Lily Collins shares her honest reaction to Emily in Paris Season 5’s cliffhanger ending

Lily Collins is finally opening up about that jaw-dropping ending to Emily in Paris Season 5, and it’s safe to say she has some thoughts about Emily Cooper’s big romantic choice.

After a whirlwind season that took us from the cobblestones of Paris to the canals of Venice and the ruins of Rome, fans were left reeling as Emily officially chose her career over a quiet Italian fairytale. The finale saw our favorite marketing guru walking away from Marcello and heading back to the City of Light, just as a familiar face from her past sent a mysterious invitation.

It’s the kind of high-stakes drama we’ve come to expect from the hit Netflix series, but Lily’s perspective on the finale adds a whole new layer to the story.

Let’s break down exactly what the star had to say about Emily’s bold move and those shocking final moments.

Choosing Paris Over the Italian Fairytale

Lily Collins believes that Emily made the absolute right choice when she decided to walk away from Marcello and his idyllic life in Solitano.

While many fans were rooting for the “Italian Stallion” after Emily’s messy history with Gabriel, Lily argues that Emily wasn’t ready to settle into a quiet, small-town life. In the finale, Emily discovers an engagement ring in Marcello’s pocket during their romantic trip to Venice and realizes that their timelines are completely out of sync.

The actress shared that she found the decision to be incredibly brave and a sign of Emily’s growing maturity. “I think that there was this kind of fairytale dream that came with Marcello,” Lily explained in a recent sit-down about the finale. She feels that Emily truly respects Marcello as a human, but she eventually realized that his world wasn’t the fulfilling life she wanted for herself right now.

Even though the breakup was painful, Lily appreciated that it was handled with mutual respect and love. She noted that it was an “adult” way to handle a relationship that just didn’t fit into Emily’s larger professional ambitions. The star mentioned that she didn’t want to leave Emily “broken” or “a mess” at the end of the season, which is why the final scene in Paris felt so triumphant.

The Mystery of the Greek Postcard

The season ended with a major teaser involving Gabriel, who spent much of the installment working as a private chef on a yacht in Greece.

Just as Emily settles back into her life at Agence Grateau, she receives a postcard from Gabriel inviting her to join him in the Greek islands. This “open door” ending has fans theorizing about whether the original love triangle is officially back in play for a potential Season 6.

Lily admitted that she was just as surprised as the viewers when she read the script for the final episode. She thinks the postcard represents the idea that Emily’s past is never truly settled, even when she tries to move forward with someone new. Gabriel’s sudden re-emergence into Emily’s life via a simple postcard has reignited the “Endgame” debate among the show’s massive global fanbase.

When asked if Emily should actually pack her bags for Greece, Lily didn’t hesitate to express her excitement. “Yeah. Why not? Hello!” she joked when discussing the possibility of filming in a brand-new Mediterranean location. She believes that the chemistry between Emily and Gabriel is something that the writers will always find a way to explore, no matter how many miles are between them.

Power Moves and Agence Grateau’s New Era

Beyond the romance, Season 5 introduced a massive shift in the workplace dynamic thanks to the arrival of Princess Jane, played by Minnie Driver.

After Sylvie’s husband, Laurent, mortgages his club and puts the agency’s finances in jeopardy, Sylvie is forced to bring in the intimidating Princess Jane as a co-owner. This change creates a tense environment for Emily, who is used to being the star of the marketing team.

Lily loved the addition of Minnie Driver to the cast, noting that the veteran actress brought a fresh, icy energy to the set. The finale ends with Emily walking into the office wearing a striking red suit, signaling that she is ready to take on the challenge of her new boss. Seeing Emily return to work with a sense of purpose and confidence was a highlight for the actress this year.

Filming as a New Mom

While Emily was busy navigating a European love triangle, Lily Collins was balancing the intense filming schedule with being a new mother in real life.

The actress welcomed her daughter, Tove, earlier in 2025, making this the first season she filmed while juggling parenting duties. She admitted that the experience was exhausting but also gave her a new perspective on her character’s journey.

Lily was very open with the cast and crew about her need for “grace” during the long production days in Italy and France. She often told the team that she might not know every line perfectly or might need an extra minute because she was “figuring a lot of things out in real time.” The actress credited her close friend and costar, Ashley Park, for being a massive support system throughout the grueling shoot.

Despite the lack of sleep, Lily feels that her real-life transition into motherhood made her performance as Emily feel more grounded. She noticed that Emily seemed more mature this year, looking back on her early days in Paris with a sense of nostalgia. This “growing up” theme was something that Lily felt personally connected to as she navigated her own new chapter off-screen.

Looking Forward to a Potential Season 6

Although Netflix has not officially announced a Season 6 renewal yet, the cast and creators are already looking ahead to where the story could go next.

Showrunner Darren Star has hinted that Emily’s journey is far from over and that the ending of Season 5 was designed to reset the story. With Gabriel in Greece, Marcello in Italy, and Emily back in Paris, the possibilities for future drama are endless.

Lily mentioned that she loves the idea of the show continuing to expand its horizons beyond the French capital. She is particularly interested in seeing how Mindy’s engagement to Nico plays out and how the agency will survive under Princess Jane’s co-leadership. The actress is keeping her fingers crossed for a renewal so that fans can finally see what happens when Emily and Gabriel face off once again.

TL;DR

• Emily Cooper chose to return to Paris and her career, officially breaking up with Marcello in Venice.
• Lily Collins supports the choice, calling it a “brave” and “adult” decision for Emily’s self-fulfillment.
• The season ended with Gabriel sending Emily a postcard from Greece, teasing a potential Season 6 reunion.
• Minnie Driver’s character, Princess Jane, now co-owns Agence Grateau, creating a new power dynamic.
• Lily Collins filmed the season while adjusting to life as a new mother to her daughter, Tove.

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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.