Take a look at Twitter, Tumblr or Reddit and one truth is obvious: Fandom is often accompanied by arguments. When it comes to the TV shows and movies we love, there are intricate theories to discuss and wrong turns to criticize aplenty. But fans aren’t limited to those tough conversations. There’s also a lot to love — like, say, love itself. Any great viewing experience inspires a whole lot of romantic shipping, or rooting for an on-screen relationship. Even the most serious titles — like deadly thriller Squid Game — can give birth to a powerful ship or two (Sae-byeok and Ji-yeong forever!). 

This is where “Battle Ship” comes in, allowing Tudum writers to (lovingly) debate the defining ships of our favorite shows. As we said, fandom comes with arguments. This week, we celebrate the return of Emily in Paris by questioning which of Emily Cooper’s suitor — French chef Gabriel (Lucas Bravo) or British banker Alfie (Lucien Laviscount) — deserves the clé to her heart.

Ariana Romero: Raise your sails, Olivia, it’s time to battle our Emily in Paris ships. I’m entering the field as an Alfie stan. And you? 

Olivia Harrison: I’m here as a Gabriel groupie. 

Romero: A fabulous name. I need to improve my Alfie game immediately. So, we can both agree these are wonderful specimens. But, at least prior to the Season 2 finale (we’ll get to that eventually), what drew you to Gabriel the most? 

Harrison: I’m always most attracted to creativity. I’m interested in passionate people whose work involves using their minds and hands to make something special. As a chef, Gabriel ticks that box. More than once throughout the series, he’s shown Emily how you can take simple ingredients and, with care, turn them into a spectacular dish that brings people together and even evokes emotions. 

Romero: Okay, that is very sexy.

Harrison: The way he looks at food through an artistic lens — well, that just does it for me. Who doesn’t want to be the recipient of that kind of intentionality, especially if it tastes good? I also admire that he’s pursued something he truly loves and even opened a restaurant of his own that reflects his sensibilities as a chef. Alfie, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to have that sensitive artist side, and he certainly doesn’t channel it through his job, which he doesn’t even seem to find interesting or particularly exciting. So what is it about Alfie that’s most appealing to you? I’m guessing it’s something outside of his professional life.

Romero: Obviously, we have to recognize Alfie is very, very hot. He’s a beautiful man with a charming accent and a chain that could easily rival Connell’s in Normal People. His casting inspired thirst tweets before people even saw him in an actual scene on the show. 

Harrison: I absolutely can’t argue that Alfie isn’t extremely hot. The man is almost too fine to look at directly, but even Emily needs more than that! Hotness alone isn’t enough to convince me that he’s the better suitor, especially long-term. Plus, Gabriel also has aesthetic appeal going for him. What else is Alfie offering?

Romero: You’re right: If we’re talking mere looks, Alfie could easily be a quickly fizzling love interest like the many that populate Season 1. It’s the journey that really sells him. Emily and Alfie share a proper love story in Paris — the kind you would want to brag about to your American friends. They have a great hookup, but he doesn’t let the connection stall after one night of good sex. He pursues Emily and even lets her delete all of the embarrassing texts she sent him when she assumed he ghosted her. That is very sweet, since a lot of guys would insist on looking at the evidence, if only to tease Emily (or, worse, label her “crazy” and write her off). Alfie is then intensely straightforward with his intentions every single step of the way. Honest communication and clear, active interest are the most alluring qualities a guy can have when you start dating — and Alfie possesses them in spades. 

This is also my biggest issue with Gabriel: He’s never candid with his intentions or feelings, which creates so much unnecessary drama. How do you deal with his disastrous indecisiveness, which is often obscured by his immense beauty as a tall, sexy French chef who can kiss well?  

Harrison: Wow, I feel very called out. But you’re right; I am often blinded by Gabriel’s hot French accent and aspirational job. It does really bother me that he ping-pongs between Emily and Camille. Ultimately, though, in Season 2, he does decide he wants to be with Emily, and she’s the one who complicates things by telling him it can’t happen one minute and then making out with him in his kitchen (HOT!) the next. I do wish Gabriel, Emily and Camille communicated their desires more clearly, but I don’t think he’s the only one to blame there.

While Alfie does clearly tell Emily what he wants at the end of Season 2 — which I appreciate — when the two first meet, he certainly isn’t the most tactful communicator. In the beginning of their relationship, he negs her quite a bit. I’m all for playful teasing, but he calls her clothes silly in front of their entire French class. That’s not very nice, and it shouldn’t make someone fall in love. Alfie’s also constantly needling Emily about not being fun and being obsessed with work. He even thinks she’s too optimistic about the romantic power of Paris. He should embrace her for who she is!

Romero: This is an awesome point. While I love Alfie, I would love a scene of him apologizing for publicly calling Emily out even more. Obviously, we don’t get that in Season 2, but we do observe Alfie emphatically state his opinions after he decides to take Emily seriously. The image of him and Emily taking in the Eiffel Tower with wonder should be framed. By the time Alfie is playing football with Gabriel, he admits to Emily that he can see why she’s so enamored with Paris. That’s why it’s so lovely to learn in the finale that Alfie has actually stayed in Paris for longer than he’s allowed just to be with Emily and enjoy the city. Plus, Alfie is down to let Emily micromanage their lives in her amusante outfits with a long-distance relationship. Alfie may have been a jerk at the beginning — and I never want to glorify negging, vom — but he turns that misstep around and becomes supportive of everything he initially thought was annoying about Emily.

Since we’re talking about the finale, did the episode change your opinion about your ship at all? 

Harrison: Ah, yes, the finale. That was tough for me as a Gabriel supporter. Heading into the climax of the final episode, I held strong in my conviction that Emily should end up with her chef. Though Alfie’s offering of color-coded weekend visit schedules was adorable, long-distance relationships are really hard! Gabriel is actually in Paris, and it’s pretty clear that she’s still carrying a flame for him. Ultimately, I thought Emily should end up with the person she most wants to be with, and by the end of the episode, it’s obvious that is Gabriel. But then that last scene unfolded, feeling like a dagger thrust into my heart. 

Though I did kind of see it coming, I didn’t want to believe it when Emily showed up to confess her love to Gabriel once and for all — only to be greeted by Camille, who was moving in with him. I was disgusted. The fact that Gabriel decided to go back to his ex only after he figured out that things weren’t going to work out with Emily, the person he actually wanted to be with, is totally pathetic. Does this man not know how to be alone? Does he not realize there are other eligible women in the world besides these two he bounces back and forth between? And he let Camille move in immediately after all this drama. Shouldn’t they go to couples therapy or something first? Yeah, Gabriel clearly has some issues to work out. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but maybe Emily is better off without him.

Romero: Sadly, I’m leaving Season 2 with a similar takeaway — albeit for a very different reason. As you said so perfectly, Emily should be with the person she wants the most. As the last few minutes of the finale confirm, that’s clearly Gabriel. Emily knows it. Mindy (Ashley Park) knows it after their heart-to-heart. And now we unquestionably know it as viewers. For me, that means Emily shouldn’t force things to work with Alfie just because she couldn’t have her first choice. It’s not fair to either of them. With that smile, wit, and chain (chain!), Alfie is no one’s runner-up. 

If anything, I’ll take him. He’s clearly open to a long-distance relationship.