Out of all the TV shows on Netflix, Emily in Paris is likely the most common series that subscribers call a “guilty pleasure.” After all, despite the chic European setting and the colorful, stylish fashion, the series, which still continues to dominate Netflix each season, is still missing a few elements to make for great TV. Throughout its five seasons, as viewers warmed up to Lily Collins‘ spirited Emily Cooper, the show continued to lack depth, and has left its secondary characters, including Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu‘s scene-stealing Sylvie, only scratching the surface.

So, as viewers tune in to Season 5 of Emily in Paris, which premiered on December 18, 2025, there’s another show from the same series creator, Darren Star, that could be even more worthy of their time. The seven-season series Younger, which was first released in 2015, has similar themes of romance, female friendship and aspiring careers, but has a more nuanced, less superficial approach. Based on Pamela Redmond Satran’s 2005 novel, Younger tells the story of Liza Miller (Sutton Foster), a recent divorceé in her 40s who restarts her career in New York City’s ruthless publishing industry, and pretends to be a 26-year-old. It’s witty, heartfelt, and the perfect replacement watch for Emily in Paris fans.

‘Younger’ Takes Bigger Swings Than ‘Emily in Paris’

Looking back through the seasons, Emily’s biggest problems and dilemmas in Emily in Paris haven’t been exactly all-encompassing or high-stakes. Storylines either focus on her boy troubles, especially with the back and forth with charming chef Gabriel (Lucas Bravo), or on the risks and pitfalls of being an advertising executive. In Younger, however, Liza’s stakes are bigger and more nuanced from the get-go. In episode 1, when she tries to restart her career after 15 years away taking care of her daughter, Liza faces her first roadblock.

With no recent work experience, and an age that’s far from the industry’s standard, Liza finds herself unhirable, and hides her real age as her last resort. Therefore, unlike Emily in Paris, Younger deals with major real-world issues, like ageism, fear of irrelevance, and the emotional toll of hiding one’s identity head-on.

But as Liza’s secrets and insecurities become the backbone of Younger, and cause a lingering tension that rises as her relationships develop, Younger still has all the elements that make Emily in Paris so bingeable. Throughout the seasons, viewers watch Liza struggle with work, develop a sweet connection with her new best friend Kelsey (Hilary Duff), and have romantic connections with both age-appropriate and not-so-age-appropriate suitors. So, much like Emily in Paris, Younger‘s 20-minute episodes are nonetheless entertaining and dynamic throughout. Plus, much like an idyllic Paris is the setting for Emily in Paris, New York is the backdrop to Younger, but it’s not idealized or dramatized, and instead presents itself as a breeding ground for ambition, competition, and success.

Related

‘Younger’s 10 Most Shocking Moments, Ranked

These moments truly stunned us!!

The Performances in ‘Younger’ Set the Show Apart

While Younger’s dynamic, thought-provoking storylines help define the series, which boasts an impressive 97% average on Rotten Tomatoes across its seven-season run, it’s the cast that truly sets it apart. Foster, who’s a two-time Tony winner in her own right, anchors the show with a performance that’s consistently magnetic, moving with ease between moments of vulnerability and drama to moments of wit and dry comedy.

Sharing the screen with Foster is Debi Mazar as Maggie, Liza’s loyal and outspoken best friend who entertains viewers with her dry and deadpan humor. Another highlight is Nico Tortorella, who plays tattoo artist and love interest Josh. Together, Liza and Josh are electric onscreen, with charisma and charm emanating from both sides. The ensemble is rounded out by standout performances from Miriam Shor, Peter Hermann, and Molly Bernard, and countless memorable guest stars over the years, including Michael Urie, Charles Michael Davis, Phoebe Dynevor, and Kathy Najimy.

With that said, while Emily in Paris continues to top the Netflix charts with the arrival of Season 5, viewers should certainly be tuning in to Star’s underseen yet beloved series Younger on Netflix instead. With sharper writing, stronger performances, and real emotional stakes beneath its glamorous New York City surface, the series fills the same binge-watch gap, while offering viewers a journey that’s more meaningful, emotional and rewarding. A not-so-guilty pleasure that’s well worth the time.

Release Date

2015 – 2021-00-00

Network

TV Land, Paramount+

Showrunner

Darren Star

Directors

Peter Lauer, Steven K. Tsuchida, Todd Biermann, Andrew Fleming, Jennifer Arnold, Tamra Davis, Tricia Brock, Brennan Shroff, Darren Star, Miriam Shor

Writers

Joe Murphy, Rick Singer, Lyle Friedman, Sarah Choi, Jessie Cantrell, Terri Minsky, Eliot Glazer