The return of Emily in Paris is something that we have been waiting a long time for and it didn’t disappoint. The storyline, the fashion, the settings – all perfection. It feels as though the drama, the complications, and the actors are all at their best.
If you watch the show, you know that Emily is an expat that is now living in Paris and has more love complications than anyone that we can think of. However, her complications are part of what make the show so amazing. The drama of the relationships isn’t the only thing that is perfection – it’s the way that the show embraces that just because things are a certain way in America, doesn’t mean that they are that way everywhere. We’re shown that there are other ways.
And in we’re not shown that all the time. The show really embraces differences in relationships and yet also embraces how they all have a certain thread – no matter where you are from – that a person wants to be loved.
We pick up a few days after the cliffhanger of last season. Alfie isn’t speaking to Emily, Camille isn’t back in Paris, Gabriel is back at his restaurant, Julien and Luc are as amazing as ever, Silvie’s still bitter… you get my point. There is a lot going on.
But what I loved the most about where it picked up was that Emily was getting dragged on line from Camille’s brother for the issues that his family has after meeting Emily. Now, there is nothing like TikTok revenge, I guess. I don’t condone it – but I think that the beauty of having it in this episode was that it was relatable to people. Because it happens and part of the hard part of this show is relating to Emily’s social media (professional and personal).
If you work in marketing – you know that what Emily is doing marketing wise is hard to relate to because it’s just not reality. But well, you have to seperate that.
The thing about this episode is that it sets up the season perfectly.
THE COMPLICATIONS OF LOVE
Emily and Alfie have been chosen for the AMI campaign, and Julien is oblivious to the TikTok. Emily didn’t have a chance to tell him about the TikTok, but then again she didn’t know she was being featured in the campaign.
It wasn’t until after the meeting that she could tell Julien and Emily has to deal with the bluntness of everyone at the agency telling her what she’s done wrong and how she needs to fix it.
The way that Lily Collins brings Emily to life has never been a bad thing. Emilys innocence is the way you can see the beauty in her and relate to her. It’s the same way that Sylvie’s harshness and bluntness make it a way that you can relate to her.
Sylvie and Antoine’s relationship for instance. She is able to seperate the relationship from work, but it feels as though Antoine can’t. Sylvie is the woman that you want to be. She’s this picture of strength and perserverance – a woman that does what she wants, when she wants. She takes no prisoners and though some may say that is harsh, it’s not.
We get our first look at Alfie and he looks different. Heartbroken really. It’s hard to see. Now, I have to say, maybe I am in the minority, but I personally, am rooting for Alfie and Emily. They are perfect for each other.
EUROVISION
Now, I may not watch Eurovision, but I do know what a big thing it is. I am excited for Mindy, Benoit, and Étienne. There is no part of me that doesn’t want them to succeed.
Seeing them in Frances Eurovision office was a treat. I loved it. The storyline that they will have to come up with the money to finance their time there is shocking. But the three of them, I do know that they will succeed.
It’s Ashley Parks portrayal of Mindy that convinces me that anything is capable of doing anything. Mindy is willing to do whatever it takes and has given up so much to achieve her dreams and that’s admirable. Park has been such an important part of the Emily in Paris series and I am really hoping that this season they show her more and really do focus more on the complexities of her story.
I would absolutely love if somehow this season, especially with Eurovision happening, that we get to meet her father. I want to see him be proud of her and all she’s accomplished. He needs to apologize and try to build a better relationship with her.
Mindy deserves that.
A KNOCKOUT
Lucien Laviscount is one of this shows most underused gems. He’s perfection and in part that is because of what a great actor he is. I didn’t know if they’d be able to convince me that Alfie was heartbroken, but you can see it everytime Lucien is on the screen.
When he calls Emily to get the ads taken down, I understood him. He wants time, but I think we all know Emily better than that. Time and patience isn’t something that she’s capable of.
When she finds out he’s at the gym, she shows up. The moments of Emily icing his face and him telling her that he needs more time, I broke. The chemistry between Collins and Laviscount bounces off the screen and makes you believe in love – you get drawn in.
My one issue is that I wish that I didn’t feel like Emily was trying to clean up a mess, but that she was actually hurting too. I know, I know, that’s just something that we don’t always need. But, because of the way that the romance plays such a prevalent role in this show, I want to feel the pain. Yes, I said it. Bring on the pain. A
As a viewer, I couldn’t help but applaud when Alfie confronts Gabriel about everything, that I am not moved by Gabriel. I felt like Gabriel was trying to be a martyr and he didn’t convince me. As a matter of fact, I felt like he was just ummm… well, he was a rock. Show us something Gabriel.
TRYING TO BUY SILENCE
Sylvies husband, I am so happy to see him in the season. I think in a way that he grounds Sylvie. She’s still a skeptic and distracted by work. But when her husband starts the process of opening a club in Paris, and Lucas de Leon has invested in it… she knows what is up.
I do agree with her. The de Leon’s are up to something and I don’t know what it is exactly, but I do believe that they want to keep her quiet.
And when the end of the episode comes and a reporter is trying to reach her to talk about Lucas de Leon and her time working for him – I really believe that she’s the one seeing things correctly. Sure, people may not see everything the same way that she does, but one thing that I have learned about Sylvie, is that she really sees things without rose colored glasses.
She’s both shocked and awed by the call, however, you can also see that it’s painful for her. I worry about what will happen, but I also want to wrap her in a hug and protect her.
Sylvie is strong, but sometime in this series, I do hope that she realizes that being strong doesn’t mean that she has to do everything alone. I feel like what has traumatized her in the past, she thinks that she has to hide. Yet, no ones life is perfect. IDK.
Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu manages to make you love and hate Sylvie, but you’re never not rooting for her. That takes a special type of actor and she is that actor.
TENNIS IS A BI***
There is so much happening at the French Open that it won’t disappoint. The chaos of the situations that everyone is in, is a nail bitter.
Emily is in the AMI suite and she’s stressed, waiting for Alfie. Julien is stressed AF once she tells him that she doesn’t know if Alfie is coming. He’s so mad, and doesn’t want her to interfere with the situation.
But Emily isn’t the only one having a not so great time.
Mindy over hears Nicolas and his father talking and well, she’s being “slut shamed” by Nicolas’ father. All because of what she wore prior. He gave her a dress to impress his father and she overhears.
The way that Ashley Park plays Mindy at this moment, I stood up and applauded. Yes, she made the viewer feel like she was standing up for us all and the way that women are treated for what they wear.
The greatest thing about Mindy is that she always has been herself – unapologetically. It’s part of what makes her so relatable and so easy to embrace. She is like Sylvie in one way – unapologetically herself. However, in the same breath, she is open and willing to let people in to get to know her. It’s that, though, that makes her so relatable. She’s the best friend and the inspiration that you want in real life.
And then there is Julien, who is in the JVMA suite and he’s accepted a job from them. Sylvie says it’s to punish her, and rightfully so he gets mad. I can’t help but think that Julien leaving is breaking Sylvie, because een though she won’t say that she loves her staff, you just know that she does. They are a part of her and she wants the loyalty that she’d be willing to give them.
I do get that Julien feels betrayed and undervalued. He’s not shown the same attention that Emily is and feels like Emily is always trying to overpower him all the time. I think though, that this is a work issue that the two of them need to sit down and figure out.
However, with him leaving, that’s not possible.
YUP, I AMCRYING
But the most heartbreaking moment also happens at tennis. Alfie does show up. He’s right there at the perfect moment and then he breaks my heart. Hell, I would say that he breaks every viewers heart. I think that the writers conveyed his feelings in the best way possible – his vulnerability and openess to saying how he can’t get past the whole Gabriel part of the situation and how he’s always going to be waiting for the other shoe to drop.
What killed me was that he was trying ot make this as easy on her as possible, but his heartbreak was deep. I loved that the writers didn’t make it about Emily, but allowed us to see a different side of a breakup. The one where we see that the man is heartbroken, just as much as a woman can be. I think sometimes in this show, we see everything from Emily’s POV and I think that seeing it from Alfie’s was the best way to see it.
But that being said, I would have loved to believe that Emily was heartbroken too.
OTHER THOUGHTS
- Mindy selling the tainted outfit – kudos to her
- I really need to understand how they are going to make money for Eurovision
- How did I go from liking Nicolas to hating him in one episode… he better redeem himself
- Camille is missing? Leave it to her to ruin everyones life and still make it about her.
- Gabriel, I don’t get you. Truly.
Episodes 1-5 of season 4 of Emily in Paris are airing on Netflix now.
