Forget love triangles; ‘Emily in Paris’ is a workplace fantasy

When people talk about Emily in Paris, they often chalk up its appeal to the classic rom-com formula: a young woman in a new city, a love triangle, some drama, and a few swoon-worthy kisses. But let’s be honest, the romances on the show are just the icing on the cake. What truly draws viewers in, especially millennials and Gen Z, is something deeper, more relatable, and far more enviable: the workplace fantasy.

More than just a rom-com

Sure, Emily's love life adds spice to the show. The tension between her and the emotionally-unavailable French chef downstairs, the easy friendship with the brooding but steady Brit, and the subsequent romantic chaos do keep the plot moving. But those moments take a backseat to the bigger allure: her effortlessly glamorous life. It's not just about who she's dating; it’s about where she’s working, how she’s living and the fantasy of having it all... in Paris.

Work that looks nothing like work

In ‘Emily in Paris’, Emily strolls into a posh marketing firm, where, in the first season itself, she is told that the Parisians consider it offensive to talk shop once off the clock. Accustomed to a different culture completely, that work-life balance is something many can only dream of.

That’s not all. She is perpetually dressed to the nines in designer clothes, pitches quirky ideas that somehow always land, and attends client meetings that look suspiciously like wine tastings. There’s no time-tracking app, no passive-aggressive Slack messages, and definitely no soul-sucking Zoom calls. Her work life feels spontaneous, creative and shockingly stress-free.

This isn’t just fiction; it’s escapism. And for a generation drowning in burnout, side hustles, and back-to-back meetings, the idea of working in a space where your opinion matters, your outfits shine and your lunch break happens outside, it all feels like pure wish-fulfillment.

The true Parisian dream

Emily’s version of Paris is Instagram come to life. She wakes up in an adorable apartment with a balcony view, grabs a coffee (in heels, no less), and spends her days hopping between cafés, parties and clicking photos.

It's a glossy take on what could be the kind of existence that feels wildly out of reach for most young adults navigating tight budgets, rising rents and soul-crushing workloads.

Romance is fine, but flexibility is better

Let’s face it: Love stories are everywhere. But what sets ‘Emily in Paris’ apart is how it taps into something more relevant. It speaks to a generation craving autonomy, expression and a break from hustle culture. Emily’s real love affair isn’t with Gabriel or Alfie—it’s with a lifestyle that looks beautifully, impossibly effortless.

Why we keep watching

At its heart, ‘Emily in Paris’ offers more than just romance—it offers a utopian version of adulthood. One where jobs are exciting, there is variety and creativity in the workplace, and work-life balance actually exists. That’s why we tune in. Not to see who Emily ends up with, but to live, even for 30 minutes, in a world where everything feels a little more possible and a whole lot more fun.