Just like every season, Emily in Paris seems to make promises of glamour, chaos, and drama because there is one thing that can never change Emily’s whirlwind life in a love triangle mixed with trouble in the professional arena-Emilie Cooper (Lily Collins) swapping the charming streets of Paris for the historical piazzas of Rome.
Storyline: Drama and Travel on a Rollercoaster
Season 4 Part 2 takes Emily on a postcard-worthy European adventure, zipping back between the snowy French Alps and the hard streets of Rome. Her personal life continues to be complicated by the insistent demands of her career. New locales, new faces, much romance and tension.
Emily, in her chichi outfits, including the Audrey Hepburn-inspired ski look, ventures out into the world outside her comfort zone in Paris, but not without the plotline starting to feel too stretched to be as fulfilling as it might have been as the emotional and professional lives of Emily on the brink of turning routine drama.
Even so, for instance, in Rome, the plot just cannot seem to hold a high enough standard, going over the same relationship issues that continue to arise again.
Review: Déjà Vu in Rome
Although the new locale is pleasant, the storyline is too unoriginal. Once more, Emily is torn between her ex, Gabriel (Lucas Bravo), and his on-again, off-again lover, Camille (Camille Razat). Even in Rome, Emily’s personal life seems stuck in a repetitive loop, leaving viewers hoping for that emotional break that never quite arrives.
Part 2 begins with a very festive New Year in the beautiful French Alps, yet the romantic turmoil continues for the second season as Emily is once more caught up in the complicated dynamic of Gabriel and Camille’s relationship. As she comes to understand that during her time away with Camille pretending to be pregnant, Emily is still second to her in Gabriel’s life, this raises questions about Emily’s place in the love triangle.
The more distance Emily tries to create from the drama, the more she gets hauled back in. From the Alps to Rome, the storyline feels redundant, with Emily unable to find resolution in her romantic life.
New Characters, New Energy
Part Two introduces several new characters into the narrative, the most significant of which is Genevieve, Sylvie’s stepdaughter, portrayed by Thalia Besson. Initially, she and Emily get on famously but plenty of tension develops between them as the book progresses-especially since Emily feels Genevieve is taking over her life and career – and maybe even Gabriel, of course. These new personalities do leaven the general atmosphere of the story, though it does still feel somewhat disorganized rather than coordinated.
Another dashing Italian, Marcello Muratori (Eugenio Franceschini), also enters Emily’s life, spurring brief romance and distraction. Enter Marcello, whom Emily bumps into by accident on the slopes. He later rescues her at a polo tournament, sweeping her off her feet. But before things might just be brewing in a “meant to be” kind of way, Marcello ghosts her, and Emily leaves for Rome on a rather impromptu search for answers.
These new characters breathe energy and freshness into the show, but their sudden introduction and the profusion of subplots dislocate the rhythm.
The split-season format does not help since Part 1 centers on the likes of Alfie (Lucien Laviscount) and Luc (Bruno Gouery), and Part 2 centers on brand-new dynamics.
Whirlwind of Subplots
Subplots, such as Mindy’s (Ashley Park) singing career and Sylvie’s romantic twists, add layers to the show but also make it seem meandering. All of these storylines competing for attention dilutes some of the emotional impact of those arcs. The split-season format doesn’t help, making it impossible to stay fully invested in all the moving parts.
Genevieve’s introduction is intriguing at first, but it quickly disappears from view as her own story fades into the background, relegating her to little more than a shadow of Emily.
Verdict: Fun, but Flawed
Exactly what the Emily in Paris fandom has come to expect, Part 2 of Season 4 delivers all things glamorous, fabulous, and complicated. Yet the split season format and the glaringly overabundant subplots make it feel like the show is biting off more than it can chew. The new location, Rome, certainly brings some visual flair, but Emily herself is frustratingly without change still caught in the very same cycle of ambition, romance, and drama.
For those who like escapism to their light fun, well, Emily in Paris has continued delivering. However, if one were to be expecting deep character development or a less cluttered storyline, then the show risks staling a little bit. Nevertheless, the cliffhanger at the end of the season sets the perfect tone for drama in season 5 to unleash, and viewers are eager to know what is next.
Final Thoughts: Ready for Season 5?
While not perfect, Emily in Paris is undeniably entertaining. As Season 4 closes on a cliffhanger that leaves viewers begging for more, one wonders what new chaos awaits Emily and the gang in Season 5. The backdrop may have changed from Paris to Rome, but Emily is still Emily, quirky, high-spirited, and always at the center of everything. Long may this be, and may next time Netflix get a better release schedule!
