Let’s be real for a second. We all wanted to love Gabriel. In the first season of Emily in Paris, he was the ultimate fantasy: a brooding, talented chef who lived just one floor away and looked like he stepped out of a cologne ad. He made omelets that looked like art and spoke in that low, raspy French accent that made Emily—and the rest of us—completely lose our minds. But five seasons in? Honestly, Emily in Paris Gabriel has become the guy your friends warn you about in the group chat.
The charm has worn thin.
While the show tries to paint him as the star-crossed lover, a closer look at his track record reveals something much darker. He’s basically three red flags in a chef’s coat.
The Great Communication Breakdown
Remember that "romantic" moment on the ski slopes in season 4? Emily is literally terrified, stuck at the top of a mountain she can't navigate, and what does Gabriel do? He leaves her. He chooses Camille. Again.
It wasn't just about the skiing. It was the fact that he didn't even look back. He assumed Emily would "figure it out" while he went off to play hero for his ex-girlfriend. This is the core issue with Gabriel. He doesn't actually show up when things get messy.
Then came the blowout in the village. If you watched that scene and didn't feel a pit in your stomach, watch it again. Gabriel berates Emily in French, a language he knows she hasn't mastered, essentially weaponizing her outsider status against her. He claims everything is on her terms. He complains about speaking English.
Wait.
🔗 Read more: Blink-182 Mark Hoppus: What Most People Get Wrong About His 2026 Comeback
Has he ever once offered to help her learn? No. He just waited until he was angry to use it as a blunt force object.
Why Lucas Bravo Almost Quit
It’s not just the fans who are feeling the "Gabriel fatigue." Lucas Bravo, the actor who brings the chef to life, has been shockingly vocal about his frustration. In a late 2024 interview with IndieWire, he famously said the character was being "slowly turned into guacamole."
He’s right.
Gabriel has become passive. He’s a victim of his own life. He lets Camille manipulate the pregnancy situation, he lets Genevieve slide into his personal space, and he waits for Emily to make every single move. Bravo admitted that playing someone so "melancholic and lost" season after season stopped being fun. When the actor playing the romantic lead is bored of the romance, you know you've got a problem.
The Marcello Threat: Team Italy Rises
Enter Marcello Muratori.
When Emily in Paris Gabriel decided to wallow in his Michelin-star drama, Marcello swooped in with a Vespa and actual emotional availability. Marcello represents everything Gabriel isn't: he's decisive, he's family-oriented without the toxic baggage, and he actually looks at Emily like she’s the only person in the room—not a secondary priority to a restaurant or a complicated ex.
💡 You might also like: Why Grand Funk’s Bad Time is Secretly the Best Pop Song of the 1970s
The season 4 finale saw Emily moving to Rome, and for a minute, it felt like she finally escaped the "Gabriel Loop." But, of course, the show wouldn't be what it is without a cliffhanger. Gabriel, spurred on by a pep talk from Alfie (who deserves better, let's be honest), decides he’s going to fight for her.
But is it fighting for her, or is it just ego?
What Actually Happens in Season 5?
If you've binged the most recent episodes, you know the Rome "takeover" was a rollercoaster. Gabriel actually shows up in Italy. He sees Emily with Marcello. And instead of fighting, he... just leaves.
Classic Gabriel.
He goes back to Paris, takes a job as a private chef for a billionaire named Thomas Heatherton, and decides he’s "running for the unknown." It’s the first time we’ve seen him do something that isn't motivated by Emily or Camille. It’s actually—dare I say—growth?
By the end of the season, Gabriel is cooking on a yacht in Greece, looking more like the Season 1 version of himself than we've seen in years. But then comes the postcard.
📖 Related: Why La Mera Mera Radio is Actually Dominating Local Airwaves Right Now
He hears Emily is single again after the Marcello engagement-that-wasn't, and he sends her a postcard from Greece. No text. No DM. A postcard. It’s a total "pick me" move, and yet, we know Emily is going to look at that stamp and feel that old pull.
The Michelin Star Problem
Gabriel finally got his star. He achieved the dream. But notice how empty it felt? He got the news from Genevieve, not Emily. He celebrated in a restaurant that felt more like a tomb than a triumph. The show is trying to tell us that professional success doesn't matter if the "L'Esprit de Gigi" is gone.
The irony is that Gabriel’s restaurant only succeeded because Emily marketed the hell out of it. He owes his career to her, yet he spent most of season 4 making her feel small for not being "French enough."
The Final Verdict: Is He Endgame?
Most TV logic suggests Emily and Gabriel are the endgame. They are the Carrie and Big of the 2020s. But Big was a disaster, and Gabriel is heading down that same path.
If you're still rooting for them, you have to ask yourself why. Is it because they’re good together, or because the chemistry in season 1 was so electric we’re still chasing that high?
Honestly, the most "human" thing Emily could do is stay in Rome or find a third option that doesn't involve a man who can't decide which woman he’s in love with every six months.
Actionable Insights for the "Emily in Paris" Obsessed:
- Watch for the "Spark": In Season 6, look for whether Gabriel actually learns a word of English to meet Emily halfway, or if he continues to demand she change for him.
- The Wardrobe Shift: Notice how Gabriel’s clothes change when he’s on the yacht versus the restaurant. It signals his mental state—pay attention to the colors.
- Marcello vs. Gabriel: If you're torn, look at the eyes. Marcello looks at Emily; Gabriel looks at the situation.
If you're planning a rewatch, pay close attention to the dialogue in the Season 4 "Ski Trip" episode. It’s the moment the mask truly slips.