Rachel Sennott’s new HBO comedy series, I Love LA, has landed on screens with a burst of energy, a dash of cynicism, and a whole lot of Gen Z angst. The show, which premiered on November 2, 2025, at 10:30 p.m. in a coveted Sunday night slot, marks another milestone for Sennott, the Connecticut-born comedian and actress known for her sharp wit in films like Bottoms and Shiva Baby. But this time, she’s not just starring—she’s also the creator, writer, and, for several episodes, the director.
The series follows Maia (played by Sennott), a New York transplant who’s trying to carve out a career as a talent manager in Los Angeles. Maia’s journey is anything but smooth. She’s self-conscious about edging closer to 30, grappling with the city’s infamous dry air, and stuck in a job where her talents seem to go unnoticed. Her circle includes the empathetic Alani (True Whitaker), the superficial Charlie (Jordan Firstman), and her bland but stabilizing boyfriend Dylan (Josh Hutcherson).
The pilot episode, aptly titled "Block Her," sets the tone: Maia wakes up on her birthday, has a morning tryst with Dylan (which she amusingly mistakes for an earthquake), and meets up with friends for a walk and a venting session. She’s got two big issues—her stalled career and the emotional sting of her former best friend Tallulah (Odessa A’zion) thriving as an influencer back in New York. Alani and Charlie offer their advice (block Tallulah!), but things take a turn when Tallulah shows up in LA, courtesy of Alani’s well-intentioned meddling.
From there, the show explores the awkward, sometimes painful process of rekindling old friendships and navigating new ambitions. The dynamic between Maia and Tallulah is the heart of the pilot, with moments that feel genuinely raw amid the otherwise satirical take on LA’s influencer scene. Their shared history gives the show its emotional core, and critics have been quick to single out these interactions as the most authentic part of the debut.
As Decider notes, "The only parts of the first episode of I Love LA that felt somewhat authentic was when the relationship between Maia and Tallulah was the focus." The review goes on to highlight True Whitaker’s Alani as the show’s "most actual empathy and humanity," while expressing skepticism about the rest of the cast—particularly Dylan, whose blandness is played for laughs. Still, there’s a sense that the show is just getting started, and HBO has assured critics that the season’s payoff will be worth the patience.
The critical response has been largely positive, though not without its caveats. As of November 3, 2025, the series holds a Certified Fresh 81% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 26 critic reviews. Early reviews collected by Variety and The Hollywood Reporter reveal a split: some reviewers are charmed by the show’s social commentary and Sennott’s performance, while others find the character development lacking and the tone uncertain.
Nick Schager of The Daily Beast writes, "The series is so busy having 'fun' with Tallulah and Maia that it never bothers to develop the former," and points out that the show is "attuned to 21st-century Gen-Z attitudes and intent on goofing on West Coast entertainment-industry craziness." He concedes, however, that "There’s funny material here and there," and suggests the show will appeal most to younger viewers who are comfortable with influencer culture.
Dave Nemetz at TVLine describes the series as "like a Gen Z mash-up of Girls and Insecure, with a little bit of Entourage sprinkled on top," but critiques it for being "not quite comedy and not quite dramedy." He argues, "It’s not deep enough to get us emotionally involved, and it’s not funny enough to get us to overlook how shallow it can be."
On the other hand, Variety's Alison Herman offers a more favorable take, noting, "The HBO comedy I Love L.A. is aptly named, because this is not a show about Los Angeles, a diverse and multitudinous place that can’t be defined by a single industry. It’s a show about L.A., or even 'L.A.' in quotation marks: a blank canvas for projection by haters and dreamers alike." She praises the show as "a finer piece of sociology about the influencer era than it is a joke - or even character-driven sitcom."
Angie Han at The Hollywood Reporter admits the show "finds its footing in the second half, where Sennott’s gifts as a performer truly shine through," and argues that once the series taps into Maia and Tallulah’s relationship, "I Love LA finds itself, at long last, somewhere real."
The cast is rounded out by Odessa A’zion (Tallulah), Jordan Firstman (Charlie), True Whitaker (Alani), and Josh Hutcherson (Dylan). The show also features guest appearances by Leighton Meester, Moses Ingram, Lauren Holt, Elijah Wood, Quenlin Blackwell, Josh Brener, Tim Baltz, Froy Gutierrez, and Colin Woodell, adding a layer of star power to the ensemble.
Sennott, 30, brings her experience as a multi-hyphenate performer to the project. A New York University and Stella Adler Studio alum, she’s built a loyal following on Instagram and TikTok, and her comedic sensibility infuses every scene. According to The Hartford Courant, Sennott "has carved out a niche in Hollywood as a rising multi-hyphenate," and I Love LA is a natural extension of her previous work.
The show’s structure is familiar to fans of ensemble comedies about found families, but it distinguishes itself with its focus on influencer culture and the unique anxieties of late-twenties life in LA. As Decider puts it, "Like most comedies about found family, there’s too much jokey chatter and not enough actual character depth to help viewers latch onto the situations of Maia or anyone else. But the friendship between Maia and Tallulah tells us that there may be more underneath the vocal fry."
Despite some early reservations about the show’s tone and depth, there’s optimism about its future. Abe Friedtanzer at Awards Buzz sums up the sentiment: "Sennott has crafted something that her fans will definitely love but should also appeal to a wider audience given that she’s capable of sending up the shortcomings and stereotypes that have been cast on her generation."
New episodes of I Love LA air every Sunday on HBO and stream on HBO Max, promising more awkward birthday dinners, influencer escapades, and—perhaps—deeper dives into the complicated friendships at the show’s core. For viewers willing to look past the surface-level banter, there’s hope that Sennott and her team will deliver on the promise of a series that’s both of its moment and a little bit timeless.
