Emily In Paris: Lucas Bravo's Gabriel May Not Return For Season 5 — And That's Totally Fine

While Emily in Paris would be nothing without its titular character, Emily Cooper (Lily Collins), fans of the show might see another member of the cast moving on. The Netflix romantic comedy centers on an American fashionista pursuing her dream career in France, but it was Lucas Bravo’s Gabriel who stole the show in the first season of Emily in Paris. The “sexy chef” with a heart of gold has been the consistent object of Emily’s affection, yet is always just out of her reach.

Gabriel is also attached to another character, Camille (Camille Razat), who befriends Emily in Emily in Paris season 1. Their relationship goes through many ups and downs throughout the course of the show, and even when they're not together, it seems that Gabriel and Camille can't quit each other. Indeed, Gabriel is at the center of multiple Emily in Paris romantic storylines throughout the show’s four seasons, and it’s hard to imagine the series without him. Nevertheless, if Bravo has anything to say about it, it looks like Gabriel may be making his exit for good.

Lucas Bravo Isn’t Having Fun On Emily In Paris Anymore

He Has Discussed Not Returning For Season 5

Though fans of Emily In Paris may have had fun watching Gabriel grace their screens for four years, it seems that portraying the character recently has been taxing for actor Lucas Bravo. In an interview with Indiewire, Bravo confessed that his character changed so much from the first season that he barely recognized him by season 4.

“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.”

While Bravo’s statement may be a bit unfair to guacamole, his thoughts on Gabriel make a lot of sense. Fans fell in love with the character because of his easy smile and charm, and Gabriel seems to have lost a lot of that along the way. Bravo also said that he isn’t sure he’ll be back for Emily In Paris season 5:

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.”

The Gabriel Love Triangles Are Getting Old

He's Had More Than Just Emily & Camille

Love triangles always provide great conflict, but Gabriel has been in so many that it's getting ridiculous. First ,there was Gabriel, Emily, and Camille, then Gabriel, Emily, and Mathieu; then Emily, Gabriel, and Alfie in season 3, and — to a certain extent — Gabriel, Camille, and Sofia in season 4. Plus, it looks like Emily in Paris season 5 could have yet another if Gabriel follows through with his plan to find Emily in Rome, where she's currently enjoying a romance with Marcello.

Even with all the various love triangles floating around throughout Emily In Paris, the mainstay of Emily, Gabriel, and Camille has become the most frustrating. It feels like the writers keep returning to this whenever they run out of ideas, despite the well having long run dry.

Emily’s Other Beaus Are More Compelling Than Gabriel

Alfie & Marcello Are Much Better Matches For The Protagonist

Between the Gabriel romance storylines in Emily In Paris, there have been other (and arguably better) love interests for the heroine to fall in love with. In season 2, Emily meets the charming Londoner Alfie while taking French lessons. Alfie’s dislike of Paris clashes with Emily’s love for the city, yet there is an undeniable chemistry between them that blossoms into something more.

As a romance, Alfie’s relationship with Emily is much more compelling than the constant love triangles with Gabriel. Alfie challenges Emily with his differing point of views, and also appreciates and admires her for her passion and talent. It’s a shame that Emily couldn’t seem to get over Gabriel to pursue something real with Alfie, a mistake that she comes to regret when they meet again in season 4 and Alfie has moved on with another woman.

The arrival of a new character in season 4, Marcello, also promises the possibility for Emily to find true love next season. Marcello encourages Emily to see the world beyond Paris, which inspires her big move to Rome in the season finale. With his modesty and sweet disposition, Marcello could really broaden Emily’s horizons in season 5.

Gabriel Became A Boring Character

His Entire Personality Is "Sexy Chef"

Lucas Bravo had a point when he told Indiewire that Gabriel wasn’t fun to play after season 1 of Emily In Paris. In the show’s first season, Gabriel was intriguing not only because of his looks, but because of his charm, humor, and passion. From season 2 and onward, Gabriel’s demeanor changed drastically, losing much of what made fans love him in the first place. By the time the show gets to the second half of season 4, Gabriel is mopey and brooding in almost every scene.

According to Bravo, the actor attempted to make improvements to Gabriel on his own, but the show’s creators wouldn’t allow it. “I tried for seasons to bring nuances but we don’t have much liberty on set,” he said. “We cannot change a word or an emotion. They know what they want and we just have to comply.”

The lack of creative freedom certainly doesn’t bode well for Bravo staying on the show. It also doesn’t help that the majority of Gabriel’s storyline only relates to his romantic entanglements, leaving little room for him to evolve in other ways — the Michelin star plot is much more half-baked that the other characters' storylines. Sadly, it seems that Gabriel has essentially been reduced to a plot device for romantic conflict, so maybe it’s time to say goodbye to the character.

Gabriel Leaving Would Give Camille Room To Grow

Her Emily In Paris Storylines Are Dragged Down By Gabriel

Emily may be the main protagonist in the titular series, but fans also have a lot of love for Camille, Gabriel’s ex. Camille is a great character in her own right, even in a supporting role. She could have been Emily’s nemesis, but instead, the two women came to be close friends, and Camille became an important part of the Emily In Paris cast.

Unfortunately, Camille spent much of the series also pining for Gabriel. Between breaking up and getting back together multiple times, almost getting married, and a false pregnancy, it seems like Camille just can’t catch a break, and much of it is due to her being weighed down by her attachment to Gabriel. However, if he were to leave Emily In Paris, Camille would finally have the chance to move on to bigger and better storylines.

With Camille’s announcement in season 4 that she is adopting a baby, season 5 of Emily In Paris promises some big changes in store for the character. It will be nice to see Camille focus on something for herself rather than futilely trying to mend things with Gabriel, and hopefully, Emily in Paris fans will see her get the happy ending she deserves.