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Why Lucas Bravo's Gabriel was mostly MIA in ‘Emily in Paris’ Season 5 and what this means for his future

Created by Darren Star, Season 5 shifts its focus to Emily’s romance with Marcello, leaving fans questioning Gabriel's place in her story

Emily Cooper’s (Lily Collins) chaotic love life once again takes center stage in 'Emily in Paris' Season 5. However, despite the romantic upheaval, her original love interest, Gabriel (Lucas Bravo), is notably absent from much of the latest season's action. Instead, Emily is seen growing closer to her new Italian flame, Marcello (Eugenio Franceschini), leaving fans wondering what's really going on with Gabriel.

Notably, Gabriel makes brief appearances in Rome and shares meaningful moments with Emily, confirming he's still part of the storyline and not written out of the show. 'Emily in Paris' director and executive producer Andrew Fleming urged fans to see Emily and Gabriel's relationship as a long-term "journey," even amid recent criticism. Addressing speculation about Gabriel's future on the show, Fleming clarified, "At no point was Luke ever leaving the show permanently." Fleming explained that Bravo's reduced screen time was due to a scheduling conflict, saying, "He did have a commitment. He had a movie that he was doing, so we worked around that," adding that there is no tension between the actor and the writers, as per US Weekly.

Fleming also teased Gabriel's continued importance after his emotional letter to Emily, while cautioning that their endgame remains uncertain, noting, "He's important. He's part of the DNA of the show," and pointed out their on-screen spark. "When he and Emily are in a scene together, something undefinable happens… there's just something about the two of them that's very watchable," Fleming said. 

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Notably, rumours of Gabriel's absence from the latest season can also be attributed to the fact that Bravo has openly expressed frustration with his character arc, admitting he dislikes where the character is headed, though he stresses he's simply doing his job as an actor. Still, Bravo doesn't see Gabriel as a villain, just someone who misunderstands his role in the chaos, plays the victim, and needs to take responsibility for his mistakes, as per She Knows.

Bravo spoke about Gabriel's evolution, admitting this is the first time he's felt confused by the character's choices. "He was more fun to play when he was cheeky, playful, and in love," Bravo said, adding, "I liked part one [of season four] because he was reconnecting with Emily; it was fun to play, but part two was weird. I don't understand him anymore, but we'll see." Still, despite his reservations, Bravo made it clear he trusts the show's direction and remains committed going forward. "Darren has plans; I’m just following him," he said.