Alfred "Alfie" Peterson is a 30-year-old, Portsmouth-born, sarcastic charmer who refuses to speak French, immerse himself in French culture and instead prefers a pint at an English-speaking pub.[1] He enjoys teasing Emily; they have an antagonist relationship that evolves into something more. Alfie is in Paris working for a UK bank, but unlike Emily he works to live, not lives to work. He’d prefer to be playing football.[2]
Biography[]
Born Alfred in Hampshire, England, he is a sibling to three brothers. He enjoyed finances and football growing up. He learned to balance his work life and personal one. After Brexit, he was sent by a UK bank to assist a French branch in financial services concerned the post-Brexit transition. He was picked to live in Paris as he's the only person in his office without a wife or family to uproot during the transition process. A condition of his move is his requirement to attend French classes, which he loathes entirely, along with the rest of the Paris culture.
Season 2[]
Alfie is a witty British student in Emily's French class who doesn't take the class seriously. He doesn't like France and isn't planning on staying long as he's only there for work. He and Emily are partnered together for an assignment forces them to learn more about one another, though Alfie is sure he knows Emily's type already. She insists they meet to discuss their assignment, which Alfie doesn't plan to take seriously. He makes his discontent for Paris clear, which clashes with her romantic and idealistic view of the city. They have a playful yet bickering relationship, as Alfie challenges her to have fun and not take everything seriously. Emily also helps him realize the city has more to offer if he'll let it.
They grow closer during their time together as friends. During a heatwave, he invites her over to his apartment as it has air conditioning. He reveals his hesitation with falling in love with Paris is because of his soulless corporate job, so he doesn't take anything he doesn't like seriously. Their flirtatious, fun relationship takes the next step when they have sex and they decide to date, though their first outing at Chez Lavoux is anything but romantic. Alfie gets closer to Emily's friend group, especially Gabriel, as they hangout frequently. Alfie is upset when he learns from Luc that Gabriel and Emily have a sordid history together. He confronts Emily, who claims the relationship with Gabriel is over, and she cares about Alfie. His feelings for her are real and he doesn't want to get hurt.
Alfie's year in France comes to a close, though he stayed an extra week just to be near her. He has to return to London, but still wants to be in a relationship with Emily. She loves logistics and begins planning their long-distance romance, but they both worry if they can make it work.
Season 3[]
Emily and Alfie decide to make their relationship work long-distance, but her job gets in the way of them being together during his final days in the city. She misses his goodbye party because of work, and he cools things off with her following the incident, unsure if she can ever choose him. He returns to London but secretly comes back to Paris when he accepts a job as Maison Lavaux's new CFO - without telling Emily. She worries that she's lost him forever and decides to try a bold romantic gesture by publicly serenading him the Dionne Warwick song, "Alfie". It wins over the icy Brit and they kiss on-stage.
Season 4[]
Alfie struggles to get over the events at Gabriel's wedding, still not believing that Emily didn't have an affair with Gabriel. He learns that Emily needs him to do a campaign with her for the launch Ami Paris at the French Open that requires a kiss on the jumbotron. He initially refuses as he can't be around her yet. They have a conversation at his gym where she apologizes again for hurting him, as he's more important to her than anything. Alfie confronts Gabriel for the first time and learns nothing romantic has happened between them since before Alfie came to France. Gabriel admits he does have feelings for Emily, but won't get interfere in their relationship. Alfie does appear at the French Open, but only to tell Emily that he can't be with her because he'll always be waiting for the other shoe to drop. He cares about her, but they can only be friends. They have a goodbye kiss on the jumbotron that everyone else believes is romantic.
As the dust settles on their relationship, the two have to work together for Maison Lavaux's new fragrance launch - a masquerade ball. Alfie has an illuminating conversation with Camille, who reminds Alife that Emily and Gabriel aren't together even though they can be. He decides to admit his feelings for her at the ball, and they share a very happy dance until work interrupts them. He confesses his feelings and kisses a woman he believes is Emily (because she's wearing the same outfit as Emily), only to be heartbroken once again when he sees the real Emily leave with Gabriel. After the rejection, Alfie spends the next few weeks in Paris trying to repair himself. He falls in love with the city and moves on with another girl, telling Emily about her when he runs into her on Christmas night.
Personality[]
Relationships[]
Emily Cooper[]
- Main article: Emily and Alfie
Alfie and Emily met in French class, where they became reluctant assignment partners. The assignment forces them to learn more about one another, though Alfie is certain he knows Emily's type already. She insists they meet to discuss the assignment, which he doesn't plan to take seriously. He makes his discontent for Paris clear, which clashes with her romantic and idealistic view of the city. They have a playful yet bickering relationship, as he challenges her to have fun and not take everything seriously. She helps him realize the city has more to offer if he'll let it. As their friendship grows, as does their attraction to one another. They begin to date, though their mutually limited time in Paris threatens their burgeoning relationship.
Trivia[]
- Alfie specializes in financial services concerning the post-Brexit transition.
- He has three brothers and a dog name Clover.
- Alfie has had a series of bad relationships so he doesn't introduce new girls to his family.
- Alfie is a football (soccer) fan.
Appearances[]
Season 2[] |
Season 3[] |
Season 4[] |
Gallery[]