You can chart the decline and fall of the American dream through the prism of Darren Star’s leads. “Sex and the City” star Carrie Bradshaw could afford an apartment full of Manolo Blahniks as a freelance columnist, while “Younger” star Liza Miller must cheat her way into an entry-level position in publishing. Like her predecessors, the titular heroine of “Emily in Paris” (played by Lily Collins) has a passion for storytelling — but instead of the written word, she’s channeled that skill into social media marketing for brands, plus her personal Instagram account. A move to Europe hasn’t dented Emily’s ultra-American work ethic; if anything, it’s infectious, her unapologetic capitalism rubbing off on colleagues, friends and loved ones like a virus.

When it premiered in October 2020, “Emily in Paris” went viral in a different way: The show became a massive hit for Netflix, spawning Season 4 with the multi-part release strategy reserved for the binge-happy platform’s most popular titles. (The first five episodes are currently streaming, with the second half set to premiere next month.) With microscopic stakes, eye-popping outfits, and second-screen potential hampered only by its liberal use of subtitles, the series has become a byword for the so-called “gourmet cheeseburgers” prized by Netflix executives.

So it’s possible that you never noticed when “Emily in Paris” took an extended hiatus — more than 18 months! — between seasons due to last year’s entertainment strikes and are thrilled to see it return, especially after the 2024 Olympics put the City of Light at the top of many viewers’ lists. Little Berets (that’s what I call Emily’s fan army), fear not! “Emily in Paris” remains a feathery soufflé of workplace comedy, silly romance, and shameless commodification. Whether she’s using a rooftop date as inspiration for a skin-care campaign or convincing an ex to attend an activation, Emily is the madcap Don Draper her generation deserves.

Describing the plot of Season 4 feels like reading the fine print under one of those glossy Agence Grateau ads: completely missing the point of all that visual stimulation. Still, Season 3 ended on a cliffhanger, with the wedding of Emily's love interest Gabriel (Lucas Bravo) and his long-term girlfriend Camille (Camille Razat) being called off at the altar by the bride, blowing up Emily's own relationship with British businessman brother Alfie (Lucien Laviscount). But while Gabriel and Camille's relationship may be dead, they have a lasting memory in the form of Camille's surprise pregnancy.