The glimmering Eiffel Tower looming over a sparkling city-scape. Romantic cobblestone streets decorated by delectable cafés and elegant boutiques. Boats gracefully drifting along the Sienne, creating an utterly picturesque scene. Who wouldn’t fall in love with the alluring fantasy of life in Paris?

Admittedly, it’s a somewhat overblown dream, but to many Americans there’s something elusive and mysterious about European life, and it’s this fantasy that new Netflix show, Emily in Paris, capitalizes on.

Created by Darren Star, film-maker revered for the cult classics 90210 and Sex in the City, this 10-episode rom-com follows the relocation of Emily Cooper (Lily Collins) to a French marketing firm, Savior. Her boss, played by Kate Walsh, who is supposed to be sent as the liaison between the French and American companies, finds out she’s pregnant and sends Emily as her replacement. Ironically, Emily speaks absolutely no French, and her “American point-of-view” isn’t met with much enthusiasm by her French colleagues. Navigating the seemingly glamorous reality of her new life, Emily is faced with a number of romantic predicaments and difficulties assimilating into the professional atmosphere of Paris. And what rom-com would be complete without a handsome love interest who is, of course, already committed to Emily’s new BFF in Paris? Amidst navigating a new job and complicated love life, Emily dips her toes into the world of Instagram marketing, quickly becoming an influencer on the app over the span of several weeks, going by the handle…you guessed it: @EmilyInParis.

As for my thoughts on the show…Did I finish 10 full episodes in one day? Yup. Did I procrastinate important work for college deadlines to fit in the last episode? Yup. Would I recommend the show? Obviously. 

But there are some things you should know before you dive into that all-consuming Netflix-binge.

First of all, the show is built on a number of clichés and French stereotypes. Although these may be purposefully included as a method of comedic exaggeration, they are in no way realistic. The people Emily meets throughout the show are truly just mean people, that seemingly hate Americans, which I very much hope is untrue. Then again, there are certain things about our main character that makes her colleagues’ demeanor negligible in my eyes, such as the fact that she was quick to impose her unique marketing ideas upon people of a much higher ranking within the company than herself. Coupled with her inability to speak French despite working at a French company, she often comes off as, for lack of a better word, annoying. Really annoying. 

Here are a couple of other things that irked me for absolutely no reason: 

• Emily is without fail dressed in a different designer or couture outfit each day, which I can only imagine the budget of a 20-something-year-old cannot support. 
• There’s also the added expense of dining, seeing as she seems to enjoy a Michelin-star worthy meal in every single episode, without fail. 
• Our main character also manages to amass 20k followers on Instagram within mere weeks, which considering the cringe-worthy content she posts, is quite shocking. 

Anyways, what makes this show worth it, despite the little annoying details, is the overall feeling it gives off, the vibes, if you will. For American viewers, watching this show will let you finally live out a fantasy that has always felt unattainable. Parisian viewers, or anyone European for that matter, spare yourself the pain and don’t watch this show.