Emily in Paris – Season 4 Episode 3 “Masquerade” Recap & Review

Masquerade

Episode 3 of Emily in Paris season 4 starts with Emily jogging through the streets of Paris where she spots several good-looking men. At the same time, Gabriel shows up at her and Mindy’s apartment, asking to use their shower as his apartment is occupied with Sofia and Camille. Mindy is appalled by Gabriel’s new arrangement with his ex and his ex’s ex-girlfriend but leaves to go somewhere as he uses their shower.

Emily returns home and runs into Camille. She learns that Camille and Sofia are living in Gabriel’s apartment. At her apartment, she assumes that Mindy is in the shower and starts rambling about this. She also adds that she was still stuck between Gabriel and Alfie even though she was single. Gabriel is shocked to learn that Emily is single while Emily is embarrassed that he heard her rambling.

At work, Emily presents the marketing campaign for Heartbreak the new unisex perfume from Antoine’s company. Antoine explains his inspiration behind the name of the scene and states that heartbreak is a universal feeling. Emily suggests that they host a masquerade ball for the launch of the perfume as heartbroken people often try to hide their emotions.

The idea is appreciated by the rest of the team. Meanwhile, Camille runs into Alfie and apologises to him for causing his breakup with Emily. Alfie states that he has backed out of Gabriel and Emily’s relationship. Camille tells him that Emily and Gabriel were not together which leaves him questioning his breakup with Emily.

At the office, Camille joins Emily, Luc and Sylvie to discuss the marketing campaign for a non-alcoholic Chamère. Emily slips up that Camille could enjoy the drink since she is pregnant and Sylvie and Luc pretend to be surprised only to reveal that they were already aware of the pregnancy. That night, Emily is having dinner with Mindy and she tries to check the market for non-alcoholic wine.

Emily tells Mindy how she is no longer interested in Alfie or Gabriel and is open to looking for new flings. The waiter shows up with wine and Emily learns how the non-alcoholic wine served at the restaurant was unappetising. Moreover, she is shocked to discover that even pregnant women drink regular alcoholic wine.

Mindy tells Emily how her father was happy that she was dating Nicolas because he comes from a family of privilege. Sylvie is worried that Laurent is going overboard with the expenses at the yacht club. She tells Laurent that she does not trust Louis and is trying to help him to make sure she does not reach out to the journalists to expose him.

Sylvie tells Laurent all about the journalist from the paper – Le Monde and he is shocked. The next day, Gabriel finds Luc at a boat house and thanks him for his help in bringing the Michelin star Inspector, i.e. his girlfriend, Marianne to his restaurant. Marianne overhears the conversation and scolds Luc for trying to use her job to his friends’ advantage.

She tells him that Gabriel risks having his restaurant closed down if her identity is exposed and refuses to attend the ball with him. Luc is heartbroken before the heartbreak ball but Emily is more concerned about the Michelin star that Gabriel is due to get. Luc and Emily invite Julien to the ball and ask him to talk to Sylvie there.

That night, Emily is leaving to attend the masquerade ball when she meets Gabriel while waiting for her taxi. Emily calls Gabriel complicated but he confesses his feelings for her. Emily tells Gabriel that it will be very difficult for them to form a relationship because of how complicated their lives are.

At the ball, Emily tries to oversee the event while Julien tries to find a way to talk to Sylvie. Emily runs into an influencer who is wearing the same outfit as her but then gets chatting with Alfie. Alfie apologises to Emily and asks her to join him for a dance. Alfie asks if Emily can give him another chance and points out how she is still not dating Gabriel.

Just then, Sylvie asks them to look for Antoine who was nowhere to be found. Emily runs into Gabriel who tries to pretend he is a DJ named David Guetta. Everyone is looking for Antoine who is hiding because he is tired of taking photos with social media influencers. Marianne shows up at the ball and Luc asks her to move into his houseboat with him.

Using her anonymity as her leverage, Marianne asks Gabriel to hire a pastry chef if he wants a Michelin star. Outside, Emily runs into Mindy and tells her that she is stuck choosing either Alfie or Gabriel all over again. Mindy asks Emily to pick the person she loves from her heart time around.

Sylvie gets a message from the journalist who shares the expose article draft with her, thanking Sylvie for speaking up about Louis. Sylvie goes out and finds Mindy waiting for Nicolas. She thanks Mindy for sharing her traumatic experience with Emily which prompted her to speak up about Louis’ predatory behaviour.

Mindy is shocked that Emily shared her experience with Sylvie while Nicolas tells her that he will not be coming to the ball. He asks her to meet him at his house and Mindy leaves to go there. Inside the ball, Emily runs into the girl who is wearing the same outfit as her and then gets asked for a dance by Gabriel.

At the same time, Alfie kisses the girl dressed in the same outfit as Emily, asking her to date him. However, he is dumbfounded when he notices Emily dancing with Gabriel and yells out how the masquerade ball is a terrible idea after all. Julien finally musters up the courage to talk to Sylvie and apologises to her.

Sylvie tells Julien that she treats him as his family and adds that he should beware of the things going on at JVMA. She shares the article with Laurent and Antoine empathises with her for what she has been through. The article goes viral and everyone at the party recognises Sylvie as the victim of Louis’ bad behaviour.

That night, Mindy tries to talk to Nicolas about her terrible experience at the brand closet. She tries to show him how parents make mistakes too and shares her issues with her own family. Meanwhile, Gabriel and Emily take the chariot ride home and they kiss as Gabriel asks Emily to continue living in the fantasy they are in as the episode ends.   

The Episode Review

This episode makes it clear that Emily has a problem keeping secrets from her friends i.e. Camille and Mindy. What she did to Mindy was way worse than slipping up that Camille is pregnant. Emily should have let Mindy share her traumatic experience with people when she wishes. I empathise with Alfie but his misunderstanding could have been solved if he had taken a chance to ask Emily about her feelings for Gabriel before breaking up with her.

He knew that Gabriel loved Emily but Alfie assumed that Emily loved him too and broke up with her without communicating. These Netflix shows have such great potential but it is a pity that all these characters are stuck in the miscommunication limbo. Sylvie is brave for standing up against Louis but I cannot imagine what will happen to her marriage with Laurent after her article sabotages his pet project – the yacht club.