Behind the Scenes: Emily in Paris Season 5
Season 5 of Emily in Paris took viewers on an extraordinary journey beyond the French capital, exploring new romantic entanglements and fashion moments while challenging both cast and crew with ambitious filming locations. Director Andy Fleming recently shared exclusive insights into the creation of this boundary-pushing season, revealing the complex choreography required to bring Emily’s expanding world to life.
The latest installment marked a significant departure from previous seasons, with half the episodes set outside of France. “The show really is about Emily’s relationship with Paris. So she kind of has to discover what Paris means to her by going other places,” Fleming explained. The production spent four episodes in Rome, five in Paris, and one in Venice, creating a visually stunning backdrop for Emily’s evolving story. This geographical expansion allowed the character to experience a meaningful crossroads in her life, particularly through her romance with Marcello, played by Eugenio Franceschini, whom Fleming praised for “stepping up massively” in his expanded role. The Italian settings provided a fresh canvas for Emily to explore questions about her future while navigating her ever-complicated love life.
Emily’s fashion evolution represented another significant shift in Season 5, moving away from the splashy, attention-grabbing outfits of previous seasons toward a more sophisticated European aesthetic. “She’s trying to really feel herself and grow up a little bit emotionally — but also in terms of the way she’s dressing,” Fleming noted, describing it as Emily’s “Posh Spice moment.” This sartorial transformation parallels her character development, suggesting a maturing perspective as she becomes more integrated into European life. The fashion choices serve as visual storytelling, reflecting Emily’s personal growth and increasing comfort with her overseas identity.
Filming in Rome coincided with a momentous period in Vatican history, with the production team present for Pope Francis’s death, the formation of the conclave, and the election and consecration of Pope Leo XIV. Rather than viewing the increased congestion and activity as an obstacle, Fleming described the experience as “amazing” and “much more exciting and interesting than any kind of problem.” This real-world backdrop added authenticity to the Roman scenes, immersing both the characters and audience in a genuine cultural moment. Meanwhile, the show continued to showcase Mindy’s musical talents, though these sequences presented some of the season’s biggest production challenges. The “Espresso” performance, for instance, required filming across three different locations on three different days, demanding meticulous choreography and coordination.
The season’s most technically demanding sequence took place in Venice, where Marcello staged his first fashion show. “That was the most complicated sequence we’ve ever done on the show,” Fleming revealed. Creating a water runway required building a reservoir in a section of a Venetian piazza, combining real water with digital effects. “More work went into that sequence than any other sequence in all five seasons of the show,” the director emphasized. Similarly, filming intimate character moments like Mindy’s gondola proposal presented unique challenges, with cameras mounted to the boat while Fleming monitored from the shore. This technique allowed the actors to remain “in the moment for the whole take,” creating authentic emotional resonance despite the technical complexity.
New characters added fresh dimensions to the series, including Bryan Greenberg’s Jake, an American embassy worker who connects with Emily during a Fourth of July celebration. The production team constructed an elaborate set featuring hundreds of American products, a process that “took months and months of calling each company and getting something sent.” This attention to detail highlights the show’s commitment to creating immersive environments that enhance the storytelling. Throughout the season, Fleming focused on maintaining continuity despite shooting scenes out of order, explaining that his job involves “reminding the cast where we’ve been, where they’re coming from and where they’re going.” This careful attention to emotional throughlines helped ground the performances in the complex relationships that have become the heart of Emily in Paris, ensuring that even as the show expands geographically, it remains centered on authentic human connections.
