“I Love LA” fulfilled my craving for Gen-Z satire
A montage of Erewhon still shots, “should I kill myself on Instagram live or TikTok live?,” Elijah Wood playing an extremely socially awkward version of himself, a lesbian rainbow Ritz crackers mural and an end scene to “Dreams” by the Cranberries; “I Love LA” is hands down one of the best shows I have seen.
“I Love LA,” written by Rachel Sennott and originally dubbed “The Untitled Rachel Sennott Project,” follows Maia (Sennott), a talent agent and LA transplant from New York, trying to manage her long-time best friend and popular influencer Tallulah (Odessa A’zion), another New York to LA transplant. The pilot episode was released on HBO on November 2, and the show was renewed for a second season even before the release of the final episode, which aired on December 21.
I was introduced to Sennott’s comedy style when I watched “Bottoms,” which she co-wrote in 2023, and I instantly fell in love with it. Sennott’s comedy appealed to me so highly because I saw so much of myself in it. The slightly awkward and nonsensical humor reflected that of my own friend group and myself, and I found the source of campy, satirical comedy with authentic and natural queer representation that I craved.
I will admit, when I started watching “I Love LA,” I found myself sitting on my friend’s floor, staring at her TV and questioning why I was watching such an absurd show, but I could not stop laughing. From the first scene, I was simultaneously enthralled and skeptical. But my expectations of it being a silly show that would make me laugh were far surpassed, and I became deeply invested in each of the characters’ storylines. Not only are Maia and Tallulah’s stories heavily developed, but the ‘side’ characters of Charlie (Jordan Firstman), a gay stylist, and Alani (True Whitaker), an extreme nepo baby with no real job, are also given strong development, beyond being Maia and Tallulah’s friends.
Not only is the writing of “I Love LA” fantastic, but I can’t imagine a better cast for this show. Sennott and A’zion mastered the art of speaking like Gen-Z LA residents, extreme vocal fry and all. The line delivery given by Firstman was incredible, and I have caught myself quoting “why not me involved” and “random thought: you rule” at least once a day. Josh Hutcherson also makes frequent appearances as Maia’s boyfriend Dylan, and he had an outstanding performance and added so much depth to Maia’s character development as she navigates the relationships in her life.
“I Love LA” quickly became one of my favorite shows, and I have not only rewatched it numerous times in the few months since it was released, but have forced multiple people in my life to watch it with me. The zany characters and satirical comedy that are so clearly targeted towards Gen-Z resonated with me in an indescribable way, and I cannot wait for the release of the second season.
