Emily in Paris: Review
By Sioph W. Leal
Emily in Paris returns to our screens following the dramatic events of Camille's (Camille Razat) and Gabriel’s (Lucas Bravo) foolish wedding. Now, Emily (Lily Collins) is reeling, caught between Alfie (Lucien Laviscount) and Gabriel when Alfie’s worst fears about Gabriel have come true and Gabriel is now expecting a child with his ex. If Emily wanted respite at Agence Grateau, she is out of luck, as Sylvie (Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu) must confront a thorny dilemma from her past that could impact her marriage. Amid these relationship dramas, Mindy (Ashley Park) and her band are preparing for Eurovision, but with funds running dry, they are forced to get thrifty.
Only three days have passed since the dramatic almost-wedding at the end of last season and Emily is still reeling over her relationship with Alife and the repercussions of Camille’s confessions. Throughout the first three episodes, there is a lot of back and forth with Emily and her decision-making, so much so that you almost have a sigh of relief when an actual choice is made. Through her choices, Emily has inadvertently found herself in a complicated ménage à quatre. In typical Emily fashion, she allows these complications to both inspire and negatively intrude on her career.
As much as Emily’s indecisions can be frustrating, they don’t miss a beat when it comes to the grand, romantic gestures that could be considered cheesy if they were in any other show. From people disappearing while they dance, it’s over the top in a delicious way that will have fans of the show wanting more. It’s swoon-worthy, but not enough time is spent to revel in Emily’s decision before more drama ensues.
With any romantic genre, there’s an abundance of drama to fill your screens, but once Emily resolves hers, another love triangle comes back to the surface before quickly being forgotten. It’s a shame, as it really highlights that Emily’s story could have come to a natural end last season while another story could have gradually taken over. It would have breathed a bit of fresh air into the show while exploring various parts of Paris that have been forgotten about.
Paris is known to be the fashion capital of the world, and with the location being a vital part of the show, you would expect the show to bring it regarding the costume department. A masquerade ball is one of the best times to shine yet it lacks any show-stopping looks. Emily sports an outfit that is reminiscent of Beetlejuice and El Nombre, something that should have been a look that people are in awe of but just resembles a high-profile Halloween-inspired costume. Throughout the other episodes, the costumes are better, especially with Emily’s signature pop of colour, so it’s a shame that they missed the mark on a key fashion moment for Emily.
The friendship between Emily and Mindy unfortunately takes a back seat, and given how much Mindy goes through this season, it would have made a much more enjoyable watch had they had that female friendship as part of the core of the season. Emily does some dastardly things, such as outing big secrets and working to removing people from her new beau’s life. It would have been better served her character had Emily shown more kindness to her friends, especially her female friends.
Splitting any streaming season into parts can be a bit of a risky move, but this may be a rare case in which this works. A lot happens in the first part of Emily in Paris that you would need a few days to digest, and you eagerly await the second and final part of the entire series. Emily in Paris brings a lot into its final season, and while some things do feel a little rushed, it makes for a nice, easy watch. There are still a few unanswered questions that will leave fans of the series wanting more.
The first five episodes of season four were screened for review.
Emily in Paris, Season 4 part 1 releases on Netflix August 15th, 2024.