Emily In Paris Season 4 Part I
Introduction
Before we start the review of Season 4 Part I, let’s do a quick recap of who Emily is and what she’s doing in Paris. Emily is our protagonist who arrives in Paris with her American corporate job. Her work-life ideology is deep rooted in Capitalism. In the beginning of the series, this can be seen in sharp contrast to the work culture in France where the ways of working are firmly tied to Socialism. What this means for our girl Emily, is that she never switches her work mode off whereas her co-workers know the art of winding down. The distinction is not so clear in this season anymore and the lines are blurred. Similarly, her American ideals of relationship demand clarity but this may not be easy to achieve as her French social circle has normalized staying in complicated arrangements for far too long. Beyond Emily’s professional and personal turmoil, her sense of style is what makes her unique. Marylin Fitoussi, the costume designer, experiments with a lot of stripes, checkered prints, monochromatic outfits, prints and layers this season. Darren Star revealed to Architectural Digest that Emily’s room is inspired by “Chambre de bonne” which is French for the maid’s room and is usually found at the top floor of Parisian buildings from the Nineteenth century. In this season, we also get to a see the Parisian terrace with an amazing view. Let’s get into the details of the episodes now!
Episode 1 - Break Point
The new season starts on a hilarious note when an influencer from Emily’s past releases a video. The makers released these first five minutes just a few days before Part I. Talk about marketing strategy. So, I guess they could be forgiven for following the dreaded part-wise release strategy rather than giving us the entire season at one go. Emily appears in a Jacquemus pink crop cardigan which is debatable in terms of both utility and affordability, but we will give her the benefit of the doubt. Oh, and Alfie is back in this series unlike the duke who ghosted us in Bridgerton. Emily is obsessed with doing the right thing and makes her job the only priority in her life. Luc, played by Bruno Gouery, chips in with good sense of humor. Emily’s ambitious fiascos show the cons of making one’s personal life available for public consumption on social media. Alfie strides into Emily’s workplace in a clean-shaven look. Since bearded men have become the new normal, Alfie’s new avatar can become the look of despair for heartbroken lover boys. Ashley Park gives us a new corporate mantra, “Corporate co-dependence is a disease.” Loved Mindy’s Graffiti print blazer & mini skirt co-ord set by Philipp Plein, and the Ruslan Baginskiy pink sailor hat that she carries as part of her look. Yet again, it is not affordable, but it is eye catchy. We get an Alfie vs Gabriel face-off right in the first episode. I was expecting a build up until the last episode, but I don’t mind at all! Lucien Laviscount aka Alfie got his brief right, intimidating and longing for love, whereas Lucas Bravo as our chef Gabriel tries to detach himself and takes a backseat. Emily continues with her clumsy disasters and is even stalking people. We have a beautiful song in this episode- “Love is in the Air” by John Paul Young. We must give it up for Emily because the grand gestures women hope men would make for them someday, Emily is making all of that come true for herself with a job that she loves. This episode leads us to heartbreak and the suspense begins!
Episode 2 - Love On The Run
The actual drama begins in this episode. A lot more French is being spoken in this season than any other. We learn another corporate mantra, this time from Sylvie played by Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu who says that everyone is disposable, as one of them quits. Learning from Emily, her co-workers can now turn challenging situations into marketing opportunities while Emily herself is so deep into the mess she has created that she even forgets to pay her bills. She is still consistent when it comes to fashion though. Emily arrives in Giverny wearing a Cobalt blue suit and makes a statement against the classic backdrop of Monet’s House. The episode starts on a Greek note but ends the French way. Emily gets into a tussle and by the end of the episode, can be seen in a hoodie that depicts Monet’s Water Lilies. This is probably one of the only affordable pieces from this season and looks like a souvenir.
Episode 3 - Masquerade
Emily finally feels free from the burden of her accountabilities. This episode officially marks the middle of Part I where the main cast starts afresh on neutral ground. We are fed dramatic deets about the ways in which Michelin star ratings are given and there is a shocking reveal about JVMA which always sounds like LVMH. Camille Razat has some of the best looks this season as well and can be seen flaunting a Black & white lace jacket and mini skirt from Fidan Novruzova’s collection. We get a masquerade ball before Bridgerton’s new season. Can there really be a masked ball without two people ending up dressing alike to add confusion? The answer is No. Lily Collins turns up in a dramatic Harris Reed outfit. There are, of course, Audrey Hepburn references from My Fair Lady which also inspired the Black and White Ball hosted by author Truman Capote in 1966. If you are a Romcom fan, please guess by now that everyone will be present at this ball irrespective of whether they are invited or not, especially the ones in a love triangle. I keep talking about Bridgerton and there is a surprise crossover, but it has got nothing to do with the duke. We witness a beautiful romantic slow dance. Samuel Arnold’s character, Julien, proves that he is strong-willed but can also be soft-hearted.
Episode 4 - The Grey Area
Emily is slowly adapting to the French color scheme of neutrals. She can also be seen wearing a bow tie which has been traditionally reserved for men. My favorite piece of jewelry in Sylvie’s collection is the Charlotte Chesnais Gold bracelet which is a bracelet version of the Infinity ring. Sylvie has started her own marketing agency, Agence Grateau, and calls her employees for meetings late in the evening. At this point, I was confused if we were still in France or suddenly moved to the U.S.? Emily gets late for her date and finds herself in a double date situation. Polyamory enters the chat too. Camille Razat gives an important insight into her character Camille, when she declares that she is not going to live in Paris without living in Paris. This means that she does not like being too far from the main city. Sylvie comes up with the idea of a beach club because let’s think about it, it is probably the only kind of fun that Paris lacks! Well, she not only comes up with an idea but also negotiates for a family property to put her plan into action. The Zipper princess Mindy is working hard on her gig to fund the Eurovision dream while she also has amazing chemistry with Benoît on stage. Emily debates whether she can flow with the complicated French romance or go back to her American ways of dating based on clarity of communication.
Episode 5 - Trompe l'oeil
The last episode of Part I brings back Elizabeth Tan as Li who networks her way to a sampling event in Galeries Lafayette. She launches her scandalous Korean glass skin product for the first time in Paris. Luc musters the courage to demand a raise from Sylvie. Emily’s wardrobe now has a lot of neutrals, which shows that she is blending in. However, it still has her flamboyant streak highlighting that she is the same Emily we have known all these years and hasn’t completely transformed into someone else. The Eiffel Tower sparkles at night and there is a violin playing on the streets of Paris. All is well in Emily’s life until there is another plot twist on Camille’s pregnancy. Camille starts feeling lonely and we know how dangerous that can be!
Conclusion
Watch this if you liked Season 3 and skip if you can wait until Part II. There is more drama, lots of glam, and beautiful destinations. Marylin Fitoussi has put together some unforgettable looks. From admiring the natural beauty of Giverny to shopping in the heart of Paris, if you fancy a vacation in France, this is for you! It is lovely how Andrew Fleming, the director, almost gave us a virtual tour of Monet’s house. Don’t expect to see bits from the Paris Olympics as this was shot before the games began.
