Spoiler alert: This story contains plot details for Season 4, Part 2 of Emily in Paris.
Goodbye Emily in Paris. Hello Emily in… Rome?
Fans of the frothy comedy Emily in Paris may have been shocked by the end of season 4, part 2, which dropped on Netflix this week. In the season finale, Emily (Lily Collins) is tasked by her boss Sylvie Gratto (Filipina Leroy Beaulieu) with starting a new office in Rome, where a hot new client — not to mention a hot new man, Marcello Muratori (Eugenio Franceschini) — is eagerly awaiting her.
On the one hand, it’s a step forward for Emily: She’s being promoted to run her own office in one of the most romantic cities in the world. On the other, she’s leaving behind her friends, her main crush Gabriel (Lucas Bravo), and, in a sense, her viewers. By unfurling this twisty plot, “Emily in Paris” signals that the show, in season five (which feels like a done deal), will be moving to other locations, at least temporarily. Which is to say, amidst the polka-dot ruffles, chocolate cake, and general goofiness, creator and showrunner Darren Star has posed an existential question: What is “Emily in Paris” if not Emily in Paris?
Two diehard fans — Deputy Film Editor Pat Saperstein and Social Media Editor Rachel Siu — sat down to discuss the show's latest developments, the shocking finale and whether, contrary to popular belief, the series is actually good.
No couture
Rachel Seo: Let’s talk about those costumes. Personally, I hate Emily’s clothes (I guess I’m supposed to?). But I also think the way her style has evolved throughout the series is interesting, because it reflects the tonal shift of the show. After I finished season four, I went back and rewatched part of season one and was amazed at how much more realistic it felt.
Pat Saperstein: It’s interesting to remember that in the first few episodes of Starr’s “Sex and the City,” the stars lived in a rougher, more realistic version of New York. Here, there are a lot of clothes in every episode. I despise most of them, too, but there are always some amazing ones. By the end of the season, I thought some of her outfits were veering toward aristocratic—all inappropriate for someone her age, but often desirable nonetheless. Still, if people start wearing newspaper boy hats because of Emily, I’ll never forgive the costume designers.
Can I also say that the red belted leather Jean Patou jacket was absolutely gorgeous? I'm also not mad about the cobalt blue Barbara Bui suit she wore to Giverny.
©Netflix/Courtesy of Everett Collection
Rachel: That jacket was great, and I loved the fluffy multi-colored coat she wore when she visited Camille’s family for Christmas. As for the outfits when she was visiting Italy—I thought she did a really good job of dressing her for who she is, essentially, a white, millennial American woman from a major metropolitan area. There was definitely a Taylor Swift-Madewell ethos that informed her decision to put her in a blue and white, polka-dotted blouse with ruffles.
The comparison to Sex and the City and its evolution as a smart show; I was also thinking of the original Gossip Girl. The longer these shows ran, the more they began to feel like parodies of themselves. In season one, Emily wore multicolored hats with plaid shirts and shared moments with Gabriel (like that kiss in the club when she was sitting with the pop star) that felt tangible with sexual tension and chemistry. In season four, she wore giant striped dresses that looked like spirals used for hypnosis; broke up with Gabriel because he wouldn’t flirt with her on a ski slope; and moved to Italy because he was a hot guy, because why not.
Gabriel and Emily's relationship develops
Bat: First of all, did Gabriel change his hair this season? It was much prettier. Anyway, this on-again, off-again, off-again relationship? It’s been exhausting for four seasons now. But I have to give Gabriel credit for his blunt and scathing speech where he tells Emily she’s acting like a jerk. It’s a shame that her complete refusal to learn even the most basic French left her vulnerable to being tricked by Sylvie’s secret devilish stepdaughter, who mistranslated his speech to say, “I don’t want to see you anymore.” Face it, as long as we have Emily, we’re going to be stuck in this practically sexless, unsatisfying romance forever. There’s no friend zone for you, Emily and Gabriel!
Rachel: His hair is longer – I had the same question. Is he developing a more rugged look? And while Emily looks like she's taken years of French lessons, it's amazing she couldn't speak a full sentence until this season. I guess better late than never?
©Netflix/Courtesy of Everett Collection
Emily and Marcelo
Bat: I like the idea of his family's quiet luxury cashmere company (is it inspired by Loro Piana?) that organizes company lunches at a long table in the middle of the village. why not? But Marcelo is not Gabriel, and I feel like Emily is more excited about the idea of great ice cream than the prospect of great Marcelo. Do you like it?
Rachel: He's boring, because he's too perfect. He's the charming, handsome heir to a luxury cashmere brand, who just wants to live in a small town in Italy and focus on his family? He should be a little more evil.
Emily moves to Rome
Rachel: Do you think she'll actually move to Rome? I don't think she'll move to Rome. If the show is renewed for a fifth season, they'll spend a few episodes there. Gabriel will come and confess his love to Emily, she'll reject him, and then there'll be some revelation she makes in a conversation with Marcello that will bring her to her senses. Then she'll come back.
Bat: I think you're right, as Gabrielle is clearly not going anywhere. How many times does Instagram allow you to change your username? However, it will be a bit Baza To give up that beautiful room in Rome and go back to competing for space in the attic with Mindy.
Is Emily in Paris really good?
Rachel: We've talked a little bit before about whether or not a show is “good” and what “good” means. What do you think?
Bat: This show may not be good, but it’s not trying to be Succession. It’s not easy to make a show that feels this easy and looks this good while it’s running. And while costume designer Marlene Fitoussi deserves to be called the show’s primary creative force, the writing is brilliant and the visuals are top-notch. The double entendres and triple entendres are as sticky as cream cheese, yes. But the dialogue, while occasionally silly, is lively and energetic in the best rom-com tradition. Ultimately, the show’s genius lies not only in the fashion, but also in the way it pairs a naive American actress like Audrey Hepburn with French actors in a way that feels fresh and fun—though admittedly a little lighthearted.
Rachel: I agree with you that it doesn't take a lot of effort, and I'm sure it does take a lot of work and skill. I don't know if I would go so far as to call the show “good”, but maybe it's “good” for what it is, which is pure entertainment?
Bat: I totally agree. See you next time in Rome, Rachel!
