Emily In Paris: Unraveling Madeline Wheeler's Epic 3-Season Pregnancy Journey

The events of Emily in Paris kick off when Madeline Wheeler, an American executive played by Kate Walsh, discovers she's pregnant. However, this storyline caused some controversy as Madeline was still pregnant in season 3. In the pilot episode, Madeline, who is Emily Cooper's boss portrayed by Lily Collins, had plans to move to Paris for work. But when it is revealed that Madeline is expecting, she asks Emily to go in her place. Thus, unfolds a fish-out-of-water tale as Emily grapples with fitting in among her French colleagues, adjusting to their work ethic, and finding herself entangled in a couple of love triangles in the romantic City of Lights.

Although Emily aspires to follow in Madeline's marketing footsteps, it is Madeline who possesses actual experience in studying French and working with French businesses. This crucial difference between Emily and Madeline sets the stage for the show's plot, highlighting Emily's lack of preparedness to adapt to Parisian culture. In previous seasons, fans' main criticism of the show centered around Emily's inability to speak French. However, Madeline's arrival in season 2 introduced another point of contention for viewers: her ongoing pregnancy.

The Timeline Of Emily In Paris Seasons Is Short, Which Explains Madeline Wheeler's Pregnancy

In Emily in Paris season 2, Madeline Wheeler's pregnancy continues to be depicted, causing confusion among fans when she travels to Paris during her third trimester. Supporters of the show noticed that the whole reason for Emily moving to Paris was to alleviate the need for Madeline to travel while pregnant, only for her to ultimately go to Paris after all. Due to Madeline arriving in Paris so late in her pregnancy, she ends up giving birth there in the third season. Fans questioned how Madeline could still be pregnant in Emily in Paris season 3.

However, despite the impression that Madeline's pregnancy has extended beyond the span of nine months in Emily in Paris, the show's timeline does not align with real-life time. Initially, when Emily is sent to Paris, her assignment is intended to last for 12 months, and Madeline is newly pregnant. Each season only covers a few months, and Emily has not completed her time in Paris by the time Madeline gives birth. Emily in Paris creator Darren Star confirmed in an interview with Glamour that the show's "seasons are not nine months long."

But Madeline Wheeler's French-Speaking Ability Is A Plot Hole

Madeline Wheeler's proficiency in French is inconsistent in Emily in Paris, which does not align with the established continuity of the show. In season 2, when Madeline arrives in Paris, her French-speaking skills appear to be rusty and she repeatedly makes mistakes with the French staff, making her feel out of place. This contradicts the fact that in season 1, Madeline was shown to be fluent in French. While this change in her character might not make sense, it serves the narrative purpose of highlighting that Emily has adapted well to life in France and no longer fits in working for Madeline Wheeler.