It takes a different kind of genius to make a show so full of gleeful glee it’s hard not to like, notes Deepa Gahlot.

The creator of Emily in Paris is Darren Star, the man who dreamed it up Sex And The City (also the less popular Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Square and V Younger), so it should be obvious that couture comes first no matter what professional or personal crises the protagonist is going through.

That, plus the sheer splendor of Paris on screen – viewers are likely to sigh more than laugh – because by sitcom standards, the show just underwhelms.

When the first season was cancelled, Emily Cooper (Lily Collins) was sent to Paris on behalf of marketing agency Savoir when her boss Madeline (Kate Walsh) became pregnant.

Unable to speak French — and being called “hick” by her Parisian peers — Emily makes ends meet, stumbling around like ignorant Americans wherever they go, smug in their own superiority.

Of course, the French don’t warm to her right away, her boss Sylvie (Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu) is particularly mean. Emily doesn’t look businesslike, but she’s said to be a marketing genius and social media genius, with amazing persuasive skills. The show doesn’t judge her loud fashion sense nor her cute ways as she turns into an irresistible magnet.

Since it’s Paris, the protagonist is a chef, Gabriel (Lucas Bravo), who lives in the same apartment building.

Emily is not ashamed of a lack of sophistication, and when a snooty designer calls her a “simple slut” for hanging an Eiffel Tower keychain on her bag, she uses the stickiness with an impromptu speech that impresses the man.

The series was met with slight indignation by the French, who felt they were being portrayed with every imaginable cliché.

But even if the show was hateful, it got enough attention to deserve a second season in which Emily barely masters French — despite classes — but fits in better.

“You’re so positive,” says her friend and roommate, Mindy Chen (Ashley Park), in part admiration, part despair, because Emily never lets anything get her down. Which may be because she rarely encounters a real disaster.

Season 2 ended on a cliffhanger in which Emily had to choose between two jobs – with Madeline and Sylvie at war over her – and possibly two men.

Gabriel is committed to Camille (Camille Razat), but he and Emily exchange soulful looks; Then there’s the Englishman Alfie (Lucien Laviscourt) who hates Paris and calls her Cooper like she’s his school friend!

As Season 3 begins, Emily is so distraught that she has nightmares about falling off the Eiffel Tower, so she cuts her hair in bangs!

Again, there’s just as much style and kitsch (jewel-colored knee boots!) but a little more drama too.

Other characters, like Mindy and Emily’s savoir team of Luc (Bruno Gouery) and Julien (Samuel Arnold), get a little more sunshine that follows Emily everywhere.

That’s about it.

Otherwise the show is cheesy and shallow as always. But, as Americans say, why fix what ain’t broke?

If the sight of beautiful people takes heartbreak for two minutes while dressed in outfits that look as good as they must be uncomfortable (and where do they cram so much couture into small apartments), then why bother with such frothy “existential angst”? mess around?

The viewer sees stunning landscapes – this Provence episode has drool-worthy visuals – and beautiful French chateaux, cafes, bistros, fashion houses and even a sequence set during the legendary Fete de la Musique.

If all the romantic mayhem over three seasons wasn’t enough, season 4 is already in the works as the final season also ends on a cliffhanger.

It would take a lot of work to do 10 more episodes that couldn’t possibly increase Emily’s confusion routine, maybe another baby since Madeline has hers (and regains her form in a jiffy) and another character is pregnant.

Still, it takes a different kind of genius to make a show so full of gleeful glee it’s hard not to like. Maybe it would fall apart when it got serious – either about love or marketing!

Emily in Paris 3 is streaming on Netflix.

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