Ep 18. Paris at Last

Lucy and Ethel have longed to see Paris ever since they landed in Europe, and now they finally get their chance. Lucy wins a contest for the best testimonial about a dishwashing soap, but when she finds out the prize is a trip to Paris, she doesn’t know how to break it to Ricky. She and Ethel decide to surprise him with the news in a romantic setting, but their plan goes awry when they mistakenly believe that Ricky is seeing an attractive blonde at a nightclub.

The girls hatch a plan to follow Ricky and prove that he’s cheating. They end up at a swanky nightclub where they make a scene in their attempt to catch Ricky in the act. However, they soon realize that the blonde is just a friend of Ricky’s and that he hasn’t been unfaithful. Lucy and Ethel apologize and tell Ricky about their trip to Paris, and he agrees to let them go on the condition that they promise not to get into any trouble.

The gang heads to Paris, where they experience the city’s charms, from the Eiffel Tower to French cuisine to a romantic boat ride along the Seine. However, Lucy and Ethel can’t help but get into mischief, as they inadvertently switch hotel rooms with a pair of jewel thieves. The girls end up getting arrested for theft, but Ricky manages to clear their names with the help of a French acquaintance.

On their final night in Paris, Lucy and Ethel attend a fashion show where they try to sneak a glance at a new gown being unveiled. In typical Lucy fashion, she ends up getting tangled in the dress and becoming part of the show. The episode ends with the group boarding a plane back to America, with Lucy dreaming about their next big adventure.

“Paris at Last” is a classic episode of I Love Lucy that showcases the show’s signature blend of humor and heart. The episode’s central conflict, Lucy’s desire to travel to Paris without upsetting her husband, gives the story a relatable emotional core, while the hijinks that ensue once the gang arrives in France are pure comedic gold. The episode is a standout in the series’ fifth season, which saw the show exploring new settings and shaking up its formula while still remaining true to its core values.