Emily has a new beginning in this episode, returning to her former position at Sylvie’s new agency, but she must still prove herself. However, if we know anything about Emily, it is that the universe appears to be slanted in her favor, so how difficult would anything be?
Emily’s first day back at work she finds Sylvie, Julien, and Luc posing for a photoshoot she has not been invited to (wait, is that a bikini top under her blazer?). Emily, desirous of gaining Sylvie’s favor, decides to do her hardest to get her employer on La Liste after she mentions the prestigious press award, which recognizes some of Paris’ most accomplished individuals. My impression is that this is a French version of Forbes 30 Under 30, with an emphasis on leisure.
The show doesn’t care to elaborate further, and I don’t have much time to ponder because Nicolas fills the Hot Chef hole we’ve been experiencing all season. Emily and Alfie discover him outside a restaurant, and Mindy remembers him (surprise!) from their boarding school days in Switzerland, where they were in different grades.
Nicolas reminds us that Mindy was probably a drug dealer throughout her high school years (sorry, but Mindy wears way too many sequins and pearls to make me think she actually sold weed out of her dorm). While disclosing her allegedly scandalous background, it is evident that he has a tremendous crush on her. Unfortunately, she’s already taken. Emily is also aware of this, and when she interrupts to invite Nicholas to a party Alfie is hosting over the weekend, she prevents the two from naked each other in public view.
After this brief intermission, we return to La Liste, which I absolutely recognize and comprehend, and Emily’s objective, which was easily attained because to her Instagram connections. She is able to arrange a lunch with Janine DuBois of La Liste, whom she invites to Gabriel’s restaurant. I’m all for supporting your friends, but it appears that Emily only knows this restaurant in Paris, a city famed for its cuisine.
Janine, however, is unaware that Emily is almost a VIP customer there, so she accepts the invitation, which also includes Sylvie, who is vying for a seat on La Liste. Emily is startled to learn that Janine is Australian, and even uses the word “naur” Sylvie is also astonished and oddly irritated to discover that Janine isn’t French, and it’s evident that Emily (and Gabriel, who serves a fine asparagus amuse-bouche) has the strongest chemistry with her.
After lunch, Emily departs her boyfriend to go talk business at Alfie’s party, which is filled with attendees, including Nicolas. However, she is soon shut down by the JVMA heir, who is obviously only there for Mindy. He leaves Emily as soon as he identifies her, but she is not alone for long. The Greek artist Sofia is also at the gathering, and she immediately inquires about Camille, who has not yet come.
Meanwhile, Mindy is deep in conversation with Nicolas while wearing a garish turquoise sequin ensemble, but he is unfazed. In fact, he appears flirtier than ever when she complains about him “busking the subway”… Please, Mindy, this was a decision! Benoit is lurking in the corner like a stalker, and he interrupts an embrace between Mindy and Nicolas by forcibly kissing Mindy. Ew.
After an unpleasant talk between the three of them, Nicolas takes the message and leaves, but not before asking Emily and Mindy to a JVMA event for his company’s promotion of Soleil De Paris sunscreen the following day.
Camille, who has now arrived to the party, is on the roof of Alfie’s apartment with Sofia, observing Paris below. As the two take in the lovely tableau unfolding in front of them, Sofia extols the “wonderful” individuals that Paris has to offer. And without surprising anyone, she moves in for a kiss, which Camille returns. What does Gabriel think of this? Emily cares, but Camille does not.
When she is kissing her own partner downstairs, she is in the mood for her own roof rendezvous. However, as she and Alfie approach the staircase, she is surprised to witness Camille kissing Sofia and quickly slams the door shut. She informs Mindy the following day at the JVMA pool party that Camille is “having an affair and Gabriel has no idea,” but Mindy warns her to quit interfering in other people’s affairs.
“You witnessed two females kissing at a party – you need to get out more,” she advises Emily, before changing the subject to Nicolas, who is not doing a very good job of avoiding his not-single crush Mindy.
Emily, who is constantly in business mode, convinces Nicolas to use the song Benoit penned for Mindy as part of the Soleil De Paris promotion when she plays the track on the DJ’s speakers using Mindy’s phone. People at the party mysteriously start dancing (you know, the kind of thing that only happens in commercials), and Nicolas exclaims, “I’m awestruck!” while sounding very bored.
Benoit is a real buzzkill, telling Mindy it was their particular song and he doesn’t want it in a “stupid sunscreen commercial.” Mindy is ecstatic at the possibility to give her lover a career boost, and she is eager to share the news with Benoit over drinks that night. Oh, boo-hoo, Benoit. You could make so much money from this if you would only temporarily set aside your pride.
The next day, during a phone chat with Nicolas, Emily changes her mind, telling him the song isn’t going to work, and he’s cool with it, assuring her he’s still interested in working with her on the Soleil De Paris campaign after she landed on La Liste. Yes, Emily is on the coveted list, and she is also featured on the cover of the magazine that features the list. This is wonderful news, correct? Wrong. Emily is now anxious because Sylvie wanted to be the one to market her new firm, but she didn’t even make the cut.
Sylvie’s boyfriend, Erik, conveys the news to her in bed that morning, and she is so enraged that she storms out and lashes out at Emily at a meeting in her office. Emily attempts to smooth things up as Sylvie informs her that she was supposed to be advertising the agency, not herself or the handsome chef, by mentioning JVMA’s offer to work on Soleil De Paris. Sylvie is grudgingly pleased, muttering “nice work.”
Emily is enjoying being ranked first on La Liste that evening with Gabriel and Alfie, who are shortly joined by Camille, who enters with Sofia. The artist says to Gabriel in jest, “Thanks for lending me your girlfriend this week.” This causes Emily to raise her eyebrows, and I share her reaction.
Mindy is unable to prepare celebratory beverages because she is prepared to perform with Benoit, but when Nicolas sends flowers, the atmosphere backstage quickly becomes hostile. Benoit, who is receiving his big break tonight by joining Mindy at the club, is plainly annoyed by the present. He is insecure, talking about how different his life is from hers (apparently he never had a girlfriend at boarding school in Switzerland), but she stands up to him and says, “I am so tired of apologizing for who I am.”
Benoit requests to see the message that accompanied Mindy’s flowers, but she refuses, prompting him to leave the dressing room. When he leaves, we discover that Mindy was invited to supper. Mindy is receiving more screen time in this episode, but I wish it wasn’t due of her boyfriend’s jealousy.
Although Benoit was kicked out of the dressing room, he still appears onstage, where he and Mindy perform the A Star Is Born duet “Shallow.” Even Ashley Park is unable to redeem Mindy and Benoit’s weird performance as they sing over footage of Emily, Alfie, and Gabriel having drinks with Camille and Sofia, who is fondling Camille’s leg with her foot under the table. Please! Stop!
As Mindy and Benoit almost groan the notes out onstage while frowning at one another, the audience applauds as Mindy rises to bow but turns to see that Benoit has fled the stage. Sincerely, I’m not angry. I assume this is all a setup for a relationship between Mindy and Nicolas, and I’m fine for it.
»Making the Cut: Emily in Paris Season 3 Episode 5 Recap«