have a better trip.
