Aahana Swrup
Netflix’s rom-com ‘The Wrong Paris’ follows the story of a woman who enters a reality dating show, but only for all the wrong reasons. Dawn has big dreams of attending a Parisian art academy. However, even after she gets accepted into the institution, she remains unable to fund her traveling and living costs. For the same reason, when the opportunity presents itself, she decides to participate in Honeypot, the reality show where multiple women compete to win over the heart of one eligible Bachelor or break it for a quarter of a million dollars. The fact that the show is being filmed in Paris, ensuring at least a one-day ticket to the city, is just the icing on top. Nonetheless, it’s only after Dawn signs the contract and boards the plane that she realizes she’s actually headed for Paris, the Texan city. Although she tries her damndest to get eliminated to get out of the circus show, her natural chemistry with the charming Bachelor, Trey, adds a layer of complication. Thus, the protagonist finds herself stuck between her Parisian dreams and a whirlwind romance with a Texan heartthrob. SPOILERS AHEAD!
Dawn Accidentally Becomes a Leading Contestant on the Reality Show
Dawn has long held an appetite for the arts. As a result, she has been saving up for a Paris Fund all her life to attend Académie d’Art. However, when her grandmother, Birdie, the sole guardian of her and her sisters, takes a fall, the young woman secretly dips into her own savings to pay the bills. Consequently, when the Academy sends over the acceptance letter, she regrettably realizes her finances can’t sustain the trip with all its expenses. As such, her younger sister, Max, pitches the idea that she should become a contestant on Honeypot, a reality dating show. Even though Dawn applies only half-heartedly, her audition catches the eye of Host Rachel, who’s eager to have her small-town charm in the season. Meanwhile, the potential contestant decides to go out into town the following night.
Dawn meets a charming stranger at the local bar, Trey, and they strike up an instant chemistry. The next day, when she’s chosen for the show and flies out with the crew, many surprises await her on the other side. For one, the show has misled everyone into thinking it’s being filmed in Paris, France, when in reality, it doesn’t take them anywhere past Texas, twenty minutes away from Dawn’s childhood home. However, the bigger shock arrives when the young artist meets the show’s “Honeypot,” in question: Trey, the charmer from the bar. Initially, Dawn attempts to pull out of the show, but resigns herself to her fate for the opportunity of a lucrative appearance fee. Furthermore, her existing spark with Trey continues to translate into their on-screen chemistry. This, paired with her natural competitive streak that emerges once she learns about date prizes, inevitably turns her into one of the top contestants.
Dawn and Trey Connect Even Without the Cameras
Dawn’s winning streak takes her all the way to the semifinals. By then, her farm skills also led her to an opportunity to bond with Trey, after the two found themselves corralling spooked horses together. Therefore, the night before the elimination ceremony, the Bachelor knocks on the contestant’s window. Even though Dawn knows it isn’t the brightest idea, considering her art school plans, she allows herself to get swept up in the moment. The duo spends the early morning hours together, enjoying a picnic at Trey’s favorite secret spot. As they share their life stories, their connection strengthens, and they end up sleeping together. Afterward, Dawn takes the man back to her house to introduce him to his family and showcase her personal art.
However, the couple’s relationship faces a significant roadblock once they return to the ranch, where the cast and crew are waiting for them. During Dawn’s late-night escapade, Lexi, her prime competition, had managed to sneak into her room and go through her personal belongings. As a result, she knows all about the other woman’s Académie d’Art de Paris plans. Once she relays this information to Trey, he automatically assumes Dawn must have been using him to book a one-way flight to Paris, since the finales are set to take place in the French city. For the same reason, the following night, when the time comes for the elimination round, the Bachelor makes a drastic choice that ultimately sends Dawn back home, no longer in the running for the competition.
Dawn Redeems Herself and Reunites With Trey in Paris
In the aftermath of her elimination, Dawn packs her bags and returns home with no opportunity to explain herself to Trey. The two continue to stew in their misunderstandings for the next few weeks as the artist finds herself traveling to Paris, enrolling in art school, and living out her dreams. Yet, try as she might, she can’t deny the fact that somewhere along the line, the charming man in the cowboy hat had become a part of her new dreams. It isn’t until Rachel crosses paths with her in a Parisian cafe that things finally begin to clear up. The host, who had always been betting on Dawn, reveals the truth about Lexi’s dirty trick. Furthermore, she advises the woman to fight for the connection she shared with Trey.
In the show, each contestant, even if they aren’t the winner, receives extra prize winnings for every date night that they win during the course of their time in the competition. This extra money has so far been helping Dawn fund her living overseas. However, she can choose to forfeit it for a chance of another meeting and a possible redemption with the Bachelor. Initially, the ex-contestant turns down the advice, knowing she can’t take such a big financial risk. Yet, when the night of the finale comes around, Rachel inevitably finds Dawn in the venue with an envelope of cash, her date night winnings, to forfeit. Although this affords her the chance to speak with Trey again, he still can’t help but doubt the woman’s real motivation behind showing up.
After all, if Dawn wins, she will have a chance to choose between Trey and a quarter of a million dollars. For the same reason, their conflict remains, compelling the contestant to almost run out of the competition. However, once the Bachelor realizes she has forfeited her original winnings just for a second chance, he realizes her actions were never financially motivated. Yet, when he follows her out, one glaring problem still remains. If Trey chooses Dawn as the winner and she chooses him over the money, she will have no means to sustain her life in Paris. Thus, she would be forced to choose between him and her lifelong dreams. Fortunately, he comes up with the ideal solution on the spot. In the end, when he declares Dawn the winner, she chooses the money. However, just because Trey accepted a rejection on live television doesn’t mean the pair can’t date beyond the show. As such, they manage to trick the system. Ultimately, Trey and Dawn decide to try out a long-distance relationship, giving their love a real chance.
Read More: Who Plays Dawn and Trey in The Wrong Paris?
