'Emily in Paris', popular yet controversial

We can safely assume that the pandemic has us all hooked on Netflix, which isn't a bad thing. Considering all of the entertaining shows, this may not be surprising. Netflix has been releasing new shows regularly.

Among these, Darren Star's Emily in Paris has emerged as one of the most popular and slightly controversial shows on Netflix.

Darren Star, the creator of Sex and the City, brings another glamorous show to life with views of the beautiful city of Paris, a Chanel wardrobe, but unfortunately, multiple clichés. While on one hand, the audience loves the chick-flick, romantic and fashionable world of Emily played by a very lovely Lily Collins, the critics have commented on the stereotypes that the series seems to promote.

Emily, a Chicago marketing executive, is the show's protagonist as she adjusts to a new job in a new city. It's the ideal show to binge-watch because there's was only one season, but recently the second season has been released on Netflix. Still, unfortunately, this season's second was criticized globally for its cliches and stereotypes.

No one is waving down waiters and yelling "garçon" (french for 'boy') any longer.

In the first episode, Emily's boss, Sylvie, yells "garçon" at a waiter to request an ashtray. In the 1990s, she might have gotten away with it, but today, any server would be offended if you addressed them in that manner. Sylvie, a Frenchwoman, would be well aware of this archaic lingo.

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A job as a la dame pipi isn't prevalent.

After Mindy gets a job at a drag club, the first episode of season two centres on the trope of 'la dame pipi'.The term initially referred to a woman who cleaned public restrooms and sat in front of them with a plate for tips.

It's not the most glamorous title or position, especially for someone like Mindy, who is accustomed to a life of luxury. However, unlike the episode, most real-life toilet attendants are paid a regular salary in addition to their tips. The job is also not very common, and it appears that the writers have overexposed a now-defunct term.

Not just French women, but women all over the world would hesitate to excuse someone for sleeping with their boyfriend.

The majority of people would be furious. When Camille, Gabriel's girlfriend, confronts Emily for sleeping with her boyfriend, Mindy tells her that while most girls would forgive her, but a French girl would not.

It's amusing that the writers decided that sleeping with your friend's significant other was only a deal-breaker for French women.

The authors did not portray Eastern Europeans in a positive light.

We didn't want a different culture to be bashed instead of French culture when we asked the show to stop beating after season one. In French class, Emily sits next to Petra, a Ukrainian woman who shares Emily's passion for fashion. However, the character tricks Emily into stealing clothes and accessories from a store after less than 10 minutes on screen. I'm not sure how Ukrainians feel about this brief and somewhat derogatory depiction of their but I wouldn't be pleased.

Smoking inside has been prohibited in France

Emily's French boss, Sylvie, is repeatedly seen smoking inside the office. She even goes out of her way to smoke in Emily's face to be cruel.

There's no denying that the French are heavy smokers, but they don't smoke inside any longer. It's against the law.

The show creased down on painting all French individuals as cheaters.

Since season one, Gabriel's affair with Emily has been a central plot point, and the French are still portrayed as serial cheaters in season two. This stereotype revolves around Sylvie. She's Antoine Lambert's known mistress, but we also learn she's been married for a long time. She then goes on to start an open relationship with a young Dutchman.

Everyone is so open about their cheating, and it just seems unrealistic. At the very least, I'd expect them to keep it a little more under wraps.

American culture is all about profits

Emily's American boss, Madeline Wheeler, arrives in Paris at the end of the season, heavily pregnant, to check in on the French office. She, like Emily in season one, is utterly oblivious to cultural nuances. By being both completely unaware and a generally rude manager, she effectively drives the entire French office away.

She frequently emphasizes that Savoir is 'part of an American conglomerate,' believes that the French market can be controlled using her American model, and completely dismisses Sylvie as the driving force behind Savoir's success.

While we understand that one of the central themes of Emily is the contrast of cultures, and making a new start in a new place, the writers and directors can create unique plots without over indulging in stereotypes.