If You Liked 'Emily in Paris', You Should Check Out 'Call My Agent!'

Hello and bonjour! You've likely heard of Emily in Paris on Netflix, and if so, what's your opinon? Because we ALL have an opinion about this show. A lot of people have enjoyed this show, and a lot of people haven't. Much of that has to do with what Emily in Paris is meant to be-- what it tried to do-- versus what it comes off as. I'm a firm believer in all of us having our own opinions, so let's dig in to what makes this show polarizing, and why Call My Agent! is an amazing show to check out for purveyors of all opinions on Emily in Paris.

People what watch it get different things from it. For those who enjoy it, Emily in Paris has served prescribed doses of whimsical wanderlust and escapism to medicate feelings of isolation due to the pandemic, and satiate cravings of wanting to be somewhere else. One of the show's stars is the city of Paris itself. Paris provides a luscious set for the show, as a famously, indisputably beautiful city.

Coming from the creator of Sex and the City, Emily in Paris is mainly about a young Midwestern American woman and marketing executive, Emily Cooper (played by Lily Collins), who lands a job at a firm in Paris. For niche and subject matter, the show largely falls in the romantic comedy category. With a premise like this show's-- a premise with a lot of promise-- there's quite a bit of potential to work with at the outset. It focuses on some charming elements and visuals, and others that are slightly eyeroll-inducing and touristy, coupled with an overflowing basket of croissants and clichés. It features plot points about business, social media, romance, and plenty of fashion. The looks have scored sartorial points. It's fluffy and sometimes fluff is fun. Right? What's not to love?

Shows aren't supposed to always give every perspective of every little thing. You don't have to, and that's okay. Shows are part of an artist's license to tell the story they want to tell. That's what fiction is all about. But those who criticize Emily in Paris (I'll be honest, I'm part of this category) believe they skipped over a lot, almost to the point that the show is a "hate-watching" phenomenon. That's where I come in.

I found the portrayal of French culture deduced and reduced to lazy stereotypes, oversimplifications, and falsehoods. It doesn't provide a nuanced view of a French company's reception to an inexperienced entry/junior level associate from the U.S. (for some reason, they think Emily's brilliant at some point), nor does it try to unpack the realities of a foreigner starting a new life in a city where the person doesn't speak the langauge. There are a lot of little things that become obstacles when there's a language barrier. Her dalliances with various male characters fawning over her, and frivolous approach paints Emily in Paris as strictly a fantasy. I LOVE a good fantasy but I had to stop with this one, until she grows as a character. She tries to command that her presence is enough. I'm not convinced.

It's great to be positive and feel like your new city is a playground waiting to welcome you in its web of everyday occurrences, relationships, and magic. Sense of wonder and discovery is heightened-- the mundane can seem fresh again during the honeymoon phase as a traveller, or a settler new to town. There's a rush of endorphins in a situation like that. But maybe it'd be nice to show some reality too! (OR maybe it's just me.) This is a real, actual city and its inhabitants-- your new neighbors-- are not just pawns waiting to worship you. (Spoiler alert- they shouldn't and they're not going to.) There are people living, working, loving, hating, and breathing in this city who are not your little toys in a game. Once the dust settles this is a city with two sides of its coin like everywhere else. Paris has a grittiness to it; it's multifaceted and tied by multiple unique strings, like most other large cities in the world. The gritty and the gorgeous and all the cream in between.

I have particular ire for the way Emily spoke to her server regarding her steak and the way she ordered it (and sent it back to "educate" the server in customer service. Yuck). The stereotype that the French are mean can fall flat and fall hard in real life. "French are rude, French are disagreeable, it's an illogical culture" etc... wrong and wrong and wrong. I visited Paris and made effort to better learn the language months before I went. I did NOT encounter an army of mean people, including servers at restaurants or cafes-- not a single one. They were actually really sweet, from the bistro to the Baccarat. The French appreciate foreigners making an effort to speak the language, even if you're not great at it, and that applies to the workplace too. (Arrogant ignorance and entitlement aren't a good look, no matter how you dress.) No matter where you go, if you're disrespectful and assume the world will bow down to you, then yes, people will be assholes. You'll need to learn the language, Emily! And get a map while you're at it. Paris's snail-like circle of arrondissements is easy to navigate if you try for 2 seconds.

NOW... onto my comparison-- or recommendation, shall we?

I saw there were shows suggested as recommendations by way of Emily in Paris, such as Younger, and The Carrie Diaries. It's also been compared to The Devil Wears Prada. BUT... the best recommendation came from my friend (thanks, Lisa!) and I'll share it here too. She said I should watch Call My Agent!-- also on Netflix. I looked it up and knew I had to try it.

'Call My Agent!', or 'Dix pour cent' in France, is a French-language show (with subtitles) that takes place in Paris. It's been compared to 'The Office', among other shows and satire, and was a big hit in France. Like 'Entourage', it's a comedy on talent management, with a touch of the talents' egos. It's about the four agents at the top of a talent agency for celebrities, specifically actors.

The first season opens with one of the characters, a young 20-something probably around Emily's age, also arriving in Paris in search of opportunity. (She's not coming from the U.S., but from another part of France.) I will NOT spoil the show because it gets good. Really good! (Which come to think of it, it makes sense that it has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.)

For viewers of Emily in Paris who are francophiles or just simply want to keep appreciating French culture in a gem of a show, definitely check this out. If you enjoyed Emily in Paris and want comedy or romance, check this out because you'll find those things here. There's escapism here, and there's authenticity, too. Characters can be both well-coiffed and a relatable hot mess. There are well-rounded plots. It's smart and sharp. It's also funny, something I thought was lacking in Emily in Paris' airy and vacuous attempts at humor.

As for the glamor aspect, it has that too. Call My Agent! involves something many of us perceive to be glamorous-- the film and entertainment industry-- and gives us a fictional behind the scenes look, since the show is about agents representing actors. Episodes feature French actors and celebrities guest-starring and playing themselves. Fun fact for those looking for a crossover: the two shows share an actor. Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, who plays Catherine Barneville in Call My Agent!, plays Sylvie Grateau, Emily's stylish boss.

With that, Call My Agent! features plenty of office politics and the nuances of show business and its cut-throat world. It has jaw-dropping moments. And the show serves plenty of problems that could have been solved with simple communication, so amazing scenarios ensue. It, too, is shot in Paris, showing things like the locals' nightlife and the personal lives of the characters. Best of all, the characters aren't tokens, stereotypes, caricatures, or cartoon cut-outs, even if they're mistreated as such. They're realistic, thoughtful, and sometimes neurotic. A diverse microcosm of characters are in this show, and they're normal, complex people trying to make it.

In sum, if you're a fan of Emily in Paris, Call My Agent! is a cool show to check out and, if you're looking for it, it affords another look and appreciation of culture for the non-French. It may not be the same genre-- Call My Agent! isn't fluff or rom-com, but it does offer hilarity and wit. And it gives a perspective and a look at life in this city of cultures within a culture. There are aspects of Paris that run deeper than one exported surface, and the characters aren't really wearing runway looks if they're on a mediocre entry-level marketing import's budget. Think more... understated, non-loud palettes.

So... with all that being said, I watched and well-- my friend's recommendation was wise! So if you enjoyed Emily in Paris (or didn't), check out Call My Agent!

Merci for reading! Let me know what you think, disagreements are welcome. If you liked my article, feel free to tap the heart below!