Los Angeles isn’t just a backdrop, it’s a mood, a lifestyle, and occasionally, a punchline. Whether you’ve just unpacked your first apartment in Silver Lake or you’re still figuring out which Erewhon smoothie defines your personality, these shows set in L.A. perfectly capture what it feels like to live, love, and lose yourself in the City of Angels.
From glossy daydreams to existential comedies, here are five essential series that will help you understand (and maybe even love!) L.A. in all its contradictions.
I Love L.A. (HBO)
“What? Never seen a naked gay guy in Eagle Rock before? Grow up!”
I Love L.A. is HBO’s newest dramedy from creator and star Rachel Sennott, also featuring Josh Hutcherson. The show follows a group of friends navigating modern L.A.: from open mics, to heartbreaks, to that one roommate who’s somehow always “between projects.” It’s about falling in love with the city not because it’s perfect, but because it’s yours.
Insecure (HBO)
“You looking real clean, you’re looking real bad, you’re looking like a queen!”
Insecure is the ultimate celebration of modern Black Los Angeles. Created by and starring Issa Rae, it follows Issa Dee and her friends through love, work, and awkward self-discovery in Inglewood and beyond. The show’s soundtrack and golden-hour cinematography make every episode feel like a love letter to the city.
Bojack Horseman (Netflix)
“You know, it’s funny. When you look at someone through rose-colored glasses, all the red flags just look like flags.”
Behind its absurd premise, BoJack Horseman delivers one of the most profound takes on fame and loneliness in Hollywood. Its animated L.A., from the “Hollywoo” sign to endless pool parties, is both hilarious and heartbreaking.
Love (Netflix)
“All these movies I’ve watched, they’re not real. ‘Pretty Woman’ is such a lie.“
Judd Apatow’s anti-rom-com captures the weird, wonderful rhythm of Eastside dating: full of Echo Park apartments, bad improv, and mismatched expectations. It’s a portrait of relationships and reinvention that feels painfully familiar to anyone who’s ever moved here with big dreams and emotional baggage.
Barry (Max)
“The Raven lives in the shadow, my friends.”
When hitman Barry Berkman moves to L.A. to become an actor, chaos ensues. Barry blends dark humor and noir absurdity with a painfully accurate look at the city’s obsession with reinvention. And then there’s NoHo Hank, the most lovable criminal in television history.