Emily in Paris Season 4 Part 1 Review: A Beautiful Journey Through Imperfections. The fourth season of Emily in Paris, created by Darren Star, continues to enchant viewers with its mix of romance, fashion, and stunning Parisian backdrop. While the trailer teased Emily Cooper’s (Lily Collins) romantic entanglements with Gabriel (Lucas Bravo) and Alfie (Lucien Laviscount), the show offers much more than a simple love triangle.
A Love-Hate Relationship with Paris
At its heart, Emily in Paris is about Emily’s love affair with the city itself. Her romantic dilemmas are secondary to her deeper conflict of balancing her American identity with her desire to embrace French culture. This internal struggle is reminiscent of Devi’s in Never Have I Ever—one suitor represents familiarity, while the other symbolizes adaptation. Emily’s journey is not just about choosing between two men but about reconciling her ambition with her fear of missing out (FOMO).
Emily’s attempts to navigate the grey areas of life are a recurring theme this season. She tries to adopt a more relaxed, French approach but often finds herself reverting to her American need for clarity and order. This dichotomy is humorously illustrated when she pitches a masquerade party to promote a client’s perfume, symbolizing the liberation that comes with wearing a mask.
Work and Life Intersect
The intersection of Emily’s professional and personal life continues to provide intriguing insights. Her no-nonsense boss, Sylvie (Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu), also experiences a work-life epiphany. At a masquerade party, Sylvie chooses to wear a mask after revealing her identity in a sexual harassment news story. This moment poignantly captures her struggle to maintain control over her narrative.
Beauty Over Mess
Emily in Paris addresses serious issues like sexual harassment and complex emotions with a light touch. While these themes are present, the show’s quick resolutions often dilute their impact. However, expecting darkness from Emily in Paris is like seeking off-the-rack items at a couture store—it’s simply not the show’s style. Instead, the series should be commended for acknowledging these issues rather than ignoring them.
For fans of Emily in Paris, the show delivers what they love: stunning visuals, a carefully curated soundtrack, and the effervescent charm of its characters. The first part of Season 4 may not be perfect, but it is undeniably beautiful, capturing the essence of Paris and the complexities of Emily’s journey.