Netflix series Emily in Paris was a very strange affair when it arrived on the platform in October last year, receiving a mauling from most critics but very quickly becoming a huge hit. While many said the show was nothing more than a bland character in an Instagram setting, with virtually no plot to speak of, the series was watched by 58 million subscribers in its first month on Netflix, and staying in the Nielsen Top Ten in the UK for 40 consecutive days following its debut. So, it is therefore no surprise that a new season is on the way, and Netflix revealed yesterday that it will be arriving December 2022.

The Netflix series stars Lily Collins as Emily, an American who movies to the capital city in order to bring an American viewpoint to French marketing firm Savoir. The series then becomes a story of Emily's attempts to succeed in her chosen workplace, get used to a whole new culture and find love in that longstanding, well-used plot of many a romantic comedy over the years.

The show, a Golden Globe nominee, was originally a Paramount project, and later moved to Netflix, where it was renewed in November for a second run. The first season was nominated for a number of Emmy Awards, and also Golden Globes, which at the time came steeped in controversy due to the series being seen as a critical flop and reports suggesting the show had only received its nominations through 30 members of the voting board being flown to Paris on a trip paid for by Paramount in comparison to other critically acclaimed shows missing out on nominations. However, Netflix clearly has enough faith in the half-hour format series to give it a second run out, and will be hoping that it can retain its viewership while perhaps getting a few more critics on board.

Emily in Paris, was created by Darren Star and also starred Ashley Park, Philippine Leroy Beaulieu, Lucas Bravo, Samuel Arnold, Camille Rabat, Bruno Gouery, Kate Walsh, William Abadie and Arnaud Viard. Star previously worked on Sex and The City, meaning that he certainly has form for being part of a hit show, and in many ways, Emily in Paris should have been a surefire hit with those who loved the old Sarah Jessica Parker series, and now it could find itself competing with the revival of that show, And Just Like That.

However, just prior to the show's renewal, Collins attempted to get away from SATC tropes and told the virtual PaleyFest event that they had really tried to make sure Emily would stand on her own two feet and not simply turn into Sex and The City in Paris. "We made a really big effort to say 'We don't want Emily to be the next Carrie' because Carrie is Carrie. We want Emily to be Emily. We want her to be her own person," she said. It was suggested, due to the time gap between the two shows, that there could be a suggestion that Emily could have been someone who watched and related to SATC's Carrie Bradshaw and in a way emulated her. It adds a certain meta feel to the series that perhaps was not initially noticed, but we shall see how well it all translates in the second season of Emily in Paris when it arrives in December next year.

Emily in Paris was one of many titles to be showcased at Netflix's TUDUM event.