Quick Read
- Rachel Sennott stars and co-writes HBO’s new comedy series ‘I Love LA’, focusing on the messy realities of young adulthood in Los Angeles.
- The show draws on Sennott’s own experiences, blending internet culture and personal anxieties for a fresh Gen Z perspective.
- Costume designer Christina Flannery curated vintage and contemporary looks to reflect LA’s diverse style and subcultures.
- Critics praise the show’s honest, irreverent depiction of influencer culture and post-COVID uncertainty among young people.
- The series features a star-studded cast including Odessa A’zion, Josh Hutcherson, Jordan Firstman, and guest Ayo Edebiri.
Rachel Sennott: From Internet ‘It Girl’ to HBO Star
Rachel Sennott isn’t your typical Hollywood success story. Born in 1995 and raised in Connecticut, she first made her mark through viral comedy videos on Twitter—her brand: brazen, unapologetic, and layered with irony. Sennott’s journey from New York open mic nights to headlining her own HBO series is emblematic of the new entertainment landscape, where internet culture and traditional media collide.
Her big break came in 2020’s Shiva Baby, a claustrophobic comedy about a young woman juggling family drama and secret relationships at a funeral. Sennott’s performance, defined by jangly anxiety and sharp wit, set the stage for her reputation: someone who could make you laugh, cringe, and think—all at once. Roles in Bodies Bodies Bodies and Bottoms followed, but it’s I Love LA that marks her full arrival as a generational voice.
‘I Love LA’: A Comedy for the TikTok Generation
Premiering in November 2025, I Love LA is HBO’s latest bid to capture the elusive Gen Z audience. The network, once home to Girls and Sex and the City, now turns to Sennott—a self-described “zillennial”—to channel the anxieties and absurdities of twenty-somethings in Los Angeles. The show draws clear parallels to its predecessors but offers a distinctly modern flavor: the internet isn’t just a backdrop, it’s in the DNA of every scene.
Sennott plays Maia, a middling talent manager trying to carve out a space in Hollywood. Her world is populated by a vivid cast: Odessa A’zion as Tallulah, a chaotic influencer; Josh Hutcherson as Maia’s grounded boyfriend Dylan; Jordan Firstman as the flamboyant stylist Charlie; and True Whitaker as Alani, Maia’s pragmatic roommate. Guest appearances from Leighton Meester, Ayo Edebiri (who plays a vape-loving British pop star), and others round out a cast that feels plucked straight from an Instagram feed.
The show’s premise is deceptively simple: a group of codependent friends reunite in their late twenties, forced to confront the time apart, their own ambitions, and the new relationships that threaten old bonds. But beneath the surface lies a sharp commentary on the instability and uncertainty of young adulthood—especially in a city as dazzling and unforgiving as LA.
Saturn’s Return, Internet Culture, and the Search for Meaning
Much of I Love LA revolves around the concept of “Saturn’s Return”—the astrological period marking the end of your twenties and, according to Sennott, “an almost universally unpleasant yet transformative time.” This theme resonates with anyone who’s felt the pressure to “make it” while watching others’ success parade across their screens. The series doesn’t shy away from depicting the messy, chaotic reality of chasing dreams in a post-COVID, influencer-driven economy.
Sennott’s comedic sensibility is everywhere: irreverent, self-aware, and always teetering between cringe and catharsis. Maia and Tallulah represent two sides of the Gen Z coin: Maia, anxious and striving, mirrors the reality of daily self-doubt; Tallulah, glamorous and reckless, embodies the fantasy projected online. Their dynamic is the engine of the show, exposing the tension between authentic self and curated persona.
As Sennott told The Ringer, “The internet is in our bones, and I wanted to have it exist in the show in the way it does in real life.” This isn’t just about referencing memes or influencer culture—it’s about showing the real work and insecurity behind the seemingly effortless online lives.
Costume, Style, and the Visual Language of LA
Behind the show’s visual feast is costume designer Christina Flannery (The Righteous Gemstones), who crafted each character’s look with a mix of vintage finds and contemporary flair. Flannery sourced everything from late ‘90s Dolce & Gabbana and Galliano to Eastside LA cult pieces, ensuring that each outfit tells its own story. The wardrobe is not just decorative but narrative—a pastel Easter Bunny moment here, a Jumbos Clown Room hat there, all forming a patchwork of LA’s subcultures.
“Everyone is their own bubble of Los Angeles, like it or not,” Flannery told Forbes. The costumes communicate growth, choices, and the nuances of each character’s journey. It’s a bold, comical, and highly Instagrammable aesthetic that never feels like a parody.
Critical Reception: Is ‘I Love LA’ Worth Watching?
The early reviews are strong. Rotten Tomatoes shows an 83% approval rating, with critics praising its irreverent tone and layered portrayal of social media influencers. The Guardian calls it “a bumpy ride until it begins to take shape in the final stretch,” while The New York Times highlights its nuanced depiction of internet culture. Vulture describes the series as “young, dumb and full of fun,” capturing the emotional truth of youthful ambition and friendship.
Even as the show leans into familiar LA tropes—nepo babies, expensive health stores, influencer haunts—it avoids condescension, instead embracing the chaos and striving for authenticity. Sennott’s writing, paired with co-showrunner Emma Barrie (Barry), ensures that the story is not just a vehicle for punchlines, but an honest exploration of what it means to be young and searching for meaning.
Why ‘I Love LA’ Matters
At its core, I Love LA is about the conflict between real personality and online persona, about the invisible labor behind looking effortless, and about the divide between those living in the “real world” and those performing for the internet. It’s a show that speaks to Gen Z’s existential dilemmas: job insecurity, shifting friendships, and the relentless pursuit of identity in a hyper-connected age.
As Sennott and her collaborators have shown, what’s old can be new again—if there’s something left for a voice of a generation to say. For anyone wondering whether TV can still capture the pulse of youth, I Love LA is proof that, with the right voice, the answer is yes.
Rachel Sennott’s ascent from Twitter comedian to HBO showrunner isn’t just a personal triumph—it’s a bellwether for the future of storytelling. By splitting her persona into distinct characters and mining her own messy, relatable experiences, Sennott offers a mirror for Gen Z’s anxieties and ambitions. ‘I Love LA’ isn’t just another quirky sitcom; it’s a testament to how television, when it embraces internet culture and real vulnerability, can still matter to a generation raised on screens.