Is Emily In Paris copying Bridgerton? From a masquerade ball to a horse carriage romp and even namechecking the show – how Netflix’s season four ripped off the steamy period drama
Emily In Paris returns to Netflix on Thursday after a two-year hiatus with the long-awaited fourth season.
Lily Collins made her comeback as the title role of Emily Cooper, a young Midwesterner who turns her life upside down and takes a new job in Paris, landing herself in the middle of a torrid love triangle.
The first five episodes will be available from August 15. Viewers will have to wait almost a whole month for the second part, which will be available on September 11.
However, some scenes from the romantic comedy series, from the steamy carriage adventures to the elegant galas, felt all too similar to another Netflix hit that recently debuted a new season.
Bridgerton debuted its highly anticipated third season in June, which tells the love story of Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton).
Is Emily In Paris Copying Bridgerton? From steamy carriage rides to elegant balls, some scenes in the romantic comedy series looked all too familiar
One standout moment that viewers won’t soon forget was a racy five-minute scene where Colin and Penelope got intimate in a horse-drawn carriage as their friendship turned romantic
A very similar scene in the new installment of Emily In Paris saw Emily and one of her love interests Gabriel (Lucas Bravo) rekindle their romance as they begin to passionately kiss in their own carriage.
One standout moment that viewers won’t soon forget was a racy five-minute scene where Colin and Penelope got intimate in a horse-drawn carriage, taking their friendship into a romantic direction.
A similar scene in the new installment of Emily In Paris sees Emily and one of her love interests, Gabriel (Lucas Bravo), rekindle their romance by passionately kissing in their own carriage.
This happened after all the characters had dressed up to the nines and attended a masked ball, something that is very common in the Bridgerton world.
The posh event, which took place in the third episode, was presented by Agence Grateux and sees Emily’s two suitors, Gabriel and Alfie (Lucien Laviscount), vying for her attention.
Bridgerton even gets a name, as Emily is at the ball talking to her best friend Mindy Chen (Ashley Park) and they see a carriage in the background rocking suspiciously back and forth.
“Oh! Someone’s living out their horny Bridgerton fantasies,” she exclaims, to which Emily replies, “Are you kidding?”
A few scenes later, Emily and Gabriel find themselves in a carriage, with Lily Collins’ character exclaiming, “Ah, this night, this carriage. It just feels like a fantasy. It’s too good to be true.”
As tension mounts, Gabriel asks, “Why can’t we?” and insists that they “forget reality for one night.”
Episode three of Emily In Paris season four (LEFT) referenced Bridgerton (RIGHT), the third season of which debuted on Netflix in June
Bridgerton even gets a name when Emily is talking to her best friend Mindy Chen (Ashley Park) at the ball, when they see a carriage rocking in the background
“Oh! Someone’s living out their horny Bridgerton fantasies,” she exclaims, to which Emily replies, “Are you kidding?”
The two then share a passionate kiss and the carriage heads off towards Paris. What happens next is left to the viewer’s imagination.
Despite the opening episodes finally ending the love triangle and featuring a shocking twist, the Netflix series failed to impress critics, who were vehement about it.
The final season featured a web of complex storylines to unravel, from Camille’s (Camille Razat) shock pregnancy announcement to Emily’s complicated love triangle with her chef neighbor Gabriel (Lucas Bravo) and handsome British Alfie (Lucien Laviscount).
Emily finally makes her choice as she and Gabriel choose to explore their romance and declare their love for each other in the season finale.
Perhaps the most brutal was The Guardian’s Leila Latif’s review, which called the series a “television black hole” – that is, “lacking plot, charisma and intrigue.”
She continues to insist that “nothing at all happens,” as the title character continues to work as a marketing manager while she finds herself in a love triangle.
While fans loved the third season of Bridgerton, it was also not well received by critics.
The series was a hit with viewers, with the film being viewed 45.1 million times within four days of its release on Netflix.
The couple then share a passionate kiss and the carriage drives away to Paris, leaving the viewer to decide what happens next.
Bridgerton was a hit with viewers, with the film being viewed a whopping 45.1 million times within four days of its release on Netflix.
A few scenes later, Emily and Gabriel find themselves in a carriage, with Lily Collins’ character exclaiming, “Ah, this night, this carriage. It just feels like a fantasy. It’s too good to be true.”
But, The independent Nick Hilton declared Netflix’s costume drama “losing its power” and gave the new series a disappointing two-star rating.
However, he also praised 37-year-old actress Nicola, saying: “Coughlan is a wonderful screen presence and has long been one of Bridgerton’s strong points.”
The Telegraph also gave the new series two stars, claiming that Nicola and Luke have “almost no chemistry” – despite their close bond in real life.
Critic Anita Sign wrote: “The writers seem to have given up. Three of the first four episodes contain an almost identical scene of Penelope tearfully fleeing a ball. Lady Whistledown’s commentary now feels tired and unnecessary.
‘Even the sex scenes are superficial and only repeated once per episode, as if a quota has been met.’