The first season was about Emily getting to Paris and getting accustomed with the local culture and her collogues.
- Generally, the main storyline of her being at the news agency and working on their projects was barely okay. Projects were small and most of them were following the same arch: she messes up something because she doesn't understand the culture then she fixes it because she is witty. The best thing about the season was the cultural comparison between America and France and its philosophical consequences. Unfortunately these were mostly done to progress the story and they also seems to be stereotypical and exaggerated.
- The other significant portion is about Emily getting in bed with half of Paris. Probably that is what supposed to make this "romance". She plays moral police yet she sleeps with everybody on the first night after they do some romantic "parisian" stuff. All of her partners are shallow and serve a singular throwaway purpose as a stereotypical character with a convenient flaw that makes it okay for her to break up so she can get together with more men.
Both storylines meant to peak during the previous and this final episode. The fashion storyline was decent with some plot twists but nothing jaw dropping. The romance plot on the other hand just gets more scandalous especially during this episode where she sleeps with her friend's boyfriend. The show tries to make it justifiable by breaking up the other relationship first - which isn't the first time it reaches for this plot fuel move - but that still doesn't make it right. Gray zone at best, which seems deliberate, because this is where the drama comes from in this season which sets a horrible example.
This is exactly what really ruins the whole experience: the constant sexual licentiousness. Starting from the small things like the inappropriate genital "humor", through the constant weird nudity that makes the viewer uncomfortable, to the total lack of moral the show displays. Sexualizing women, romanticizing uncontrolled lust and the lack of loyalty, normalizing cheating, sexual affairs and free "love", some of the many sins this season committed in the name of of Paris, love, passion or romance.
Acting was mixed. Lily Collins slightly overplays her role, but her expressive delivery is enjoyable. Ashley Park is good too. The others are generally okayish but her collogues are horrendous. Feels like a soap opera.
The characters are super shallow. Everybody serves a single purpose: to embody a stereotype. It almost feels like a sitcom without the jokes.
Technical implementation is decent, although many of the visual aspect of the series comes from the fact that Paris is stunningly beautiful. The outfits of the characters are amazing, so props to the costume department.
All in all, it could have been an acceptable, slightly enjoyable first season if it hadn't been destroyed by constant sexuality and the lack of a moral standard.
