Emily in Paris Recap, Season 2, Episode 4: “Jules and Em”

Emily practices her (unwelcome and far too early) apology and explanation with Mindy, who wisely tells her, “The more you say, the worse it sounds.” Oddly enough, Mindy gives the reason Camille wouldn’t forgive Emily for being French, which doesn’t make sense. Haven’t we spent the whole series being pampered with all the way French women are soooo laissez-faire in terms of relationships, monogamy, loyalty and other so curious puritanicals, How do you say American concepts? However, I say this: Emily’s crop top in this scene is very cute. (Her hair is still terrible, although we will find out later that she used dog shampoo … maybe we will see an improvement once she corrects that mistake.)

Our show has painted itself in the corner here. I suppose we want to plead for the salvation of fair Emily. But Emily did a shitty thing and then made that shitty thing worse with her ongoing betrayal and denial, so Camille is completely in her right to refuse any olive branch Emily throws in her direction – especially considering Emily always is still lies (to yourself and everyone else). about their goals and intentions here re: Gabriel. Emily’s dream is a very youthful, albeit relatable, dream: she just wants everyone to like her all the time, no matter what she says or does.

In real life, I feel like Camille and Emily would never have to talk to each other again. Camille has only known Emily for what, three months? I can’t say how long she’s been in Paris, but obviously Camille has a whole life, a social circle, a career, etc. But the show’s imagination requires everyone to get around somehow at some point, so I’m very curious to see how they bring us to this place. Also, I really want to know if the writers read all of the review on the show and realized that they had to make a character a substitute for the audience in order to basically tell Emily how much she sucks. Which, hilariously, and in an extremely satisfying twist, pretty much everyone does in this episode! The only person who not Believes Emily is the worst and / or needs to change her behavior is Gabriel, who, as we know, is even worse than her.

Speaking of Gabriel: I think it’s great that Camille has pushed Gabriel’s precious omelette pan into the toilet, which means that he unfortunately has to wash it off with soap and water. Absolutely brilliant. Really, everything Camille says and does in this episode is so accomplished and thoughtfully petty. Because Emily is obviously into Gabriel even though she swears she isn’t, she slaps his cast iron pan (these things are so damn heavy) all the way to his restaurant to dramatically give them back to him instead of just standing in front of his leave apartment door. Emily accuses Gabriel of “hiding” from Camille. I mean, yes, but she also wants to be left alone, so at least he respects her boundaries, unlike you, Emily!

Unfortunately, Emily cannot hide, because Camille is in Savoir because of a meeting. Emily is playful mean to Julien, and I think Girl you can’t afford another enemy right now. In a perfect and ingenious step in power, Camille insists that the meeting be held in French. In all honesty, I know the whole show is in English for our benefit, but it’s very strange that these meetings weren’t held in French from the start. Emily hid her cute crop top under an unfortunate, green, oversized plaid blazer. Emily wants to explain herself to Camille; Camille tells her to piss off, as is fine with her. Emily, unable even to use her contextual clues to know what is going on, relies on Sylvie’s translation of that denial. Sylvie, whose dress is Great. Sylvie, who has never been wrong again, asks Emily to learn French.

I actually laughed out loud when Emily discovered that she was the only student in her class who didn’t advance to French 2. She goes into the classroom, where she has to choose a partner with whom she speaks only French. It obviously feels like this is the moment she meets a new hot guy, and she does, thank you God. But their sharing here confused me: it seemed like he didn’t want to work with her, but at the end of the episode when she goes back to his desk he says, “I knew you were coming back,” so let’s take it that way ? she have continued to work with him? And in general, why is Emily so reluctant to just … meet a hot person … and meet them … the normal way? Anyway, she teams up with Petra the shoplifter for a little detour that I found kind of boring because the show obviously won’t get Emily anywhere near a strikingly handsome man and not let her be his college friend. Although in the interest of finding ways to be kind to our anti-heroine, I’d like to find out that her lipstick looks great.

Over in the drag bar, Mindy is torn from her life as a lady pee by a couple of guys in a band. She later learns that they don’t have so much “gigs” but are busking in quaint places in Paris, and again it’s a whole sequence that feels like a very strange use of Mindy – not because they’re not singing should (she should!), but everything in such a brief show (30-minute episodes, praise be) has to serve character and story or it’s pointless, so the song selections that take up several minutes of screen time should actually make sense or be interesting or be somehow relevant – or at least be French? Why does she sing “All by Myself” when she experiences exactly the opposite, that is, she has connected with two bandmates and no longer works alone? Anyway, great job not to be completely pushed into the background by a mime artist.

Back in Savoir, Emily is cut off from Camille’s calls – another powerful move by Camille. Luc offers to take her to a classic French film that, knowing Luc, I thought would be porn, but it’s François Truffauts Jules and Jim. Before the movie night, Emily picks up a new customer: Leek. These humble root vegetables are ready to be the next Brussels sprouts.

Emily ruins her harmless outfit with a black and white checked bucket hat (with a crystal pendant !?) (Was this episode actually brought to us by Leek?) Emily doesn’t think she and Gabriel should hang out, and I ask … why not? I mean, I know why I think they shouldn’t be together (he’s rubbish) but she doesn’t think he’s rubbish and Camille hates them both, so why not just get together? Burn the bridge, let it go! But no, Emily cannot do what would be easy and fun.

Time for FOOD METAPHORS: Leeks cannot be rushed. “Keep the heat low and take it slow,” says Gabriel. I wonder if this is perhaps advice a person should take outside of the kitchen as well? Emily tells Gabriel that Camille has banished her from her life; Gabriel says, “Yeah, I mean just let her do it, I don’t care” (paraphrase), but will Emily listen to this? No, and even worse: under their influence, Gabriel will ignore his better instincts and simply (!) Without being asked (!!) drop by Camille’s work to ask Emily’s Case (!!!). Uhhhh. Emily reveals that she is “a girl from Chicago who can’t magically transform herself into someone who can sleep with her friend’s boyfriend and doesn’t care.” Emily, you don’t need a magical transformation … you already did and didn’t care until you got caught. Emily wants Gabriel to lie to Camille and say her sex didn’t mean anything. I don’t understand why she is so intent on bringing these two irreconcilable people back together !!

When Gabriel shows up at Camille’s gallery to ask her not to blame Emily, Camille says, “It’s not like she tripped and fell on your cock.” Gabriel “just wants everyone to get along,” which means that he only wants to be able to have sex with whoever he wants and nobody blames him for how his actions feel. Camille, the only adult in the room (next to my beloved Sylvie) tells him that this act would have charmed her five years ago, but it’s time to grow up.

Emily and Luc go to the cinema. I’m pretty sure there weren’t even any subtitles, so obviously Emily had no idea what was going on. She says she liked it but was frustrated with all of this theoretically avoidable confusion. Pots and kettles, Emily. Against all the advice and good judgment of every single person she spoke to on the matter, Emily decides to write Camille a letter – in French. She writes this personal note on working paper in the office. “What is the name of ‘I didn’t know he was your boyfriend when I kissed him’ in French?” She asks helplessly. I love Sylvie’s answer to Emily’s question as to whether her sentence is “grammatically correct”: “It’s definitely in your voice.” When Emily puts this piece of paper in an envelope, I write: “Good God, at least let someone proofread it, you idiot. “But no, Emily has Camille deliver the note – at work! Jesus, let the girl do her job! Can’t she have any rest? – and we see in the style of Jules and Jim, Emily’s almost incoherent attempts to apologize.

In the office, Emily is finally wearing a cute and matching work outfit while she says “Le leek, c’est chic!” as a slogan which, you know what, is not so hideous. But the customers are overwhelmed. Of course, Luc has an idea that involves a lot of nudity. Sylvie comes by to discover a secret among French women: cook and drink leeks to lose weight. “Magical Leek Soup.” Emily is appalled and insists that health and wellness are important to Americans. But everyone else tells her no, what Americans love is a quick and easy fix. HMMM. Emily escalates from soup to cold pressed juice, and boom, you have a successful product. It makes her feel gross, but I hope that’s at least taught her that working together leads to the best ideas.

The postman comes through Savoir’s office with a reply from Camille. The best part is when he asks Sylvie if she is Emily Cooper and Sylvie says, “How dare you.” Sylvie translates Camille’s answer, which has this impeccable signature: “Leave me alone, you uneducated sociopath.” IMPRESSIVE. 10/10, I don’t have any notes.