A new season of Emily in Paris has arrived, but for many viewers, the latest romantic twists feel more frustrating than fun. The fifth season, which began streaming on Netflix on December 18, 2025, follows Emily Cooper’s move to Rome for work and a new relationship with the Italian fashion heir Marcello. Yet, as the story unfolds, the show circles back to a familiar face, leaving a vocal part of its audience asking if Emily’s story is moving in circles.
Season 5 Story and Ending Explained
The season picks up with Emily leading the new Rome office of Agence Grateau and deeply involved with her boyfriend, Marcello. Her professional life hits a major obstacle when a launch event for Marcello’s family brand goes wrong, resulting in the agency being fired. This work crisis spills into her personal life when she discovers Marcello had been negotiating to sell his family company without telling her, leading to their first breakup.
Although the pair later reconcile, their final split is more definitive. In the season finale, Marcello asks Emily to leave Paris and move to his small hometown in Italy to help run his new fashion house. In a moment of clarity during a gondola ride in Venice, Emily realizes this is not the life she wants and turns him down.
“I think she acknowledged that it wasn’t the life that she wanted and she wasn’t done living the exploration of herself yet,” actress Lily Collins said about Emily’s choice.
The final scene shifts to Gabriel. After taking a job as a private chef on a billionaire’s yacht, he receives a text from Sylvie informing him Emily is single. From Greece, where he is on a break, Gabriel writes Emily a postcard, inviting her to join him. The season ends without showing her response, setting up a potential reunion for a future season.
Fan Reactions: A Divided Audience
The release of Season 5 has sparked strong and divided reactions online. A common criticism is that the show’s plot feels repetitive, with Emily cycling through relationships only to return to the possibility of Gabriel.
One viewer expressed this frustration on social media: “Every season of this show is just Emily dating and breaking up with a random man just to go back to Gabriel, break up with him and go date another random man”. Others felt the storylines seemed “forced” and that the character lacked development.
However, not all feedback was negative. Many loyal fans enjoyed the new episodes and the shift in scenery to Italy. “Already binged all 10 episodes!! Definitely need a SZN 6,” wrote one fan on Instagram, with others agreeing they “really enjoyed this season”.
Critics also had mixed opinions. Some reviews were harsh, with one calling the show “terrible” and suggesting viewers “turn off their brains” to enjoy it. Others acknowledged its flaws but saw value in it as a light, fashionable escape. The season holds a 67% rating on Rotten Tomatoes as of this writing.
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What Comes Next for Emily and Gabriel?
While Netflix has not officially confirmed a sixth season, the ending clearly sets the stage for one. Creator Darren Star has teased the possibility of Emily visiting Gabriel in Greece. He also commented on the central relationship, noting, “I do believe that people can find their way back to each other”.
Lily Collins has shared her enthusiasm for the idea, saying, “I would love to go to Greece”. Darren Star emphasized that any location change must come from the story, but confirmed “Greece is definitely teased”.
The finale also left other characters’ stories up in the air. Mindy accepted a surprise proposal from Nicolas, but not before a tense moment with Alfie, with whom she had a secret fling earlier in the season. This creates a complicated situation, as Alfie is Emily’s ex-boyfriend, potentially leading to more drama in a future season.
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