MANILA, Philippines — It’s safe to assume that many want (and wish for) a piece of romance — either in real life or reel life.
“Emily in Paris,” now streaming part one of its Season 4 on Netflix, simply provides and promises that.
It also presents a piece of Paris, the city of love.
The earlier parts of the new season have the favorite female protagonist, Emily Cooper (played by Lily Collins), dealing with the repercussions of being “the reason” or the villain why her friend Camille called off her wedding with Gabriel (Lucas Bravo), and trying her best for the couple to get back together, especially since she is in a family way, with him as the father. She has to handle, too, how Alfie, Emily’s boyfriend, reacts to what Camille has divulged and the “Love is in the Air” advertisement that features Emily and Alfie.
The sophisticated, rich art gallery worker, Camille, has gone missing, but will be found in an impressionist, picturesque garden with a pond.
However, inside most of “Emily in Paris” followers, those who root for Emily and Gabriel, wish that the American marketing whiz and social media savvy and the French dreamboat chef and restaurateur would have “the” chance at love that lasts for a lifetime. A chance that is not fleeting.
Well, there are possible explicit and implicit hints for that, and perhaps scattered around the entirety of Season 4.
Hopefully, he and she will come to their senses and fight for it, whatever comes their way.
Putting aside the romantic thrill that brings to these questions — “Who ends up with who?” and “What consequences does it entail?”, “Emily in Paris” is a study of different notions about relationships. Some have the tendency to embark on a bisexual, hetero, same-sex or throuple affair and it is considered valid. People get attracted to and fall in love with what the person is and not because of his or her gender.
Since the latter seems to be no longer a factor in getting into a romantic relationship, honesty is more important.
One cannot wear a mask and conceal true feelings towards someone. The truth will come out and set a person free eventually. Unlike the apple and wine cakes rendered in trompe-l’oeil (a visual art style that makes objects look three-dimensional or real) fashion and served by the pastry chef, one cannot deceive oneself in the name of love.
Whether in personal or professional life, truth cannot be buried, and it will surface some time.
The importance of it and the value of being true to one’s feelings can be gleaned upon the relationships between Emily and Gabriel, Emily and Alfie, Camille and artist Sofia, Luc and girlfriend Marianne, aspiring singer Mindy (also Emily’s friend) and executive Nicolas (and Mindy’s true feelings towards talented musician Benoit), and Agence Grateau head Sylvie Grateau and former boss Louis de Leon of JVMA.
Every friend or lover deserves to know the “truth” straight from the horse’s mouth. Despite the words that have been said and actions taken, the involved individuals may understand each other’s plight and become friends and lovers again. Somehow, it could be a case-to-case basis culturally. It takes a lot of understanding and a big heart to be in those shoes.
“Emily in Paris” shows that kind of reality and possibility.
I’m sure fans of “Emily in Paris” are still wishing for a happy ending that a (romantic) comedy should conclude and offer and their favorite characters, Emily and Gabriel, become “the” couple.
For the past three seasons and a half, because the other half of Season 4 will be streamed on Sept. 12, “Emily in Paris’ has remained a lovely, palatable piece of comedy and romance, with the landscapes of the city that please the eyes and its wonderful Parisian culture.
With that, one can say that it’s a very charming and chic story (une histoire tres charmante et chic) to enjoy. I hope my friend has given me the correct French translation. Thanks, mon amie.