“Emily in Paris” has always had a certain je ne sais quoi.
The fizzy romantic comedy is both deeply ridiculous and highly addictive, following the personal and professional exploits of a mildly delusional young American (Lily Collins) in France. Now in its fourth season, the show has never been a critics’ favorite, and those who say they watch it always couch it as a “guilty pleasure” or “mindless TV.” Still, the sitcom remains highly popular on Netflix.
“It happens to almost every show I’ve created,” says writer/producer Darren Star, who spearheaded HBO’s “Sex and the City” and Fox’s “Melrose Place” and “Beverly Hills, 90210.”
“I don’t know why people feel guilty about feeling entertained by a series. But the show also has had an opportunity to grow with a terrific cast, and over time you get to deepen the characters.”
In the first batch of new episodes, Emily’s boss, Sylvie (Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu), bravely comes forward to accuse luxury mogul Louis de Leon (Pierre Deny) of sexual harassment. Emily’s best friend, Mindy (Ashley Park), also wrestles with her own complicity by association as the girlfriend of Louis’ son, Nicolas (Paul Forman). By speaking out, Star teases, Sylvie has now made a “powerful enemy” that will affect her business going forward.
Here are more major questions that we’re asking before Part 2, which streams Sept. 12 with five new episodes:
What’s going to happen to Camille (Camille Razat)?
Camille is really going through it by the end of Part 1. She gets dumped by her girlfriend, Sofia (Melia Kreiling). She moves in next door to her ex-boyfriend, Gabriel (Lucas Bravo), who is back to dating Emily. And she discovers that she had a false-positive pregnancy test result, meaning she is actually not carrying Gabriel’s baby. (Like we said, she has a lot going on.)
The day’s top stories, from sports to movies to politics to world events.
Delivery: Daily
In the last scene of Part 1, Camille is still trying to keep most of these revelations to herself. But get ready for an explosion of emotion in the season’s second half.
“That’s certainly a big part of Part 2: What are the ramifications of all that?” Star says. “It certainly plays out in some unexpected ways.” Razat, too, “is really wonderful in the second half. We have such a fantastic cast, and there’s a lot more emotional stuff this season.”
Will Gabriel (Lucas Bravo) finally get his Michelin star?
When he’s not finding adventurous new places to hook up with Emily, Gabriel manages a highly successful new restaurant, which he hopes will be recognized by the prestigious Michelin Guide. But after multiple visits, Gabriel discovers that the Michelin star inspector (Laurence Gormezano) was fired long ago and has been scoring free meals right under his nose.
Could that white lie catch up to Emily (Lily Collins)?
In the Part 1 finale, Emily and her marketing firm team up with a burgeoning beauty brand, which touts a face mask that gives people an unnaturally shiny glow. The skin care product flies off the shelves, and retailers are hungry to get their hands on more, no matter the price. The trouble is, Emily learns the mask’s ultra-dewy complexion is the result of sexual lubricant, merely repackaged for a wider swath of consumers.
Emily divulges this information to Sylvie and her close colleagues, although they choose to not say anything to prospective business partners. But Emily’s half-truth “may or may not” come back to bite them, Fleming teases.
“Emily is learning how to not say everything to everybody all the time,” Fleming says. “She’s learning to keep a few secrets, and that’s a big thing this season. She’s growing up; she’s not the wide-eyed newbie in the office and the fish out of water in Paris. She’s more comfortable and in touch with herself, and has more of a sense of confidence.”
