Lucas Bravo, who plays fan-favorite Gabriel on Emily in Paris, opens up about his frustrations with the creative direction of the show ahead of season 5, hinting at the possibility of not returning for the next installment. The hit Netflix series, created by Darren Star, follows an ambitious marketing executive, Emily Cooper (Lily Collins), as she navigates her new life in Paris. Gabriel, a charming chef and neighbor, was Emily’s love interest and, initially, a lighthearted and playful character. It seems, however, that over time the writing turned Gabriel into a melancholic, passive character, according to Bravo.

In a candid interview with IndieWire while promoting Mélanie Laurent’s true-crime film, Freedom, Bravo spoke about his experience working on Emily in Paris, saying that although he feels indebted to the series for marking his breakout role, he feels that he doesn’t recognize both the show or the character he first signed up to play. He specifically stated Gabriel is “slowly turning into guacamole.” Read his full quote below:

The ‘sexy chef’ was very much part of me in Season 1 and we grew apart season after season because of the choices he makes and because of the direction they make him take. I’ve never been so far away from him. In Season 1, there was a lot of me in him. But as they made him kind of unaware of his surroundings, of the dynamic, always victimizing and always being completely lost in translation and oblivious to anything that is happening around him and being manipulated by everyone, it kind of became not fun for me to shoot or to see a character I love so much and brought me so much, being slowly turned into guacamole. I really grew apart from him.

Bravo went on to say that he has made an effort to voice his concerns and give input on set, but he thinks Netflix and the Darren Star production might be reluctant to change the recipe for the series after its early viral success. He explained:

I tried for seasons to bring nuances but we don’t have much liberty on set. We cannot change a word or an emotion. They know what they want and we just have to comply. It makes me question if I want to be part of Season 5 […] because my contract ends at Season 4. I really want to see if Gabriel gets back to his fun, cheeky, playful, alive self. Because three seasons playing melancholic, sad, depressed, and lost is not fun anymore. It’s a comedy, everybody is having fun around me, everybody is jumping around, and I’m just slowly sinking into god knows what. They’re probably holding onto something that they couldn’t measure that had such a success so now they are very precious about not changing the recipe and keeping it what it was.

Anything that could go off road is carefully taken back. It’s a lot of souffles. Pregnant? No, fake positive. Going to Rome? No, coming back. There are a lot of things like that. There is a lack of risk.

But I love the show. It started everything for me. I love the show and the people in it. With saying that, I feel like I am not being nice or grateful, but when you love something you want it to be…you want the best version of it. I’m not going to lie, I’ve been frustrated with the direction my character is taking. But we’ll see where it goes. The show is not over.

What This Means For Emily In Paris Season 5

Chef Gabriel No Longer?

Bravo’s uncertainty about returning for Emily in Paris season 5 signals tension between the actors and producers over creative freedom, especially as the popular show matures. His criticism of Gabriel’s shift from his original persona also mirrors the opinions of many fans online following the season 4 release, who felt the character had lost his charm and spark. If Gabriel remains stuck in his current storyline, season 5 risks alienating viewers who were first captivated by his lighthearted chemistry with Emily and the series’ romantic intrigue.

If the writers opt to address Bravo’s concerns, Gabriel may come back with a fresher storyline that brings his vibrant, cheeky personality back. On the other hand, if the creative team sticks to its current approach, the show could risk stagnation, potentially affecting its critical reception and audience engagement. If Gabriel doesn’t return for season 5, the series may shift focus toward Emily’s new relationship with Marcello, and her move to Rome, which would give Emily in Paris a chance to reinvent itself. However, without Gabriel, it would need to fill the gap left by one of its most beloved characters, which could cause conflict with longtime viewers.

Our Take On The Future Of Emily In Paris

Bravo Raised Valid Concerns

Image via Netflix

While the show has maintained a devoted fanbase since its debut in 2020, Bravo’s concerns hint at possible creative stagnation, resulting in repetitive storylines and a reluctance to raise the stakes. His frustrations with Gabriel’s character arc reflect a deeper issue with the series’ “safe” approach, which limits new plotlines to preserve the initial formula that resonated with the public. As Bravo pointed out, several new storylines, such as Camille’s pregnancy, were quickly reversed, which resulted in limited character growth and wasted opportunity.

Whether Bravo decides to return or not, his comments highlight that a necessary change needs to happen for Emily in Paris to continue thriving, something that fans have already been saying for the last couple of months since the season 4 premiere. For now, audiences will have to wait and see if the upcoming season can find the balance between honoring the elements that made the show a hit while offering fresh, compelling plots.