Netflix has rolled out the second half of Emily in Paris Season 4, and the critics are quite mixed on the back half of the season.
The first half of the fourth season debuted in mid-August, with most critics bashing the first five episodes.
The second five-episode half of the season debuted on Friday, and revealed quite the bold move that could even change the show’s name: Emily (Lily Collins) is moving to Rome.
The first wave of reviews for this second half of Season 4 are seemingly a bit more positive than the first half, though the results are still rather mixed.
Some praised the show for the bold move, while others suggested that it’s only proof that splitting a 10-episode season into two halves does not work.
Netflix has rolled out the second half of Emily in Paris Season 4, and the critics are quite mixed on the back half of the season
The first half of the fourth season debuted in mid-August, with most critics bashing the first five episodes
One of the more positive reviews is from Collider’s Emily Cappello, who insists that the ‘jaw-dropping finale saves a chaotic second act.’
Cappello was certainly annoyed with certain aspects of the new episodes, including how the writers, ‘forgetting the motivations and advancements that were made in Part 1,’ which she thought was a ‘step in the right direction.’
She adds that, ‘almost every character seems to be acting unlike themselves, if only because we don’t have a firm grasp of who they really are.’
However, Cappello praises the bold move in the finale that, ‘could take the show in a whole new direction.’
It’s worth noting that Netflix has yet to renew Emily in Paris for a fifth season, though if they do… and the show is actually set predominantly in Rome, it will be interesting if a title change would actually be necessary.
Anita Singh from The Telegraph was not a fan of the back half, giving it just two stars out of five, bashing the show for Collins’ title character taking a selfie with French first lady Brigitte Macron.
‘Of course they do. Emily in Paris is essentially an Instagram post stretched out over four years,’ Singh says.
Singh also bashes Emily’s sense of style, calling her, ‘the worst-dressed woman on Earth,’ with this season featuring her, ‘most terrible outfits yet.’
One of the more positive reviews is from Collider ‘s Emily Cappello, who insists that the ‘jaw-dropping finale saves a chaotic second act’
However, Cappello praises the bold move in the finale that, ‘could take the show in a whole new direction’
Vulture’s Jessica M. Goldstein thinks the back half is, ‘leagues above the episodes we were watching in August.
She praises Emily for realizing how she feels about Marcello, her new love interest, as she heads to Rome to help start her company’s new office with her boss Sylvie.
AV Club’s Saloni Gajjar jokes, ‘Season 4 ends with the promise of change while still keeping the show’s absurdity intact.’
She admits that parts of the last five episodes are, ‘laughable and even downright enraging.’
However, ‘it all shapes up into a surprising final act that hopes to shift the predictable status quo Emily in Paris thrives on.’
Sarah Hunter Simanson of The Huffington Post bashes Netflix for splitting the season up into two parts.
The second half introduces three new characters – including Emily’s new love interest Marcello – which, ‘dramatically change the direction of the show.’
The critic adds that, ‘Part 2 feels like it’s an entirely new season, not the continuation of one.’
However, Cappello praises the bold move in the finale that, ‘could take the show in a whole new direction’
Vulture ‘s Jessica M. Goldstein thinks the back half is, ‘leagues above the episodes we were watching in August
Hindustan Times’ Devansh Sharma thinks the shift to Rome could give the show a ‘new lease on life.’
‘Becoming Emily in Rome is pretty much like a change in her DNA, and also that of the show,’ she said.
‘Like the city that wasn’t built in a day, the show also holds great promise because it refuses to settle down – and remains a thriving, enticing work-in-progress,’ she added.
It’s unclear when Netflix will make a decision about the fate of Emily in Paris after the back half of Season 4 has debuted.