(81 mins) | Welcome to a special Emily in Paris extravaganza, featuring my boyfriend Avi Bonnerjee, lover of awful pop culture (and singer of today’s intro song), and good friend Harling Ross, professional peer of Emily Cooper. We discuss everything from Emily’s sex life and fashion choices to the show’s impact and place in the canon of American art. I’m been so blue lately and this conversation really cheered me up, so I hope it does the same for you! Please add all your EiP thots in the comments below.
I’m on Team Avi-Really-Needs-His-Own-Pod over here just so we’re clear. Haven’t watched even one ep of EiP (an probably won’t!) but def still enjoyed this conversation. Midwest shoutout!
I am French and I think that may automatically disqualify me from making any sort of comment on Emily, although I am also pretty much expected to be a “mean snob”? I feel like (and Haley sort of made that point I believe) this show has a “maga for white women” vibe to it. Everyone seems to be talking about how outdated it is, and I think that is the point, to create reassuring, nostalgic content. I was just ranting at my therapist the other day that we were force-fed those false feminist narratives as the only alternative to domesticity (make your own money! buy your own shoes!) all throughout the 90s and early 00s (I am 34yrs old), and as a leftist I still struggle with the emotional attachment I have to these success stories. Maybe we love/hate that feeling, and ourselves by extension.
Hi, just wanted to say, i've been having some rough days self-isolating lately (more than the usual anxiety) and i started listening to your podcast today, while obsessively cleaning my apartment. Thank you for doing this, it's definitely the reason my mood has improved today. Mostly this is an appreciation comment, i really like your writing style and the topics you talk about. Warm thoughts from far away Eastern Europe.
lollllllll this ep was so funny! I haven’t watched Emily in Paris and this was definitely better than doing that. But mostly came here to say how Smith Jerrod is the supreme SITC boyfriend and he is always forgotten!!!!! Ken doll hot, lowkey personality, unproblematic AND is the greatest supportive partner to Sam while she’s going through cancer?! Anyway that’s my ted talk
I work in advertising in Chicago (they zoomed in on my office building at the beginning of the first episode- is it a sign? Probably not. But maybe.) and can attest to the fact that marketing people truly are corny. I hope there is a season 2 where she wins a Cannes Lion award for a #feminist social media campaign (AKA two posts that somehow go viral). Anyways it leads me to believe that I actually work with Emily but we have yet to meet because she went to Paris just before I started. Incredible how hard they tried to make her relatable by saying she's been to Wisconsin and likes deep dish pizza. All while wearing at $6K jacket. Lots to unpack.
My favorite thing that this show got absolutely wrong is the unrealistic way Emily made friends as an adult! Like it is so hard to make friends in a new city and this girl just sits down on a bench and photographs children (without their permission, gotta love it) and meets a girl who wants to be her bestie. This is truly THE devastating narrative that Hollywood tells young 20-somethings.
I listened to this while drinking store-bought sangria on my couch (in my defense it’s 10pm in the Netherlands atm) and it was so enjoyable. I laughed out loud so many times! Special mention to the Emily/Don Draper memes Harling mentioned (cracked me up even though I haven’t seen them) and the imperialist vibes you and Avi detected in the show (I loled at Avi’s prediction that in season 3 Emily will be the leader of Bolivia. LMAO.)
Justin Theroux plays the writer who finishes too quickly lol also I think he plays another Carrie love interest briefly in season 1 (the 30 under 30 guy or something who hits on her at the party) which endlessly confuses me. This was great, I also love the boomerang observation. Too true.
This is so refreshing (and I just started listening)! I watched the whole series, shaking my head the whole time. I don’t use Twitter, and the only comments I have seen were so complimentary I was totally confused, since I didn’t agree at all! Going back to continue listening...
I listened to this episode as I took a long walk in the streets of Paris, I decided to take a break from job hunting and get some fresh air behind a mask. It was cold and wet, people looked miserable, the perfect contrast. Not at all the bright , bubbly Emily in Paris style but beautiful none the less.
Enjoyed the EiP discourse! The comments here are also great, loved the Hallmark movie reference. One aspect worth mentioning is the travel nostalgia?! Am I alone in this? Having gone into the show with a predisposed love-to-hate-it attitude, my brain created a new alternative reaction which was to move the plot aside so I could focus on deep despair and longing about the ability travel outside the US. I feel like she sent that steak away from me personally.
I’m on Team Avi-Really-Needs-His-Own-Pod over here just so we’re clear. Haven’t watched even one ep of EiP (an probably won’t!) but def still enjoyed this conversation. Midwest shoutout!
Honestly agree
I am French and I think that may automatically disqualify me from making any sort of comment on Emily, although I am also pretty much expected to be a “mean snob”? I feel like (and Haley sort of made that point I believe) this show has a “maga for white women” vibe to it. Everyone seems to be talking about how outdated it is, and I think that is the point, to create reassuring, nostalgic content. I was just ranting at my therapist the other day that we were force-fed those false feminist narratives as the only alternative to domesticity (make your own money! buy your own shoes!) all throughout the 90s and early 00s (I am 34yrs old), and as a leftist I still struggle with the emotional attachment I have to these success stories. Maybe we love/hate that feeling, and ourselves by extension.
you are NOT disqualified this is a great comment
I feel like you should watch "The Hookup Plan" ("Plan Coeur," en français) to experience a more realistic show about 20-something Parisiennes
Noted!!
Second this. Love plan coeur
Hi, just wanted to say, i've been having some rough days self-isolating lately (more than the usual anxiety) and i started listening to your podcast today, while obsessively cleaning my apartment. Thank you for doing this, it's definitely the reason my mood has improved today. Mostly this is an appreciation comment, i really like your writing style and the topics you talk about. Warm thoughts from far away Eastern Europe.
warm thoughts right back! thank you for listening!
lollllllll this ep was so funny! I haven’t watched Emily in Paris and this was definitely better than doing that. But mostly came here to say how Smith Jerrod is the supreme SITC boyfriend and he is always forgotten!!!!! Ken doll hot, lowkey personality, unproblematic AND is the greatest supportive partner to Sam while she’s going through cancer?! Anyway that’s my ted talk
I DID forget about smith jerrod!!!
I work in advertising in Chicago (they zoomed in on my office building at the beginning of the first episode- is it a sign? Probably not. But maybe.) and can attest to the fact that marketing people truly are corny. I hope there is a season 2 where she wins a Cannes Lion award for a #feminist social media campaign (AKA two posts that somehow go viral). Anyways it leads me to believe that I actually work with Emily but we have yet to meet because she went to Paris just before I started. Incredible how hard they tried to make her relatable by saying she's been to Wisconsin and likes deep dish pizza. All while wearing at $6K jacket. Lots to unpack.
Hahaha can't believe they showed your office building...powerful
My favorite thing that this show got absolutely wrong is the unrealistic way Emily made friends as an adult! Like it is so hard to make friends in a new city and this girl just sits down on a bench and photographs children (without their permission, gotta love it) and meets a girl who wants to be her bestie. This is truly THE devastating narrative that Hollywood tells young 20-somethings.
Avi don’t downplay your social media presence! I live for your Friday news and those unsettling bean images. 🥴
"Emily in Birth of a Nation"
I listened to this while drinking store-bought sangria on my couch (in my defense it’s 10pm in the Netherlands atm) and it was so enjoyable. I laughed out loud so many times! Special mention to the Emily/Don Draper memes Harling mentioned (cracked me up even though I haven’t seen them) and the imperialist vibes you and Avi detected in the show (I loled at Avi’s prediction that in season 3 Emily will be the leader of Bolivia. LMAO.)
Justin Theroux plays the writer who finishes too quickly lol also I think he plays another Carrie love interest briefly in season 1 (the 30 under 30 guy or something who hits on her at the party) which endlessly confuses me. This was great, I also love the boomerang observation. Too true.
omg YES how could we forget!!
Came here to say that, too!!
hahaha the boomerangs! comforted by this discourse, thank you. pairs well with this masterful thread: https://twitter.com/ArthurAsseraf/status/1312073879616131072?s=20
I’m dyin this is hilar
This is so refreshing (and I just started listening)! I watched the whole series, shaking my head the whole time. I don’t use Twitter, and the only comments I have seen were so complimentary I was totally confused, since I didn’t agree at all! Going back to continue listening...
I listened to this episode as I took a long walk in the streets of Paris, I decided to take a break from job hunting and get some fresh air behind a mask. It was cold and wet, people looked miserable, the perfect contrast. Not at all the bright , bubbly Emily in Paris style but beautiful none the less.
Enjoyed the EiP discourse! The comments here are also great, loved the Hallmark movie reference. One aspect worth mentioning is the travel nostalgia?! Am I alone in this? Having gone into the show with a predisposed love-to-hate-it attitude, my brain created a new alternative reaction which was to move the plot aside so I could focus on deep despair and longing about the ability travel outside the US. I feel like she sent that steak away from me personally.