How does Emily in Paris Season 5 set up Emily's romance with Gabriel for the next season? Explained in depth

Emily in Paris Season 5 teases some important questions about Emily Cooper's love life. Although the show opens with a warm, romantic moment between Marcello and Emily, fans are still stuck shipping Emily with Gabriel, the Parisian chef who was Emily's neighbour first and boyfriend later.

Good news is that the season teases something sizzling between the two, as Gabriel makes more appearances on the show. Taking it up a notch, the finale even ends on a cliffhanger that indicates this isn't the last we are seeing of Emily and Gabriel. Here's what happens to the couple in the fifth season of Emily in Paris, and what it means for Emily Cooper's love life.

---

What happens to Emily and Marcello in Emily in Paris Season 5?

Emily and Marcello's relationship in Emily in Paris Season 5 takes quite a turn but it's something that gives more clarity. Emily is no longer the wide eyed optimist we met in previous seasons as Rome gives her space to grow and Marcello becomes a part of that evolution.

Their connection is genuine and deeply felt, but it unfolds alongside conflicting ambitions and quiet misalignments. Emily pours herself into building something meaningful in Italy, but it's clear that her and Marcello have different aspirations.

Talking about their relationship, Collins has told Tudum,

"She doesn’t judge herself, and neither does Marcello. They both acknowledge the care they have for each other and the incredible experiences they shared. But they realize they want different things. It’s a powerful lesson: You can love someone and still let them go for the good of both people.”

Although they make their way back to each other, a turning point in their relationship comes when she mistakenly assumes that Marcello is proposing her. Rejecting his proposal, they end up facing the truth of their lives clashing and misaligning, choosing to let things go.

---

So where does Gabriel come in all of this?

In the very first episode of the show, we see a glimpse of Gabriel showing up to Rome to win his lady back. This is before he sees a glimpse of her and Marcello, and ultimately decides to not interrupt her love life and moves on.

Talking about their intro in the first episode, Collins told Tudum,

"I loved that Gabriel understood her happiness with Marcello and allowed them to have their time together. This speaks volumes about the growth of their friendship since Season 1 — they are more communicative, honest, and up-front with each other.”

Emily’s return to Paris in episode 4 marks a sharp shift in season 5’s emotional rhythm. Fresh off her first breakup with Marcello, she throws herself back into work, only for her personal and professional worlds to collide through Gabriel. As head chef at L’Esprit de Gigi, the Michelin starred restaurant owned by Agence Grateau client Antoine Lambert, Gabriel finds himself at odds with Antoine over a proposed plant based menu.

Emily steps in to smooth things over and arranges for Gabriel to cater the opening of a luxury hotel owned by billionaire Thomas Heatherton. The move works almost too well. Heatherton is so taken with Gabriel’s food that he offers him a full time position as his private chef aboard his yacht, forcing Gabriel to leave Paris and putting physical distance between him and Emily yet again.

While Emily spends most of the ten episode season building a serious relationship with Marcello in Rome, Gabriel’s life takes a more nomadic turn. He accepts Heatherton’s offer and begins traveling, effectively removing himself from Emily’s orbit. The two only cross paths once after Emily’s return to Paris, during a brief lunch where Gabriel stops by to retrieve his knives.

Still, episode 9 briefly pulls them back into emotional alignment. Gabriel returns to Paris for an afternoon, shares a quiet lunch with Emily, and admits that he followed her to Rome earlier in the season. He tells her he hopes she will be happy with Marcello, but the tension between them is undeniable, heightened by Mindy’s dramatic performance of Come What May. The episode closes with Emily and Marcello saying “I love you,” making it seem as though the Emily-Gabriel train has moved on.

Collins talked about Emily and Gabriel's storyline and where it leads to, as she added

“I don’t know what the future holds for Gabriel and Emily. I appreciated that they were able to say goodbye gracefully, without knowing what comes next. Emily is supportive of his adventures and career, and she respects his journey without interfering. That kind of graceful goodbye felt deserved for the characters, and I’m not entirely sure where it will go from here.”

---

The season finale teases what could possibly happen between Emily and Gabriel in the coming seasons

The finale of Emily In Paris Season 5 closes far from Paris, with Gabriel aboard Thomas Heatherton’s yacht, drifting between work and possibility. He has just been granted a few weeks off, time he plans to spend in Greece, when a message from Sylvie lands and quietly changes the trajectory of their relationship. He gets to know that Emily is single again, and we are once again holding on hope that they will now get back together.

Gabriel reaches for a postcard, something Emily once asked him for, and writes to her from the middle of the sea. He tells her he is at sea without her. He asks her to meet him in Greece. It's a simple message, but could definitely shape what their future (and Emily's next destination!) could look like.

Emily In Paris creator Darren Star, has spoke about their future and said ambiguously,

“I think the door’s always open between those two.

And that's true, but the season ends without an answer. We do not see Emily's reponse to the postcard, or if she will leave Paris or stay put. But the question lingers, and so does the certainty that no matter how long it takes, Emily and Gabriel’s story is far from finished.

---

Emily In Paris season 5 is now streaming on Netflix.