Everything the ‘Emily in Paris’ Cast Has Said About Season 2: Throuple Speculation, Hitting Back at Criticism and More

Credit: STEPHANIE BRANCHU/NETFLIX © 2020

Everything the ‘Emily in Paris’ Cast Has Said About Season 2: Throuple Speculation, Hitting Back at Criticism and More

Extending her stay! Emily in Paris will officially return for season 2 after months of teasing from Lily Collins and the rest of the cast about what is in store for the new episodes. Netflix announced the renewal on November 11. “Deux is better than un,” Collins wrote via Instagram after the news broke. “I’m freaking out and beyond thrilled (much to Sylvie’s dismay) to announce @EmilyinParis will be returning for Season 2! Thank you guys for the love and support and I hope you’re as excited as we are!!” Emily in Paris premiered on the streaming platform on October 2. Created by Sex and the City’s Darren Star, the cast includes Collins (Emily), Lucas Bravo (Gabriel), Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu (Sylvie), Ashley Park (Mindy), Camille Razat (Camille), Samuel Arnold (Julien) and Bruno Gouery (Luc). The show follows the titular character as she relocates to France for work and navigates the cultural differences and her ever-changing love life. The dramedy faced backlash after its debut for its depiction of French people and other aspects of Emily’s glamorous existence. Collins, in turn, was among the cast members who addressed the controversy. [sendtonews type="float" key="AasCJbb5DI-2834397-14453"] “As disheartening as it sometimes is to read these things, it’s also a gift,” the actress told Vogue Arabia in her November 2020 cover story. “You’re being allowed to improve.” Bravo, for his part, agreed with the naysayers. “I think they’re right, in a way,” he admitted to Cosmopolitan. “We’re portraying clichés and we’re portraying one single vision of Paris. Paris is one of the most diverse cities in the world. We have so many ways of thinking, so many different nationalities, so many different neighborhoods. A lifetime wouldn’t be enough to know everything that’s going on in Paris. It’s an entire world in a city.” He continued: “At some point, if you want to tell a story about Paris, you have to choose an angle. You have to choose a vision. French critics, they didn’t understand the fact that it’s just one vision. They’re like, ‘Oh, this is not what Paris is.’ Of course. Paris is many things.” Scroll down to see everything the cast of Emily in Paris has said about season 2! [podcast_block]

Credit: STEPHANIE BRANCHU/NETFLIX © 2020

Everything the ‘Emily in Paris’ Cast Has Said About Season 2: Throuple Speculation, Hitting Back at Criticism and More

Extending her stay! Emily in Paris will officially return for season 2 after months of teasing from Lily Collins and the rest of the cast about what is in store for the new episodes. Netflix announced the renewal on November 11. “Deux is better than un,” Collins wrote via Instagram after the news broke. “I’m freaking out and beyond thrilled (much to Sylvie’s dismay) to announce @EmilyinParis will be returning for Season 2! Thank you guys for the love and support and I hope you’re as excited as we are!!” Emily in Paris premiered on the streaming platform on October 2. Created by Sex and the City’s Darren Star, the cast includes Collins (Emily), Lucas Bravo (Gabriel), Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu (Sylvie), Ashley Park (Mindy), Camille Razat (Camille), Samuel Arnold (Julien) and Bruno Gouery (Luc). The show follows the titular character as she relocates to France for work and navigates the cultural differences and her ever-changing love life. The dramedy faced backlash after its debut for its depiction of French people and other aspects of Emily’s glamorous existence. Collins, in turn, was among the cast members who addressed the controversy. [sendtonews type="float" key="AasCJbb5DI-2834397-14453"] “As disheartening as it sometimes is to read these things, it’s also a gift,” the actress told Vogue Arabia in her November 2020 cover story. “You’re being allowed to improve.” Bravo, for his part, agreed with the naysayers. “I think they’re right, in a way,” he admitted to Cosmopolitan. “We’re portraying clichés and we’re portraying one single vision of Paris. Paris is one of the most diverse cities in the world. We have so many ways of thinking, so many different nationalities, so many different neighborhoods. A lifetime wouldn’t be enough to know everything that’s going on in Paris. It’s an entire world in a city.” He continued: “At some point, if you want to tell a story about Paris, you have to choose an angle. You have to choose a vision. French critics, they didn’t understand the fact that it’s just one vision. They’re like, ‘Oh, this is not what Paris is.’ Of course. Paris is many things.” Scroll down to see everything the cast of Emily in Paris has said about season 2! [podcast_block]

Credit: Stéphanie Branchu/Netflix

When Will 'Emily in Paris' Season 2 Premiere?

All episodes of Emily in Paris Season 2 will release December 22 on Netflix, the streamer announced in September.

Credit: Carole Bethuel/Netflix

Where Will Season 2 Take Place?

A teaser trailer released at Netflix's TUDUM event in September revealed that Emily and her friends are in Saint-Tropez for vacation. The American can take a break from work, but everyone knows she can't escape the drama.

Credit: STÉPHANIE BRANCHU/NETFLIX

First Look

In September 2021, Netflix gave fans a peek at what's to come for Emily, Mindy and more of the show's quirky characters — complete with colorful fashion.

Credit: Courtesy Lucas Bravo/Instagram

New Adventures

Bravo shared a photo from set that teased the title for an upcoming episode, "Charade." 

Credit: LAURENT LAURENT VU/SIPA/Shutterstock

Paris Match

Collins, dressed in one of Emily's colorful looks, and Bravo were photographed filming scenes in Paris in July 2021. “I just think Paris itself is very much a character in it," the actress told Deadline in June 2021. “It was really different for me as a producer to take into consideration all of Paris, and I’m really proud for encouraging more inclusivity, more diversity, in front of the camera [and] behind the camera.”

She added about the new season: "It’s bright, it’s bold, it’s colorful — it’s a little bit obvious, which is [what] Emily is; she’s unapologetically so. The storylines are really, really great this year. I’m so proud of it.”

Credit: Jordan Strauss/January Images/Shutterstock

A New Amour

Oo la la! Netflix announced new cast members would be making their way to Paris for season 2, including a new love interest for Emily: Alfie. Played by Lucien Laviscount, the British character “gets under Emily’s skin before she starts to like [his] sarcastic charm,” Netflix wrote in May 2021 from their Netflix Queue Twitter account.

The streaming service also shared that playwright Jeremy O. Harris and French actor Arnaud Binard would appear on the show as an “iconic fashion designer” and “party boy owner of a popular Saint Tropez nightclub,” respectively.

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New Outlook

Emily in Paris' creator Darren Star shared that the main character would continue to adjust to French culture in season 2, but that it wasn't due to the viral reactions from the fans.

“The first season didn’t cover that much chronological time,” Star said during an interview with Variety in May 2021. 

He added: “When she got there, she got a bit of a free pass in the beginning and I don’t think it will be quite as easy for her in second season. I think she will be more assimilated, in terms of living in Paris and stepping up to the challenges of learning the language.

Credit: CAROLE BETHUEL/NETFLIX

Ready for More

Netflix confirmed in May 2021 that filming for season 2 of the campy series kicked off in Paris by sharing a faux memo from Savoir boss Sylvie Grateau (Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu). "Je serai breve. We are writing to inform you that Emily Cooper's new work permit has been approved with a start date of May 3, 2021," the announcement read. "As per our prior correspondence, she is an asset to Savoir and we hope she continues to have impact with our clients who are very particular about the results they expect from their agency. As we often work with very unique brands, we hope that Emily continues to immerse herself culturally here in order not to make any egregious faux pas. We will continue to keep you updated on her progress and accomplishments in the coming months."

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Exploring Her Options

When Collins spoke to Deadline in February 2021, she opened up what’s to come for Emily in the romantic department. “I don’t know what they’re writing right now, but I think it would be a little early for Emily to lock something in. I think she’s still exploring the prospects,” the actress explained. “Honestly, I think Emily doesn’t even know [what will happen], and that’s the beauty of the way that they write the show. She has yet to find all the qualities she maybe is looking for.”

Collins added, “But that being said, there is that connection with Gabriel, but now she has Camille in that love triangle, so I think there’s still experiences to be had, adventure to be had and she’s still finding herself.”

Credit: ROGER DO MINH/NETFLIX

Building Friendships

Collins teased that fans can expect to see more from Emily’s friendships in season 2. “I’m just so excited that Mindy has moved in with her. So, I can’t wait to hopefully see what madness ensues there,” she told Deadline in February 2021.  

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Emily’s Backstory

Collins hopes that fans will be able to gain a deeper sense of who her character is in the show’s sophomore season. “The first season, we only had ten episodes to really explore her new friends at work and who she meets outside of work. So, I’m excited to dive deeper into those backstories and spend more time intermingling the two groups of people that she meets,” she told Deadline in February 2021. “Now that we’ve seen her with all these ‘Parisisms’, maybe we get to actually get to a bit more of her backstory, and experience that with some of the other characters.”

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Emily (Not) in Paris

Season 2 of the series may venture outside of Emily’s new home. “At some point, I was joking with Darren and said, ‘Couldn’t they just, like, hop on the Eurostar and, like, have a British excursion?’ I think it could be Emily going to all these different places. It’s Emily in … and then insert the city. She could just take the train and go all over Europe, and Mindy and her could go together,” Collins told Harper’s Bazaar in October 2020. “I think that there’s so much personality that we can dive into more in the second season if we get to go.” 

Bravo, meanwhile, told Elle Australia later that month that the characters are “going to travel, for sure,” citing the vast areas in France worth exploring.

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The Love Triangle

Collins hinted that Emily’s love triangle with Gabriel and Camille is far from over. “It’s interesting because, in the series, there are tons of little moments where you’re like, ‘Does Camille like Emily?’ You can’t really get a vibe, and I feel like that ambiguity is what keeps Emily intrigued,” she explained to British Vogue in October 2020. “I think anyone in that position would be like, ‘You’re my friend, but now I have this romantic connection [with Gabriel], and I don’t want to hurt you, but … Oh, my God!’ So, you know what, it’s really confusing. I feel like the next season will only create more love triangle drama, although maybe Emily will have a little bit of a stronger handle on the situation. Or maybe not.”

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A Throuple?

The cast seems convinced that an Emily-Gabriel-Camille relationship is in the cards. “There’s a good way to settle all of this and maybe when there’s a conflict of interest like this, maybe just reuniting all parties would be a good solution,” Bravo suggested to TV Guide in October 2020. “We live in a free world so maybe the sexual tension between Camille and Gabriel and Emily and everybody could bring [this] to something.” 

Razat then chimed in: “Maybe they will be in a free love. They can be in a throuple, totally.”

Credit: STEPHANIE BRANCHU/NETFLIX

Emily’s Work and Personal Life Collide

Park teased that her character, Mindy, will mingle with Emily’s coworkers. “Mindy still hasn’t met Sylvie or Julien or Luc so it’ll be fun if those worlds merged a bit,” she told TV Guide, while Bravo noted to Elle Australia, “Everything is going to start mixing up and that’s when stuff is going to get interesting, I think.”

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Taking on the Haters

Collins reassured fans in October 2020 that season 2 of the show would evolve following criticism, explaining to Vogue Arabia that the producers “championed my opinions and opened me up to an experience that was so rewarding and empowering.”

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Mean Camille?

“I hope we will see more of Camille’s maybe dark side because she’s always in a good mood. And I think nobody is always in a good mood, even if you’re a good person,” Razat told Entertainment Tonight in October 2020. “So I hope that we can see more the tough part of her.”

Credit: Carole Bethuel/Netflix

Not ‘Annoying’

Collins defended her character, who got a bad reputation in season 1. “A lot of the qualities that Emily has, if you put them on paper, would seem so annoying,” she said in an October 2021 interview with Nylon. “To have someone be optimistic, bright and bubbly — it’s sad to think that people would look and go, ‘That’s a lot.’ They’re such beautiful qualities, and the fact that she can partner that with being vulnerable and asking for help and making mistakes — she’s not infallible.”

Credit: Carole Bethuel/Netflix

More Diversity

Viewers criticized season 1 for its lack of diversity — and Collins, both as the show’s star and producer, wanted to make sure that wasn’t the case in season 2.

“I really wanted diversity and inclusion in front of and behind the camera to be something that we really put our focus on, in a lot of ways,” she told Elle U.K. in November 2021. “Hiring new people in front of the camera, also giving new storylines to different characters, which was really important.”

Credit: Courtesy of Emily in Paris/Instagram

First Clips

The Netflix series’ official Instagram page shared several scenes from the upcoming second season in November 2021, including a moment between Emily and Mindy as the marketing exec packs for a weekend train getaway with a “nice, handsome, single man who I like a lot.” In a second clip, Emily is shocked when she spots a familiar face on her Saint Tropez vacation.

Credit: Netflix

First Trailer

The second season will pick up right where season 1 left off, the first trailer, released on November 18, revealed. "I used to be so decisive, but ever since I moved to Paris, my life has just been chaotic, and dramatic, and complicated!" Emily says in the video. Her boss, Sylvie (Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu), replies, "Oh Emily, you're getting more French by the day!"

Credit: COURTESY OF NETFLIX

Lily Collins’ Biggest Hopes

“I really hope people laugh and smile and get to have the same feelings of escapism and fun that they did the first season,” the Mank actress told Glamour in December 2021.

She added, “I hope viewers find more of themselves in different characters, and feel seen and represented in the show. And I hope that we get a season 3, because I really hope we get to come back and do this again.”

Credit: Stéphanie Branchu/Netflix

COVID-19 Doesn’t Exist

No masks, no problem! In Emily’s world, the coronavirus pandemic simply isn’t a thing to worry about — and Collins said the reason why is simple.

“Season 1 allowed us an escapism when it came out that it felt it was something that needed to continue — not addressing [COVID-19] because it brings a sense of escapism and joy and laughter in a time that we need it the most,” the Mirror Mirror actress told Variety in December 2021.

She admitted, however, that the decision to shoot in a city “that is highly populated where people are wearing masks, yet we’re shooting in a world that doesn’t exist with COVID” caused the occasional production problem.

The crew was always “making sure that when we’re rolling the masks are off and when we stop rolling they come back on,” Collins explained. “There were a couple of times when they started shooting and I was like, ‘Wait, half the people in the scene are still wearing masks.’”