When the City of Light sparkles like a freshly popped bottle of champagne, not everyone is ready to toast. Meet Emily in Paris: a whirlwind of high spirits and high heels navigating Paris with more gusto than a croissant fresh from the oven. Lilly Collins, our favorite American on French lands, sparkles as Emily, but sometimes the local critics and even family members are less than starry-eyed. After all, the Eiffel Tower has its shadows, and so does this show.

In the glamorous game of family opinions, sometimes the fiercest critique comes with a side of popcorn and prime-time honesty. And when your father-in-law happens to be a legendary actor, the stakes get as high as the Eiffel Tower itself.

Emily in Paris gets the side-eye as not a certain man’s cup of tea

Speaking of family critiques, Lilly Collins’s father-in-law, the iconic Malcolm McDowell, has kept it fabulously real in his recent PEOPLE interview. “To be honest with you, it is just not my kind of thing, and Lily knows that,” said the 82-year-old actor, famous for roles like A Clockwork Orange. Despite this, McDowell is clear about his admiration for Collins, calling her “absolutely one of the great actresses” and praising the boost her show has given Parisian tourism.

But not all was naysaying from McDowell’s camp. He lauded Collins’ screen and dream cast kind of presence enthusiastically: “As far as I am concerned, when she is on the screen, there is nobody else on it.” He also admits the show exudes “joy and fun,” capturing some of the magic that pulls viewers into Emily’s whirlwind world. It seems the man may not be hooked on the plot, but he is undeniably captivated by his daughter-in-law’s undeniable charm and talent.

Just when you thought Emily in Paris was all champagne toasts and perfect eyelash flicks, real-life drama demanded its close-up. Behind the camera, the crew faced a heartbreak that no amount of Parisian sparkle could quite mask.

On-set tragedies shake up the Emily in Paris trajectory

Behind the scenes, the world of Emily in Paris has recently faced its own turbulence. Assistant director Diego Borella tragically passed away at 47 after collapsing on set during filming of the show’s fifth season in Venice. The incident occurred while the crew was setting up a scene at the iconic Hotel Danieli, and despite immediate medical efforts, Borella was pronounced dead, likely due to a sudden heart attack. The cast and crew paused production briefly in mourning before resuming, underscoring the real-life challenges hidden beneath the sparkling surface of the show.

Ultimately, Emily in Paris is more than just a frothy romance or a fashion parade; it is a real narrative wrought with human emotion both on- and off-screen. Malcolm McDowell’s candid remarks underscore the nuances felt by the audience beneath the undoubted charm of the show—honest, heartfelt, and occasionally heartbreaking. The show mirrors life itself: imperfect, captivating, and filled with stories worth savoring, even when they come with bittersweet notes.

What do you think of Lily Collins’ unexpected not-nod of approval from her own dad-in-law? Let us know in the comments below.