So, it finally happened. After years of watching Emily Cooper navigate the cobblestone streets of Paris with varying degrees of success and a whole lot of berets, Netflix actually took her to Italy. Emily in Paris Season 5 dropped on December 18, 2025, and honestly, the "Emily in Rome" vibes were way more than just a marketing gimmick.
It was a total reset.
The season didn’t just swap croissants for cannoli; it fundamentally shifted how Emily views her own messy life. If you’re just catching up or wondering why your social feed is suddenly full of Venetian gondolas and Italian cashmere, here is the real story of what went down.
The Rome Move Was More Than Just a Vacation
When Season 4 ended, we saw Emily packing her bags for the Eternal City. Most of us assumed it would be a two-episode arc. Wrong. Season 5 spends a massive chunk of its 10-episode run in Rome, establishing the new Agence Grateau satellite office.
Emily is actually running things. Well, sort of.
She is managing the Umberto Muratori account, which is basically the Italian version of luxury fashion royalty. The stakes are high because Marcello Muratori—the guy she’s actually dating—is the heir to that empire. In previous seasons, Emily’s work-life balance was nonexistent. In Rome, it became a full-on collision.
The drama isn't just about the clothes. It’s about the fact that Marcello’s mother, Antonia, is a literal legend in the industry and doesn't exactly trust an American "influencer" with her family’s legacy.
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Marcello vs. Gabriel: The Love Square Expands
If you were Team Gabriel, Season 5 was a rough ride.
Gabriel spent most of the season working as a private chef for Thomas Heatherton. He was traveling, winning Michelin-level accolades, and feeling the weight of Emily’s absence. Meanwhile, in Rome, Emily and Marcello were actually... stable? It was weird to see her in a relationship that didn't involve a secret pregnancy or a hidden pact.
Marcello is different. He’s rugged, he’s family-oriented, and he actually wants Emily to put her phone down.
Key Relationship Beats This Season:
- The Venice Getaway: Episode 7 took us to Venice. It was stunning. But it was also where the cracks started to show. Marcello wants a quiet life. Emily? She basically has "viral marketing" in her DNA.
- Gabriel’s Postcard: Just when Emily starts to settle into her Italian life, Gabriel sends a postcard from Greece. He’s got time off. He wants her to meet him.
- The Mindy Tension: Mindy Chen (Ashley Park) is going through it too. She accepted Nicolas’s proposal, but Alfie—yeah, he’s still around—straight up told her he doesn't trust Nicolas.
The Finale Twist That Sent Everyone Back to Paris
The "Emily in Rome" dream eventually hits a wall. In the Season 5 finale, the pressure of running the Rome office becomes too much. The cultural differences between the French and Italian branches of Agence Grateau reach a breaking point.
Sylvie, in a move that only Sylvie could pull off, ends up partnering with Princess Jane (played by the iconic Minnie Driver) to save the agency from a mountain of debt.
The result? Emily realizes she can't just run away from her life in Paris by living in an Italian apartment with a nice view. She heads back to France.
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It wasn't a failure, though. It felt like a graduation. She speaks more French now. She’s less "tacky American" and more "European executive." When she lands back in Paris, it’s not to chase Gabriel—it's to reclaim her position.
What Most People Get Wrong About Season 5
There’s this idea that Emily in Paris Season 5 was trying to replace Paris. That’s not it at all.
Showrunner Darren Star has been vocal in interviews (like his recent sit-down with Today) about how Rome was a mirror. It was meant to show Emily that she has actually changed. She isn't the same girl who didn't know how to order a "pain au chocolat" in Season 1.
The numbers reflect that people are still hooked. Even though viewership dipped slightly compared to the heights of Season 3, the show still pulled in over 38 million views in its first month.
People love the chaos.
What’s Next for Season 6?
Netflix has already officially renewed the show for Season 6. The announcement came on January 5, 2026, with Lily Collins posting a video with a giant croissant (naturally).
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Here is what we know about the production schedule for the next installment:
- Filming Start: Production is slated for Q2 2026 (April–June).
- Location: Most of the action is returning to Paris, but there are heavy rumors of a trip to Greece to follow Gabriel’s storyline.
- The Endgame: Netflix hasn't said Season 6 is the last one, but the character arcs are definitely starting to feel "final."
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're looking to live out your own Season 5 fantasy, there are a few things you can actually do.
First, if you're traveling to Rome, the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana is the stunning building used for several key Agence Grateau scenes. It's a must-see for the architecture alone.
Second, the fashion this season leaned heavily into "Quiet Luxury"—think less neon, more neutral tones and high-quality knits (the "Muratori" effect).
Next Steps for Your Rewatch:
- Pay close attention to the background characters in the Rome office; several are rumored to have bigger roles in Season 6.
- Check out the official soundtrack for Mindy’s viral street performance song from the Venice episode.
- Follow the official Netflix "Tudum" updates for the specific filming start dates in Paris this spring.
The move to Rome might have been temporary, but the impact on Emily's career—and her wardrobe—is definitely permanent.