AFTER two weeks as a glorious setting for the Olympics, the French capital will swap record holders for its resident romantic comedy.
Tomorrow, Netflix hit Emily In Paris returns for its fourth series and is set to break some records.
In 2023, around 118 million hours of the third season were watched in seven days, and in 2022, it was crowned the streamer’s most-watched show.
But when Emily In Paris was released in the middle of the 2020 pandemic, following American publicist Emily Cooper as she moves to the city for a big career break and struggles to navigate the complexities of French love, it was, at best, “Ambient TV”.
A mindless watch, leaving viewers with little more than the desire to book a short break.
In France, this was widely mocked, with Parisians lamenting the fact that the city had been reduced to a series of clichés with endless wine, berets and high heels on polished cobblestone streets.
Then viewers realized that was the point – Emily In Paris wasn’t meant to reflect real life.
Instead, she managed absurd advertising campaigns for luxury clients, scouring the capital from cocktails to ballet while juggling two handsome lovers.
The new series finds Emily, played by Lily Collins, at a crossroads.
Having finally chosen the hot French chef Gabriel (Lucas Bravo), she discovers that he is expecting a child with his ex-girlfriend.
But it is too late to return to her other lover, British banker Alfie (Lucien Laviscount), as he has realized how deeply she has fallen in love with his rival.
Deputy TV Editor Felicity Cross shows how the silly series won viewers’ hearts.
The stars
Daughter of rock legend Phil, Lily Collins was born into stardom, even landing her first job at the age of two on the BBC sitcom Growing Pains.
But despite critical praise in a number of roles as she grew up, it wasn’t until she became Emily Cooper in 2020 that she truly came of age.
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Fans love her girl-next-door beauty and imperfect, chaotic life.
Lily teased that this series will see real changes for Emily, describing it as “the season of vulnerability” with confusing emotional breakdowns.
She added: “I’m excited for people to see the transition this season. I’m proud of that.”
But it’s local heartthrob Lucien Laviscount who can really thank Emily In Paris for transforming his life.
Growing up in Bolton, he got his break when he was scouted as a model aged ten for David Beckham’s Marks & Spencer range, followed by roles in Grange Hill and Waterloo Road.
But after appearing on Celebrity Big Brother in 2011, his acting career slowed along with romances with Towie’s Amy Childs, Kerry Katona and Corrie’s Brooke Vincent.
Then Emily In Paris called – and made her star soar.
Yesterday, Lucien revealed: “I was only supposed to do two episodes. I remember it was supposed to be my last day, I got a little round of applause and then Darren Star, the creator, comes in and says, ‘Lucien, you’re not leaving Paris.’
“And I’m like, ‘What did I do wrong?’ I thought I was going to get arrested or something.
“And he said, ‘No, we’re going to keep him around for a while.’
“I just have to thank the acting gods who are somewhere in the ether.”
Lucien has now been part of the cast as British banker Alfie since season two.
Teasing what’s to come, he added: “It’s a bit chaotic, it’s a bit of a rollercoaster, the first half of the season, for Alfie to figure out what’s what.
“It’s a little painful, to be honest.”
Either way, fans will be delighted that the hunk remains in the picture, with bosses including a series of topless snaps to show off his toned body.
Elsewhere, Rupert Everett has joined this year’s cast as a renowned interior designer – and there is a suggestion that the French Prime Minister’s wife Brigitte Macron could appear after being spotted on set.
Stylish
CREATED by Darren Star, who also developed Sex And The City for TV, it’s no surprise that the series bears the hallmarks of its sophisticated older sister.
And nowhere is this more apparent than in the wardrobes of Emily and her friend Mindy (Ashley Park).
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Patricia Field, designer of Sarah Jessica Parker’s looks on SATC, was also responsible for creating Emily’s look.
And just like Carrie Bradshaw, more is more.
While costume designer Marylin Fitoussi took over in the second season, the maximalism remained.
The first looks at the new series show Emily in a black and white striped dress, Zorro and Beetlejuice at a masquerade ball, a contrasting pink and green mini dress and a baggy suit.
Darren said: “Fashion has always been in Emily In Paris’ DNA and will continue to be.”
Viewers will be pleased to hear this, as Emily’s extravagant appearance continues to be an inspiration.
Although Lily Collins was forced to see a podiatrist weekly to keep up with Emily’s high heel habit, the impractical outfits go hand in hand with the extravagant nature of the show.
The impact also hit the High Street.
Primark has a range of Emily In Paris pajamas, with red and pink lips, sunglasses and a heart motif.
And accessories brand Atelje boasts “as seen in Emily In Paris” on a pearl phone case.
The city
WITH almost 50 million visitors a year, Paris has never had trouble attracting crowds.
But the arrival of the Netflix film crew in 2019 sparked a new wave of interest from a new generation.
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Now, tourists can spend the entire day immersed in Emily’s world with tours dedicated to the drama.
Some stop for champagne and a photo shoot, but everyone enjoys the real-life locations used by the series.
Familiar sites on most tourist lists include the Jardin du Palais Royale, the Palace of Versailles and the Louvre.
The Instagram-friendly La Maison Rose in Montmartre is one of Emily’s favorites.
But it’s the lesser-known side of Paris that viewers love to see.
The series introduced viewers to the 5th arrondissement, known as the Latin Quarter, and fans now flock to Emily’s apartment on Place de l’Estrapade and her favorite breakfast spot, La Boulangerie Moderne.
In the Sorbonne neighborhood is the real gem, the Parisian bistro run by Emily’s “hot chef” Gabriel, known as Les Deux Comperes and renamed L’Esprit de Gigi.
It is said that more than 15,000 people a year descend on the quiet square to visit the real restaurant, Terra Nera.
Owner Valerio Abate who, ironically, serves an Italian menu, told a reporter: “They line up outside to take photos; some of them come in to eat or take a selfie with me.
“But what has changed most is the clientele. This used to be a neighborhood restaurant; locals only. Now, every day I meet people from all over the world.”
The plot
The fish-out-of-water story about a girl moving to a new city managed to evolve into quite the saga.
Emily’s work at the marketing agency has seen her promote everything from a fashion brand to pet food and even launch McBaguette for McDonald’s.
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The infighting between boutique Agence Grateau and her former US employers, Savoir, is interesting alongside the comedic tribulations of her colleagues Julien and Luc.
But it’s her love life that really keeps viewers hooked.
Series four finds Emily embarrassed when a Tiktok video goes viral charting the recent implosion of her love triangle.
At the end of the last series, Camille called off her wedding to Gabriel because of his feelings for Emily, leaving her now ex-boyfriend Alfie in pieces.
The elephant in the room is that Camille is secretly pregnant with Gabriel’s baby.
And what’s refreshing is that romance isn’t just limited to the little pretty things.
Emily’s boss Sylvie (Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, 61), who is in an open marriage, has her own sizzling love triangle to deal with.
Viewers appreciate how Sylvie is not reduced to the role of a grumpy older woman, but instead exudes chic, sassy sex appeal.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
