Ashley Park weighed in after Emily in Paris raised the stakes by exploring a romance between Mindy and best friend Emily’s ex Alfie.
During season 5, which started streaming on Thursday, December 18, Mindy and Alfie (Lucien Laviscount) formed a connection that they initially kept a secret from Emily (Lily Collins). Park, 34, however, was happy to see how the hit Netflix series navigated the complicated dynamics between the characters.
“We really see Emily and Mindy in different situations. I think it’s the first time their friendship departed from how me and Lily have ever interacted,” Park, who was promoting her partnership with Planet Oat to celebrate the brand’s newest White Chocolate Raspberry Oatmilk Creamer, said about the friends having a falling out.
The actress pointed out that usually Mindy and Emily mirrored how close her and Collins were in real life.
“But I’m proud of both of those women in the show. We see a real sisterhood and something that develops stronger between them,” Park continued. “But I would say Emily in Paris keeps surprising me.”
According to Park, she “did not see” Mindy’s story lines coming.
“I feel like I got to be in eight different kinds of genres of shows all in one,” she gushed. “What else could you ask for? I never know what to expect. So I’ve just really stopped expecting. It feels like a pinch me moment. So they really keep us on her toes.”
Season 5 may have started with Mindy and Alfie giving into their chemistry — but it ended with a surprise proposal. After calling things off, Mindy got back together with ex Nicolas (Paul Forman), who asked for her hand in marriage while on a trip to Venice. Mindy accepted the proposal yet her feelings for Alfie seemed to make her conflicted about her future.
“Coming into season 5 that we’re about to release, it’s been over half a decade [since the show debuted],” Park previously teased to Us in an interview last month. “Me and Lily were just talking about that the other day. We’ve known each other for half a decade and it’s interesting to step into the shoes of a character where it’s a couple days later but you’ve grown as a person six months to a year [between seasons].”
Park gushed about getting to work on Emily in Paris, saying, “This show has completely changed my life in terms of the pathways and the conversations I get to be a part of. I get to have conversations with people around the world because of Netflix being global. I’m very grateful.”
In celebration of the show’s fifth season, Park got to channel her love for the show with a Planet Oat partnership tied to a limited-edition creamer. Planet Oat White Chocolate Raspberry Oatmilk Creamer pulls inspiration from Emily in Paris for their new product, which is infused with the flavors of creamy white chocolate and bright, tart raspberry.
“I’m a huge white chocolate lover — and also a raspberry lover. I feel like my love for raspberry really came to fruition when I went to Paris for the first time. They have just the best berries,” Park said. “Those berries are next level. I have also loved Planet Oat.”
Timed to the release of season 5, Planet Oat will pop up at L’Appartement 4F in Brooklyn to spotlight the new White Chocolate Raspberry Creamer. Guests will enjoy exclusive signature menu items — including The Raspberet Latte and The Raspberet Croissant — inspired by the series’ Parisian setting and crafted to highlight the new creamer.
As a fan of oat milk, Park is excited for the chance to up her coffee game.
“As a singer, I’ve always gone for non-dairy milk. Planet Oat have all these flavors and my favorite thing with these creamers is how it just makes my coffee taste better. Because I used to drink coffee black and then I discovered oat milk creamers,” she added. “I was like, ‘Oh, this can taste lovely.’”
Planet Oat’s White Chocolate Raspberry Oatmilk Creamer will be available in stores coinciding with Emily in Paris’ return on Thursday, December 18.
