Emily in Paris

There are many, many new faces, the best among them being Minnie Driver. .... There is also – perhaps surprisingly – more emotional heft to this series than previous outings, and the sense that Emily and friends are growing up. .... Before things can get too heavy, though, the series steers us back towards the absurd and the outrageous.

Series creator Darren Star and the writers embrace frivolity, and season five swaps out Parisienne bakeries for picturesque Italian streets, providing a sufficiently beautiful and mind-numbing escape over its 10 half-hour episodes.

Once ghastly, the show has matured into something quite pleasant. The characters are less grating now. The outfits (except the ones worn by Mindy) not so likely to cause retinal burn. I no longer want someone to push Emily into the Seine, and this is progress.

It is also not nearly as funny as it should or could be. It reminds me of one of those influencers, too busy simpering into the mirror and trying to look perfect to provide any proper belly laughs or insights. Although Driver may improve matters on that score since it looks like she’s staying for the next series.