‘Emily in Paris Season 5’ honours late assistant director in Venice finale

The Venice-set finale of Emily in Paris Season 5 paid tribute to late assistant director Diego Borella in the credits, following his passing on set earlier this year.

Borella, an Italian crew member, collapsed during preparations for a final scene at Hotel Danieli, prompting a temporary pause in filming in August. The fifth season premiered on Netflix.

“It was such a tragic moment,” creator Darren Star told Deadline in an interview about Season 5. “He was part of our Italian crew in Venice, but we’re all a family, and we really wanted to honour him, to dedicate the last episode to him.”

Venice marked the final stop for Lily Collins’ Emily and her crew as she and best friend Mindy Chen (Ashley Park) assisted their respective boyfriends, Marcello (Eugenio Franceschini and Nicolas De Léon), in preparing for Marcello Muratori’s debut at Venice Fashion Week.

After exploring Rome in Season 4, the season 5 began in Italian capital before moving to Paris and ultimately the iconic canals of Venice.

A sudden bout of acqua alta forces the team to adjust the catwalk concept, but the addition of rain boots gives models a unique way to showcase Marcello’s designs.

The finale of Emily in Paris also drops hints that, if the show continues for a sixth season as Emily and Mindy find themselves embarking on a new adventure in Greece.