What's Real Girlfriends In Paris About?

Six American expats living in Paris form a unique bond as they chase their dreams, fall in and out of love, and discover who they really are.

Who's involved?

• Anya is a committed Francophile who has lived in Paris for nearly 10 years. A self-stylized Mrs. Maisel, Anya loves to mother the girls and have them over for elaborate gatherings.
• Emily, a New Jersey native, is pursuing a degree in luxury design management, but soon finds herself torn between following her parents’ path or creating her own.
• Kacey fell in love with Parisian culture while abroad in college and now works in a temporary job as an English teacher. She wants to stay in Paris long-term, but visa complications could get in the way.
• Margaux is a free spirit who grew up between France and New York. After years of relying on her father, she’s finally ready to become financially independent and make a name for herself.
• Adja is a high-achiever who’s eager to find love in Paris, but trust issues from previous relationships and a stressful job situation create obstacles.
• Victoria, who works as a designer at a nascent fashion brand, is freshly divorced and hopes to begin a new chapter in Paris. She’s closest with Margaux, who helps her explore all the romantic opportunities the city has to offer.

Why (and to whom) do we recommend it?

With a title like Real Girlfriends in Paris, Bravo is clearly hoping viewers will associate the new series with The Real Housewives, but that comparison does both a disservice. In recent seasons, mainstays The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and Salt Lake City have been as much about what’s happening on-screen as what’s happening off, contributing to the sense that “reality” lies somewhere in between. This isn’t to say Real Housewives has lost its edge, only that its drama feels practiced, and its stars seem acutely aware of the need to keep up their public personas.

Real Girlfriends feels like a show that could’ve been made about Erika Jayne, Jen Shah, and Kandi Burruss 25 years ago, long before they became Bravolebrities. Its six 20-something stars are fresh-faced and idealistic, and (with one exception) keeping up appearances seems to be the last thing on their minds.

The premiere features a number of surprisingly authentic moments, as when Margaux goes around the Thanksgiving table and demands to know when everyone last got laid. “August, people!” she says of her nonexistent sex life. “Until today, I could’ve braided my pubic hair.” This isn’t something most people want blasted across Bravo, but theses are the kinds of conversations regular 20-something women have, and it’s refreshing to see that reflected on-screen.

With her brash, no-filter nature, Margaux is the most entertaining of the group, but the other women all bring something unique to the show. Anya is the consummate mother hen, while Kacey blends her fun-loving attitude (and gaming obsession) with her work as a teacher, and Adja showcases her impressive knowledge of the local sex club scene. Rather than rely on or reinforce existing reality TV archetypes, the show ignores them altogether, charting an inventive path in a genre that thrives on consistency.

It helps that the six women appear to be actual friends — or at the very least, the experience of navigating a foreign country and culture serves as a bonding force in a way that accepting a five-figure Housewives check does not. They may not be besties quite yet, but when Victoria opens up about her conservative upbringing, the women comfort her in a way that suggests it’s only a matter of time before their friendships deepen. Who wouldn’t want to follow along on that heartwarming journey, set against the backdrop of the City of Light?

Pairs well with

• Emily in Paris, Netflix’s oft-criticized dramedy about an American marketing manager living in Paris. (Read our Season 2 review.)
• Sweet Life: Los Angeles (HBO Max), the Issa Rae-produced reality series centered on a group of actual, real life friends.
• The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video), an obvious inspiration for Anya, who beams when the other ladies compare her to Rachel Brosnahan’s character.