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Vice President J.D. Vance set the internet buzzing when he declared Netflix’s Emily in Paris “the Shakespeare of our time,” forcing a rare moment of cultural seriousness into a conversation most elites would rather dismiss as frivolous. He wasn’t praising fashion or froth — he argued the show serves as a massive cultural critique of how an entire generation makes life choices. Americans who still believe in marriage, family and common-sense priorities should welcome a leader who calls out cultural rot instead of applauding it.
Vance laid out the point plainly: Emily and the French chef are obvious life partners, yet the show charts a comedy of errors where careerism and aimless romance replace the stable institutions that built this country. That observation hits at the heart of a conservative critique of millennial decision-making — that too many have been taught to prioritize personal branding over building families and communities. This is the kind of cultural diagnosis the left-friendly press refuses to take seriously because it would force them to reckon with broken incentives they helped create.
This isn’t out of character for Vance, who has long defended marriage and the importance of starting families as central to American renewal; his remarks come from a place of conviction, not contrarianism. He and his wife welcomed their fourth child in July, and his public defense of family values is consistent with what he says about culture and policy. Conservatives should be grateful to see a national leader tie entertainment back to civic health rather than treat it as meaningless noise.
For those who think a Netflix rom-com can’t be instructive, remember the show’s popularity gives it cultural weight, and the sixth season is set to debut in December — more proof that these aren’t niche distractions but mainstream influences shaping young Americans’ expectations. If we cede cultural interpretation to coastal elites and Netflix algorithms, we lose the argument over the foundations of a good life. It’s time to push back by elevating stories and leaders that reinforce duty, faith, and family.
Vance even used similar language before, calling Emily in Paris a “masterpiece” in a high-profile podcast conversation, proving his view isn’t a heat-of-the-moment soundbite but a sustained argument about art and society. Conservatives should defend the right to appreciate popular culture while insisting on honest readings of its messages — not bow to the cancel-culture mob that only recognizes one acceptable narrative. Let Americans of all stripes watch what they want, but don’t be surprised when a leader points out what it teaches.
Hardworking Americans know culture matters because culture makes citizens, and citizens make a strong nation. J.D. Vance’s willingness to say what many voters are thinking — that our stories should encourage marriage, hard work, and loyalty to family — is a breath of fresh air in an era of elite pretense. If conservatives want to win the cultural fight, we should applaud and amplify leaders who are willing to engage popular culture with clarity and conviction.
