"Sexy or Sexist" is the third episode of Season 1, and the third episode overall.
Synopsis[]
"Emily voices her concerns over a risqué new ad campaign while juggling plumbing problems, language lessons, and disagreeable co-workers."
— Official Netflix Synopsis
Plot[]
Emily is out for her daily run when she receives a call from Madeline Wheeler checking in on how she is handling the new office. Emily lies that everything is going great and Madeline plans to send over their corporate commandments that morning. Their conversation is cut short when a man begins peeing in the urinal Emily stands in front of, as she doesn't realize urinals are public in Paris.
She returns home to take a shower when the water cuts off. She tries to ask Gardienne about it but the language barrier gets them nowhere. Emily pulls in Gabriel to translate. He leaves out the insults that Gardienne throws at Emily, telling her plainly that a plumber will be out to fix it. Until then, she'll have to wash her hair in the bidet.
Emily's language class goes smoothly and she attempts to bond with her language teacher, but the woman makes it clear her hourly rate for lessons outside the class is fifty euros. On the way to work, Sylvie makes a series of comments regarding Emily's Instagram account. When they arrive at Savoir Luc rushes up to Emily and confronts her on the corporate commandments. They are a slew of "thou shalt nots" and several things that the Savoir employees don't agree with.
Sylvie, Emily, and Julien attend a Maison Lavaux De L'Heure commercial shoot and Emily attempts to get some content for social media and is shocked when the model drops her jacket to reveal she is naked. The commercial is about the model walking naked across the bridge while men ogle her. Emily points out the sexism which no one else seems to notice, as Antoine points out that "she's not naked she's wearing the perfume". Emily warns that American women won't respond well to the message that it's the woman's desire to have multiple men want her.
Upon returning to her apartment, Emily is annoyed that her plumber can't fix the issue and the language barrier once again prevents her from conversing with him. She runs down a flight to get Gabriel, who informs her that he was sleeping before she woke him up. She apologizes but needs his help. He agrees and, after a while of the boys chatting, Gabriel informs her that the plumber can't fix it without a part that will take a while to come in. Until then, she can use his shower.
Work turns out to be difficult as someone drew a penis on the corporate commandments document and dropped it on her desk. Feeling overwhelmed, Emily meets with Mindy and shows her the corporate commandments. Mindy isn't surprised that they hated the commandments, as it goes against everything that French people are about. Mindy then invites Emily to her dinner party that night, suggesting that she invite Sylvie.
At Savoir, the commercial plays and Antoine asks Emily if it is sexy or sexist. She reminds him that it's about what the consumer thinks not her. She recommends posting the commercial on social media with the poll 'Sexy or Sexist'. Let people decide for themselves. Antoine likes the idea, much to Sylvie's disgruntlement, and decides to use it.
Emily invites Sylvie to the dinner party but Sylvie declines, listing why she doesn't want to be friends with Emily. They can work together but won't be friends. Emily hopes she'll come anyway. The quaint dinner party Emily is expecting turns out to be a wild party after things spiraled. She finds it hard to converse with the party-goers as they don't speak English. She is on the balcony when she is approached by an attractive man who flirts with her. They spend the evening together and have an extremely sensual encounter near the lake until he makes a crude comment regarding what he likes. She is turned off by this and goes home alone.
She stops by Les Deux Compères first to get a glass of wine and speak with Gabriel. He asks why she doesn't like Paris, to which she explains that she likes Paris but Paris doesn't like her. Gabriel responds that he likes her before returning to work.
The next day, Madeline calls Emily to tell her that her social impressions are up 200% since the poll went up, but not all of the engagement is positive. In fact, a lot of people don't like it, but at least the product is gaining social attention. At work, Emily decides to take matters into her hands and gives Luc a penis-shaped cake which he finds hilarious. a lot of people don’t like it. She finds a box on her desk from La Perla, with a card asking if it is, "sexy or sexist?". Antoine signed the card much to her confusion. She is mortified upon learning that the contents are black lingerie. Sylvie spots the lingerie and asks about it, but Emily lies that it's from a friend.
Cast[]
Starring[]
Guest Starring[] |
Co-Starring[]
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Quotes[]
- Madeline Wheeler: Your life is croissants and sex.
- Emily Cooper: So far… just croissants.
- Emily Cooper: Sexy or… or sexist?
- Antoine Lambert: It’s her dream of course. To be admired and desired by men.
- Emily Cooper: But it’s the male gaze.
- Sylvie: Cherie, I’m a woman. I’m not a feminist. But regardless, it’s her dream to walk naked across the Pont Alexandre III and have men want her. Maybe it’s not your dream Emily, but that’s her dream.
- Sylvie: Look, you come to Paris, you walk into my office, you don’t even bother to learn the language. You treat the city like it’s your amusement park, and after a year of food, sex, wine, and… maybe some culture, you’ll go back from where you came. So, perhaps we’ll work together. But no, we won’t be friends.
Soundtrack[]
| Song | Artist | Scene Description | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magnifique | Emily in Paris | Emily runs in Paris | |
| Big Future | Obliques | Emily washes her hair in a bidet | |
| Vers les tombes | Chevalrex | Emily meets Gabriel at his restaurant | |
| Rouge Soleil | Ravages | Emily receives a rather intimate present |
Trivia[]
- The tagline for De L'Heure's commercial shoot is Dream in Beauty.
