We’re not even halfway through and this year is already proving to be a major one for blockbuster TV series: there’s been plenty to entertain, from the glamorous and gossipy Feud: Capote vs. The Swans to the long-awaited return of Bridgerton. And soon, we will be treated to the fourth installment of Emily in Paris, the much-loved Netflix classic.

The clothes (courtesy of Patricia Field, the brains behind Sex and the City’s best costume moments), serious drama, Emily and Gabriel’s ‘will they, won’t they’ relationship, and Sylvie’s star turn as the most glamorous Frenchwoman alive have all kept us hooked for three seasons so far.

Filming has now wrapped on season four, and Netflix has released a batch of preview images in order to whet audience appetites. Here’s what we know about the fourth series so far, from the cast to the trailer, the release date and the plot…

The trailer

There isn’t an official trailer yet, but in a teaser shared by Netflix at their Tudum festival in 2023, Collins addressed the major cliffhangers of season three. “So much happened that we just need answers to,” she says. “Is Alfie still heartbroken? Will Gabriel get his Michelin star? Will Mindy and the band go to Eurovision? And what about Camille? Will Sylvie’s rekindled love last? I wish I could tell you more, but you’ll just have to wait to find out.” It’s safe to say that season four has a lot to unpack.

The fashion

Believe it or not, the fashion is set to be even bigger and bolder for season four. “Emily is really coming into her own, asserting herself, becoming much stronger with a style that is reinterpreting Parisian fashion codes,” costume designer Marylin Fitoussi told Tudum.com. “And our motto was obviously to have fun, but to take maximum risks.”

The plot

“After the dramatic events of Camille and Gabriel’s misbegotten wedding, Emily is reeling: she has strong feelings for two men, but now Gabriel’s expecting a baby with his ex, and Alfie’s worst fears about her and Gabriel have been confirmed,” a Netflix press release confirmed. “At work, Sylvie is forced to confront a thorny dilemma from her past for the sake of her marriage, and the Agence Grateau team navigates personnel shake-ups. Mindy and the band prepare for Eurovision, but when funds run dry, they’re forced to get thrifty. Emily and Gabriel’s chemistry is undeniable as they work together towards a Michelin star, but two big secrets threaten to undo everything they’ve dreamed of…”

Collins herself let slip that the drama will only keep ramping up in season four, noting that Emily’s life will take “some unexpected twists” and teasing both a Roman holiday and hard choices ahead for the expat. “Emily is going to have to decide if everything she’s ever wanted is really what she needs,” she said.

“Season 4 is going to be more about navigating complicated relationships; personal relationships and work relationships, and how they come into conflict with each other,” Emily in Paris creator Darren Star explained in an interview with TV Guide. “Emily is still going to be working with Alfie, Gabriel and Camille. Those work relationships are really fraught with emotional conflicts.”

Unfortunately, Star didn’t give too much detail away when it comes to Emily and Gabriel. But in an interview with Deadline, he touched on the dynamics they will have to face in season four: “They are star-crossed lovers, they really are. And I think that a big question to think about the next season is, Emily didn’t come to Paris for romance, she came for a job, and I think they’re both in a different, more mature place in their lives, and definitely a more complicated place.”

The cast

Most of the show’s main players return, including Collins, Ashley Park (Mindy), Lucas Bravo (Gabriel), Camille Razat (Camille), Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu (Sylvie), Samuel Arnold (Julien), Bruno Gouery (Luc), and Lucien Laviscount (Alfie).

One cast member who likely won’t return is Kate Walsh, as season three saw Madeline decide to shut down the branch and return to Chicago. But there’s always a chance Emily’s former boss could show up for a scene or two.

The release date

The season will be released in two parts – the first will land on 15th August, followed by the second batch of episodes on 12th September.

While we wait, why not treat yourself to a re-run of season three, which is still available to watch on Netflix. After all, there’s no harm in re-familiarising yourself with all that drama – and those outfits, of course…