HBO’s 10/10 Comedy Is Quietly One of Its Best Shows To Binge

Anyone who’s in the know has already purchased stock in the Rachel Sennott empire, an actor, writer, comedian, and media personality who has become the voice of Generation Z. For Sennott, receiving her own HBO comedy series as lead star and showrunner was the next proper step in her ascension from Internet fame and indie acclaim to household name status.

Released in the fall of 2025, I Love LA continues to endure in the HBO catalog, making it an ideal binge opportunity for those who missed out on this bonkers, uproarious, and candid series about the absurdity of being young and aspirational — even when you have no idea what you’re doing. Sennott, who stars alongside Odessa A’zion and Josh Hutcherson, pointedly made a satire that’s unafraid to poke at your sensibilities, but the self-critical nature of its text has seemingly slipped past many, which is a grave misreading of these grating yet sympathetic characters.

Rachel Sennott’s Unique Comedy Voice Thrives in a Familiar Setting in ‘I Love LA’

Channeling shows like Girls, I Love LA is a one-part raunchy and another-part tender comedy series primarily about young women traversing the whirlwind of showbiz and influencer culture in Southern California, as well as navigating the punishing reality of being Gen Z and overwhelmed with constant information and comparison to other people. In the nine-episode series, which was renewed for Season 2, talent agent Maia Simsbury (Sennott) reunites with her old friend, Tallulah Stiel (A’zion), an influencer always getting entangled in her own drama and publicity scandals. As Maia tries to receive a coveted promotion, more hijinks ensue with her co-dependent friends, Alani Marcus (True Whitaker) and Charlie Cohen (Jordan Firstman), and her schoolteacher boyfriend, Dylan (Hutcherson).

I Love LA never loses sight of its mission statement as a pure, laugh-out-loud single-camera cable sitcom. Running at 25 – 30 minutes per episode, Rachel Sennott’s distinct artistic voice, first established on the Internet and indie darlings like Shiva Baby, is operating in full gear on a higher budget and broader premise. For Maia, life is a series of one step forward and two steps backward, but she never loses the luster of a 27-year-old with everything in front of her, and her tested optimism is reinforced by her gratefulness to be hustling in a city like Los Angeles that rewards hustling.

HBO’s ‘I Love LA’ Is a Brilliant Satire and Reflection on Gen Z

I Love LA‘s cast, a sincere reflection of Gen Z life and culture, opens up audiences to a whole new world beyond the purview of mainstream television. Its breakout star, Odessa A’zion, as an influencer who often finds herself in a flame war with other models, is a dynamic spark of energy unlike anything on the airwaves. This has been A’zion’s moment, who also popped in one of the cinematic events of the year opposite Timothée Chalamet, Marty Supreme. She is a pure delight in every episode, leading to the show’s most rollicking moments with her short-sighted, social media-obsessed brain getting everyone into trouble. The series also features a slew of recurring and guest spots, including Leighton Meester, Moses Ingram, Ayo Edebiri, Keith David, and Elijah Wood, who plays himself as a germaphobic party host.

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The average marquee HBO series — drama or comedy — is often met with universal acclaim. I Love LA, however, left many audiences underwhelmed, if not outright irritated, after its debut season. The overriding complaint is obvious to anyone watching, even its most ardent fans: these characters are incredibly annoying. It is true that Maia and the gang (certainly what they would call “extra”) will likely get under your skin at some point, based on their general boisterous behavioral tendencies. Through each personal and professional gaffe and overall delusional way of going about the world, these characters — emblematic of the common complaints older generations might have about younger generations — are a tough test for viewers.

As simple as it sounds, the grating nature of I Love LA is the feature, not a bug. Rachel Sennott is well aware of the vices of twentysomethings in the influencer era, and these characters are satirical reflections of our obsession with likes, online beefs, and the increasingly unforgiving work environment with no tangible corporate ladder to climb anymore. Despite the show’s sardonic edge, Sennott imbues a sympathetic current within Maia and Tallulah, whose hearts are in the right place, even if they are both a complete mess. After all, working in showbiz in Los Angeles will drive anyone mad.