You can chart the decline and fall of the American dream through the prism of Darren Star’s protagonists. Carrie Bradshaw of “Sex and the City” could afford an apartment full of Manolo Blahniks as a freelance columnist, while Liza Miller of “Younger” has to work her way into a publishing job. Like her predecessors, the titular heroine of ‘Emily in Paris’ (played by Lily Collins) has a passion for storytelling – but instead of the written word, she’s channeled that skill into social media marketing for brands, plus her personal Instagram account. A move to Europe hasn’t put a dent in Emily’s ultra-American work ethic; In any case, she is infectious, because her unflappable capitalism works like a virus on colleagues, friends and lovers.
Upon its premiere in October 2020, “Emily in Paris” went viral in a different sense: The show became a massive hit for Netflix, giving Season 4 the multi-part release strategy reserved for the binge-happy platform’s most popular titles . (The first five episodes are currently streaming, while the second half premieres next month.) With microscopic stakes, flashy outfits, and a second-screen potential only hampered by its liberal use of subtitles, the series has become emblematic for the so – called ‘gourmet cheeseburgers’, appreciated by Bela Bajaria, Chief Content Officer of Netflix.
So it’s just as likely that you never noticed that “Emily in Paris” took a long hiatus – more than 18 months! – between seasons due to last year’s entertainment strikes And that you are thrilled to see it again, especially after the 2024 Olympic Games put the City of Light at the top of many viewers’ agendas. Little Berets (that’s what I call Emily’s fan army), fear not! ‘Emily in Paris’ remains light as a feather souffle of workplace comedy, cheesy romance and shameless commodification. Whether she’s using a rooftop rendezvous as inspiration for a skincare campaign or convincing an ex to participate in an activation, Emily is the Delulu Don Draper her generation deserves.
Describing the plot of season 4 feels like reading the fine print under one of Agence Grateau’s glitzy ads: completely missing the point of all that visual stimulation. Nevertheless, Season 3 ended on a cliffhanger, with the wedding of Emily’s love interest Gabriel (Lucas Bravo) and his longtime girlfriend Camille (Camille Razat) being called off by the bride at the altar, blowing up Emily’s own relationship with British business brother Alfie. Lucien Laviscount). But even though Gabriel and Camille’s relationship no longer exists, they have a lasting memory in the form of Camille’s surprise pregnancy.
Gabriel and Emily stand out as one of the least sexy or exciting couples in will-they-won’t-they-will-they history, rivaled only by Camille’s flirtation with Greek artist Sofia (Melia Kreiling) or the affair between Emily’s roommate of the singer. Mindy (Ashley Park) and billionaire Nico de Léon (Paul Forman), heir to the show’s version of the luxury conglomerate LVMH. (It’s called JVMA, only bothering to change 50% of the acronym.) Even “Emily in Paris” seems a little bored with romance, with the first act of season 4 either dutifully continuing the predictable plot or casually abandons some major twists. Like Emily herself, the show’s focus is squarely on the work, with the withering gaze of agency boss Sylvie (Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu) creating enough friction to inject some spark into the proceedings.
“Emily in Paris” is most fun when it breaks the fourth wall, whether it’s product placement of real brands like Baccarat, stunt casting playwright Jeremy O. Harris as a diva fashion designer or — most satisfying of all — the recognition that Emily is both selfish and annoying. (At one point, Emily is having dinner and storms out on Camille’s friends, forcing the angry French women to pay for her. on(French iced tea.) But such flashes of self-awareness owe their power to the fact that they are so rare. Marketing is all about creating an illusion and sticking to it at all costs, an art that ‘Emily in Paris’ is still as adept at as ever.
All five episodes of Season 4, Part 1 of ‘Emily in Paris’ are now available to stream on Netflix.