Emily In Paris Season 5 Finally Fixes The Show’s Massive Gabriel Problem

The following article contains MAJOR SPOILERS for Emily in Paris season 5.

After multiple seasons of Gabriel’s storyline getting worse and worse, Emily in Paris season 5 finally figures out what to do with him — though not in a way you’d expect. Though Emily and Gabriel have had a relationship in the show, it’s been anything but an easy road, particularly due to the multiple love triangles the pair keep finding themselves in with Gabriel’s ex, Camille.

Though Camille is no longer part of the series, it looked like Gabriel and Emily would be part of yet another love triangle in season 5. Emily in Paris season 4’s ending sees Gabriel planning to go to Rome and win Emily back from Marcello, but that’s not exactly what happens. Instead, it’s something so much better.

Gabriel Had Become A Bland Emily In Paris Love Interest (& Lucas Bravo Agrees)

Gabriel (Lucas Bravo) looking sad in Emily in Paris season 4

When Gabriel is first introduced in Emily in Paris, there’s such an undeniable spark about him that it’s obvious why Emily falls so hard and fast. Gabriel genuinely loves his food and his work, making him a kindred spirit with the career-ambitious Emily.

However, as the Emily in Paris characters’ love lives get more and more complicated, that spark starts to fade, and it’s entirely extinguished in season 4, despite Gabriel and Emily being together. Gabriel is a bland shell of who he once was, and if you think it was rough watching him, it was even worse playing him.

Actor Lucas Bravo gave a candid 2024 interview to Indiewire, where he aired his grievances about how Gabriel devolved. “I really want to see if Gabriel gets back to his fun, cheeky, playful, alive self,” Bravo said. “Because three seasons playing melancholic, sad, depressed, and lost is not fun anymore.” Bravo also noted that his character was “slowly turned into guacamole,” as he was constantly being manipulated by people in his life.

Bravo hit the nail on the head, and he also teased the fact that his Emily in Paris contract was up after season 4. This, coupled with Bravo’s dissatisfaction with the show and being entirely absent from the Emily in Paris season 5 trailer, suggested that he might not return for the new season at all. However, we quickly learned that was not the case.

Why Gabriel’s Minimal Presence In Emily In Paris Season 5 Is A Good Thing

Emily (Lily Collins) and Gabriel (Lucas Bravo) facing each other at the train station in Emily in Paris season 5

Gabriel is indeed in the excellent Emily in Paris season 5, but in a severely reduced capacity. The “sexy chef” does make it to Rome, ready to fight for Emily Cooper, but upon seeing her looking genuinely happy with Marcello, Gabriel scraps his plan.

This was definitely the right call for a couple of major reasons. First, an umpteenth Emily-Gabriel-third person love triangle would have audiences throwing things at their TV screens. Second, Gabriel’s decision to retreat not only shows incredible maturity but also how much he truly loves Emily, that he cares more about her happiness than he does calling her his own.

In Gabriel’s career storyline, he shows the most agency he’s ever had across Emily in Paris‘s five seasons when he decides to quit his restaurant and jump at the opportunity to become a private chef on a yacht. Though, of course, Gabriel is sad to leave Paris and Emily, when he tells her, that spark in his eye is finally back.

Gabriel disappears for a few episodes, but returns in season 5, episode 9, “La Belle Époque.” With a brief stop in Paris to collect his knives, Gabriel invites Emily for lunch. As they catch up, it’s clear that there are still such strong feelings between them, but Emily is once again with Marcello, and Gabriel won’t get in the way of that. As they say goodbye at the train station, there’s so much unsaid between them, and it’s truly one of the most bittersweet scenes the love interests have ever shared.

Ultimately, it was smart to lessen Gabriel’s role in Emily in Paris season 5, because there was simply no room for him. This decision is also a perfect mirror to his character arc, as sometimes you need to step away from what you know to truly find yourself. Gabriel may not be in the spotlight, but he’s hardly “guacamole” in season 5, either.

Emily In Paris Season 5 Sets Up Gabriel’s Perfect Ending

Gabriel (Lucas Bravo) smiling at a restaurant in Emily in Paris season 5

In the Emily in Paris season 5 finale, it’s obvious that the show made the right call with Gabriel’s character arc. It’s Gabriel who gets the last laugh in the season’s final moments, setting up the most romantic cliffhanger the show has ever seen.

We get a glimpse of Gabriel working his new job, full of peace and purpose — he’s cooking the food he wants for people who actually appreciate it. This is all well and good, but things really heat up when Gabriel receives some texts from Sylvie, who reveals that Emily is newly single.

The antithesis of guacamole, Gabriel wastes no time in scribbling a romantic postcard to Emily, inviting her to join him in Greece while he has a few weeks off. Season 5’s final shot sees Gabriel smiling and staring out at the open water, his life nothing but possibilities, all because he had the courage to take charge of it.

Emily in Paris made it clear from season 1 that Emily and Gabriel are endgame, but it’s hard to root for them along the way precisely because of what the show did to Gabriel’s character. The series massively course-corrected in that regard, and if Emily in Paris season 6 happens, it could prove to be Emily and Gabriel’s most romantic adventure yet.