Take a Hollywood version of Paris, a little culture clash, and a handful of characters with romantic tension: Voilà, “Emily in Paris”! Netflix’s hit series is back – with new elements.
Olympics in front of the Eiffel Tower are over. But for those longing to indulge in romantic imagery of France, starting Thursday (August 15), Emily’s fairy-tale Paris is ready. That’s when Netflix will once again kick off with a kitschy backdrop, questionable outfits, and plenty of complicated love drama. Season four of “Emily in Paris” is launching, at least the first part,
Lily Collins plays the ambitious young marketing manager Emily, who moves from Chicago to Paris and falls in love with the city and the French way of life after an initial culture shock. Collins describes the new season as “the season of vulnerability.” Fans can expect chaotic scenes and emotional breakdowns, she tells “InStyle.” So far, so dramatic.
“Triangles, Circles, Squares”: Will love relationships become more complex?
Emily, who at the beginning of the series walked through France as a prude naive girl, appears more grounded in the new season and even becomes a bit daring. However, one shouldn’t expect too much fire, as Collins reveals: “Triangles, circles, squares – love geometry is stronger than ever this year.” After Emily possibly has sex outside the bedroom for the first time, it won’t be long before she has to make it clear – slightly panicked – that she needs clear boundaries – and a duvet over her bed.
Series creator Darren Star wants to consciously show more everyday life in the new episodes of the series, which is often criticized for being unrealistic and romanticizing. First photos already reveal that Emily will experience winter in Paris for the first time – of course in no less extravagant outfits than in previous seasons. What else could co-producer Collins and stylist Marylin Fitoussi have assembled more than 80 looks for?
Emily still caught between Gabriel and Alfie
The big question for many fans might be how Emily’s love life will develop after the big bang that ended season three. Camille (Camille Razat) cancels her spontaneous wedding with her long-term boyfriend Gabriel (Lucas Bravo) – also because of the feelings that she believes he has for Emily. Since day one of the series, hopelessly in love Emily and Gabriel have circled each other without really getting into a relationship.
That the chances for the two look better after the canceled wedding is not certain. For Gabriel reveals to Emily, who is actually with the smart Brit Alfie (Lucien Laviscount), that Camille is pregnant.
How the complicated situation resolves must be discovered by fans themselves. Just this much: Producer Star suggests in “Deadline”: “Maybe Emily-Gabriel is not meant to be, at least not in the immediate future.” And regarding Emily’s partner from the previous season, Alfie, he says: “I believe he will not play a significant romantic role anymore. That doesn’t mean he will disappear from the series.” The same goes for Camille as well as Emily’s best friend Mindy (Ashley Park), who might also experience an emotional rollercoaster.
Emily in Rome instead of Paris
A true innovation will come with the episodes in the fall. “Although Emily’s heart will always remain loyal to Paris, her life will take unexpected turns in this season: Don’t be surprised if she takes a Roman holiday,” Collins already announced a year ago. So, after living like God in France, is La Dolce Vita coming for Emily? Will she go to Italy alone, with male companionship, or will she even meet a new potential love interest there?
Even though the themes and characters of the successful series are still the same in season four, the show offers once again shallow entertainment and an escape from everyday life in ten episodes. Compared to earlier seasons, there are more storylines that do not directly affect Emily, thus allowing for more character development for smaller roles. Serious topics such as abuse of power are touched upon, of course, but in an easily digestible manner. And alongside the love entanglements, a few not-so-small lies provide tension and drama.