Is Marcello, Emily’s newest boo exhibiting red flags?

When the fourth season of Emily in Paris was announced, most people wanted to know if Alfie would be in it. In Season 1, Gabriel may have been the ‘hot chef’, but by the end of Season 3, we were simply not seeing it because of how his character was shaping up. Alfie, on the other hand, still had our hearts. In Season 4, we judged both of them, quite hard. Alfie, with his unwillingness to believe what Emily said, unless it came from Gabriel, and Gabriel just being flaky af. This was really taking away from the escapism we expect from living vicariously through Emily. 

And then we found an Italian snacc, Marcello. I found myself thinking for quite some time—we all deserve to be treated like that—until I realised I may be falling for the same charm that Em is. We love compliments, we love men who are not afraid to express their feelings for us, and we absolutely love the right amount of cheesy. His flirting game was smooth, he was rich but modest, and he seemed to be treating her well…until he wasn’t. 

I don’t trust Marcello completely, he’s new and it seems like he has already exhibited some red flags. And the internet is divided too as people are finding it hard to ignore these traits. We’ll have to see how the writers develop his character arc but for now, tread slowly, Em!

 

He is love-bombing her 

Marcello had a very charming meet-cute with Emily on the top of the mountains. A hot Italian stranger helping you ski, yumm. But going home and telling your mom about her? Bringing her home to your family, introducing her to your friends, and acting so in love—major serial killer vibes. “He totally is love bombing her. And it’s working. Even got me fooled. And got me thinking: oh wow they just got to know each other and we know more of his family than we know about Gabriel’s,” says a Reddit user. Marcello didn’t really know Emily as a person before obsessing over her, and it just feels too much too soon. Another Reddit user mirrors this sentiment saying, “Both Alfie and Gabriel took some time getting to know her, before they developed feelings for her. But Marcello is over the top from the moment he met her.”

He doesn’t make space for communication 

Every time he makes an incorrect assumption about Emily, he doesn’t let the woman talk! Like okay, hold on to your opinions but hear the other person out. “She tells him hey I think we could actually help you and he doesn’t want to even listen despite not really wanting to sell to JVMA. Jeez man what do you have to lose, listening doesn’t cost a dime,” a Reddit user wrote. How would he ever survive conflicts to make a relationship last? We need sexy but we need stability too.

 

He goes from charming to disrespectful real quick 

Marcello goes on about how she deserves better than a guy who abandons his girlfriend at a snow-covered mountain. He seems so charming with the respect and chivalry he exhibits. But the moment he feels Emily did something he doesn’t approve of, respect leaves the building. “He's very hot/cold with Emily: deciding to stay in Paris last minute instead of flying home, inviting Emily to Rome, then blocking her, then showing her around his hometown, then not talking to her, then ambushing her at that party. I think we've seen this before,” says a user on Reddit. When she’s at Solitano as his guest, at some point he gets pissed off and asks her to return to Rome. I mean, how disrespectful! 

He lacks independent thinking 

Each time he returned after abandoning Emily, it was only because his mom explained things to him. Love your parents but we need someone who thinks independently and isn’t being emotionally tutored by their mothers. We know how such relationships turn out and it’s just showing up as a big red flag. 

But...let's give him the benefit of the doubt

Only the next season will reveal if these flags turn a darker shade of red, or if they reveal a nice green! Even if Marcello is a temporary romance, can we please make him one to remember? A gorgeous example of how a guy should treat a woman!

All images: Netflix

Also read: Lily Collins Defends “Annoying” Qualities of ‘Emily in Paris’ Character

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