As one of Netflix's latest high-profile dramedies, the Lily Collins-starring Emily in Paris has enjoyed a pretty solid October, gaining tons of viewers as it jumped around the streaming service's daily Top 10 TV shows ranking. Granted, the Darren Star-created series has not been without its woes to cope with, given that many French viewers have had bones to pick with Emily in Paris for leaning too heavily on overused stereotypes and viewing France through rose-colored TV glasses. While there's arguably some merit to some of those particular criticisms going against it, the show's French star Lucas Bravo says one of those clichés is right on the money.
In Emily in Paris, Lily Collins' titular American who gets a marketing job in France and marvels at the world around her while meeting new people such as Lucas Bravo's Gabriel. Bravo previously spoke out in semi-agreement with some of the critiques the show has earned, and while recently speaking with People, Bravo humorously pointed out one very specific stereotype that he considers the biggest, even if it's totally based in reality.In his words:
For me the biggest cliché, so to speak — that actually is so true — is people smoking after the gym. It's so true.
To many people, mixing a gym workout with cigarette smoke probably sounds like antithetical behavior in every way possible. But to some people out there, the only way to follow up any big burst of physical energy is to settle the nerves with a big burst of nicotine. That's the kind of authentic stereotypical behavior that can be seen on display in Emily in Paris. Lucas Black continued joking, saying:
You know, 'Oh, after this big effort, the lungs are perfectly open and ready to receive some nicotine, so let's smoke a cigarette.’ It is so French, and I was actually surprised that [creator Darren Star] put that in the show. It was really funny.
One can only wonder how many American stereotypes would come up if a French TV creator crafted a show in which a Parisian female traveled across the pond to join a U.S. marketing firm. Perhaps it would involve characters recreationally smoking marijuana (only in certain states) after going to the gym. Or maybe just skipping the gym altogether and shoveling deep-dish pizza in their faces while watching Netflix shows. Which is basically just Le Beavis & Le Butt-Head, I guess.
Creator Darren Star addressed the complaints and criticisms about all the French stereotypes, but not in any kind of apologetic way. Rather, Star purposefully wanted to glamorize Paris so that the show could experience the city through Emily's eyes. And those eyes just happened to see a lot of snooty sales clerks and people smoking outside the gym, as well as the Eiffel Tower a lot.
All episodes of Emily in Paris Season 1 are currently available to stream in full on Netflix. While waiting to hear about a potential Season 2, head to our 2020 Fall TV premiere schedule to see what new and returning shows are on the way.
