Spoiler alert: Spoilers for Emily in Paris Season 5 follow. Four seasons in, and Emily in Paris has been a vibrant exploration of French culture. Now, Season 5 kicks off with a twist: Emily in Rome? Of course, Emily’s Italian escapades couldn’t last forever. Mild disasters with work and her love life send her back to Paris midway through the season. I mean, it is called Emily In Paris for a reason. But, after a few years in the city of love, Emily is starting to get homesick. The solution to her homesickness is a U.S. Diplomat named Jake, played by Bryan Greenberg (who, fun fact, also played Jake in One Tree Hill).Â
Jake and Emily have the ultimate U.S. meet cute: playing Friends-themed trivia. Emily’s Friends knowledge impresses him, prompting them to exchange phone numbers. Jake and Emily begin to develop their relationship by getting to know each other on a long and intimate walk through the city, before he invites her to his work’s Fourth of July party. Emily, frustrated by her recent pitfalls, decides to indulge in an exuberant taste of home and a much-needed day off from work.Â
While no other office in France was celebrating the holiday, Jake’s work at the consulate office saw a bright opportunity to participate in every single quintessential U.S. custom. From hot dogs to fireworks, the episode encapsulated what some might call the American dream.Â
Jake brings it all home when he leads Emily to the secret basement of his office. Together, they feast on a smorgasbord of American snacks like Reese’s Puffs and Pop Tarts.Â
Their shared patriotism, experience navigating a foreign country, and homesickness leaves Emily feeling content — and Jake feeling romantic. Jake makes his move and leans in for a kiss, which Emily dodges not-so-delicately.Â
This move came as a bit of a shock considering the intimate day they spent together and her history with the other men she’s met abroad, all of which turned romantic. However, it became clear that Emily was not looking to actually go home, she just wanted a quick taste – of hotdogs and hamburgers, not Jake.Â
Personally, I do not think Jake’s character has much sticking power. Her brutal and cringe-worthy rejection of him made her feelings quite clear. Emily in Paris loves to add new characters (and settings) to keep the plot interesting — so much so, it’s getting hard to keep track. Jake and his friends may be another group who are going to get lost in the Parisian ether. If Emily in Paris gets renewed for a sixth season, I wouldn’t be surprised if Jake was left behind in the United States. But never say never — stranger things have happened in this show.