This is a good show. Great characters who are relatable. Gives a snapshot of each relationship Darby (Anna Kendrick) attempts to make work. Her teen years episode was great but so hard to watch! This is well done. Ignore the haters not sure what they expected.
167 Reviews
Solid show, worth a try
aussieobsessed-532-69403027 June 2020
I like rom com type shows and I love Anna Kendrick, so I enjoyed this show quite a bit. I enjoyed the different angle of this show where each episode is a relationship.
Anna excels as Darby in this show. I especially love the interactions between her and her bestie, Sarah. Great acting on both ladies part.
Each episode had me curious as to what was coming next.
Not sure whats with the hate from the Debbie downers. It had happy moments, sad moments, and moments that make you laugh. It's a romance type story, you just have to take it for what it is.
My only complaint is the end. I wish we'd see more of her and her person!
Anna excels as Darby in this show. I especially love the interactions between her and her bestie, Sarah. Great acting on both ladies part.
Each episode had me curious as to what was coming next.
Not sure whats with the hate from the Debbie downers. It had happy moments, sad moments, and moments that make you laugh. It's a romance type story, you just have to take it for what it is.
My only complaint is the end. I wish we'd see more of her and her person!
Not revolutionary, but enjoyable
Eggoreluckadman6 June 2020
You will find a piece of you
melodyso20 July 2020
To be honest, coming into this I didn't realise it is such a great show. Maybe because of the cliche name or the old school poster art. I thought it was gonna be one of those cheesy rom-com.
But it's not. It's so much more than that. It captures the raw emotions you have at every age. The ups and downs of any relationship. Overall it feels very human and genuine. I especially like the narrator. She always says something so spot on, so inspirational.
I love that the characters grow. They are multi-dimensional. They fall and pick themselves up. Along the way, I really feel the connection with most of the characters. I also like how stories take turns in unexpected ways, exactly like real life.
No matter who you are. You will find a bit of yourself in Darby. You will laugh, cry and get butterflies with her. I want a season 2!!!
But it's not. It's so much more than that. It captures the raw emotions you have at every age. The ups and downs of any relationship. Overall it feels very human and genuine. I especially like the narrator. She always says something so spot on, so inspirational.
I love that the characters grow. They are multi-dimensional. They fall and pick themselves up. Along the way, I really feel the connection with most of the characters. I also like how stories take turns in unexpected ways, exactly like real life.
No matter who you are. You will find a bit of yourself in Darby. You will laugh, cry and get butterflies with her. I want a season 2!!!
Just...real
Piltil28 July 2020
Started Great, then wavered
jillianc2217 August 2020
I really liked the concept of this. As a woman who dated in New York for over a decade until I found the right person (in LA), there are definitely a multitude of different situations and types of guys this could have covered to show how hard dating in NY can be. The first few episodes were great, but once it strayed from the original concept it just became a different slightly less interesting show. Where are all the terrible Tinder dates, or guy who turns out to be married, etc. So many missed story ops. On a side note Anna Kendrick's clothing in this is beautiful, but there's no way that character could afford most of it.
Fun, funny upbeat romance like comedy that's shows life and love is complex and changes!
blanbrn30 May 2020
"Love Life" the new romance anthology from "HBO Max" is a little series that's entertaining as it tries to capture the present day journey and trials of love and life of one Darby(the good Anna Kendrick) a "NYC" millennial who as a single girl in the big city has fun as she explores the bedroom with different loves, as her relationships are fun yet messy. Really the series is a take on the highs and lows of life and love. Darby and her friends are still trying to figure out life and dreams, as Darby has somewhat had the cards stacked against her after being a child of divorced parents. She also struggles in the job world often changing jobs as much as boyfriends. Each episode moves forward following a new love in the life of Darby, as always love hurts as it's complex and tough. Still despite the relationship drama the series is fun, soul searching and entertaining.
It was okay. The ending though >:(
Short_and_to_the_point11 June 2020
Warning: Spoilers
The main character Darby was kind of boring. I feel like Anna didn't really fit the bill for the character. The show was good, though. A great show to turn off your brain and not have to think too much.
Now let's talk about the ending. The whole show was based on Darby finding love and her soul mate. There were so many episodes where we really got to know the men she was dating. We knew everything about them and got to form opinions on them. Then when she finally finds "her person," we see about 5 minutes of him. We didn't see any real personality, nor did we get to see her interact in a romantic way with him. It was incredibly frustrating and quite a let down at the end. Didn't like it at all.
All stars for season 1
maijita14 November 2022
Warning: Spoilers
First season was fun, light and relatable. The ending wasn't fantastic, but over all it's a solid 8.
Season two however... it lost all the fun and light in an instant. Marcus is actually quite likable and I don't mind the setting of divorce at the beginning. But, I do find it hard to warm up to Mia. She's not very likable. It's made very clear from the start that she is the one, so there's no element of surprise when they do end up together, even tho you wish they wouldn't. I also didn't mind the very up to date references of covid and blm. I did however find the jabs towards different races and inter-racial couples a bit of bad taste and unnecessary.
I watched the whole second season, but I do think Marcus decerved better. I was looking forword to a male-Darby stuggling to find his soulmate in the sea of desperate women. I was hoping for funny, yet interesting relationship stories and the fact that I could follow yet another characters growth through the series and them learning from their failed relationship attempts. I didn't quite get that. Marcus didn't seem to learn anything. Just jumped straight into the next mistake while waiting for the opportunity to return to the previous one.
Season two however... it lost all the fun and light in an instant. Marcus is actually quite likable and I don't mind the setting of divorce at the beginning. But, I do find it hard to warm up to Mia. She's not very likable. It's made very clear from the start that she is the one, so there's no element of surprise when they do end up together, even tho you wish they wouldn't. I also didn't mind the very up to date references of covid and blm. I did however find the jabs towards different races and inter-racial couples a bit of bad taste and unnecessary.
I watched the whole second season, but I do think Marcus decerved better. I was looking forword to a male-Darby stuggling to find his soulmate in the sea of desperate women. I was hoping for funny, yet interesting relationship stories and the fact that I could follow yet another characters growth through the series and them learning from their failed relationship attempts. I didn't quite get that. Marcus didn't seem to learn anything. Just jumped straight into the next mistake while waiting for the opportunity to return to the previous one.
Somewhat entertaining, though definitely below typical HBO caliber
gingerbread-0449428 May 2020
This series follows the chronological love life of a 20-something in NYC, played by Anna Kendrick, with each episode focusing on a different relationship.
It's entertaining enough, and luckily the episodes aren't too long (30 mins) but honestly it's nothing to write home about. It doesn't say anything particularly unique or thought-provoking about love, nor is it particularly funny.
Though I've liked Anna Kendrick in other productions, personally she doesn't do it for me here. For a show that's entirely centered on its main character, the main character is kinda bland and a little annoying.
Soooooo Bloooody Goooood
mickgmovies14 November 2021
I'm a bit of sucker for romantic tales - and decided to watch just one episode. Like all REALLY good shows - I was a gonner - and ended up binge watching both seasons over the next few days ... Season 1 with Darby, and then Season 2 with Marcus.
Both seasons are really really good. Both leads and supporting casts are really good.
It's really a perfect ying yang - and at the end of both seasons you'll be sitting there with a smile on your face. Perfectly content. And with a deeper knowing that we are all imperfect, all better for having others to share our lives with ... and that life is indeed something you have to work at.
Both seasons are really really good. Both leads and supporting casts are really good.
It's really a perfect ying yang - and at the end of both seasons you'll be sitting there with a smile on your face. Perfectly content. And with a deeper knowing that we are all imperfect, all better for having others to share our lives with ... and that life is indeed something you have to work at.
Review for season 2
gallagherkellie13 November 2021
Yogi was the best character and deserves his own spin off show!
The main character wasn't super likeable but I guess that was the point. Not everyone is perfect and we have all either been that guy or dated that guy. It was an easy watch, some funny moments. The sister was great.
The main character wasn't super likeable but I guess that was the point. Not everyone is perfect and we have all either been that guy or dated that guy. It was an easy watch, some funny moments. The sister was great.
Started well, went downhill, cliched ending
ameesha-green2 February 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I wouldn't normally watch a romantic drama TV show, but I'm a big Anna Kendrick fan so I gave it a go.
In some senses, I was very pleasantly surprised. The production is so well done that it feels like watching a film. The narrator makes it feel different to a standard romance and gives off "Pride and Prejudice" vibes. The dissection of past relationships idea is a solid concept and it works well to devote one episode to each of Darby's past relationships.
As Darby, Kendrick is funny as ever, and her facial expressions and sarcasm bring a rather flat script to life. Unfortunately, the writers dulled down the Kendrick effect by giving her a character who is inherently quite bland and has very little about her.
While the series starts really well, the more we see Darby through the lens of each relationship, the more we realise that she lacks an independent personality. I don't know whether this was poor writing or whether they were intentionally trying to make the point that Darby is always defined in terms of her relationships. I'm inclined to think the former based on the ending, which does nothing to subvert her lack of an independent personality. Either way, it didn't work and there is like to like about Darby.
She sails along on whatever life gives her, yet lands an incredible job without much effort. She has a difficult relationship with her mother, which isn't fully explained. She has issues that we don't really get. In short, we don't come to understand why Darby is the way she is, so the dissection trope is unrealised.
Now for the ending....
Disappointment #1: Of course, Darby can only experience "real love" when she has a baby, can only "find herself" by being a mother, can only repair her relationship with her own mother by becoming one. I wish the producers of these shows would think about the kind of message this sends to women, especially those who can't have or don't want children. Women's value is not defined in terms of motherhood, so please stop pushing this idea on us.
Disappointment #2: We get two episodes of Augie and two of awful Magnus, but we get hardly any of "the person" and learn almost nothing about him, so he fails to be a fully-formed character that we could believe Darby will spend the rest of her life with.
The ending, I guess, aims to subvert the notion that meeting the love of your life is all fireworks, but we are expected to believe that Darby meets her person while being rude to him, and that he keeps coming back despite her talking about nothing but herself and her baby and asking him one question about himself. Yes, romances are unrealistic, but we are given no reason to believe in their connection other than he thinks "it's cool that she's a mom". Again, the message is that Darby ceases to be her own person and is now defined in terms of her baby.
I really wanted the ending to be Darby taking control of her own life and learning to become an individual (like in Dakota Johnson's character in "How to Be Single"). Instead, we get the cliched, traditional ending where Darby does not become her own person but is instead defined in terms of her relationship with the three men in her life: her son, her son's father, and her person. Can't we offer anything new, anything more progressive or empowering than that?
In some senses, I was very pleasantly surprised. The production is so well done that it feels like watching a film. The narrator makes it feel different to a standard romance and gives off "Pride and Prejudice" vibes. The dissection of past relationships idea is a solid concept and it works well to devote one episode to each of Darby's past relationships.
As Darby, Kendrick is funny as ever, and her facial expressions and sarcasm bring a rather flat script to life. Unfortunately, the writers dulled down the Kendrick effect by giving her a character who is inherently quite bland and has very little about her.
While the series starts really well, the more we see Darby through the lens of each relationship, the more we realise that she lacks an independent personality. I don't know whether this was poor writing or whether they were intentionally trying to make the point that Darby is always defined in terms of her relationships. I'm inclined to think the former based on the ending, which does nothing to subvert her lack of an independent personality. Either way, it didn't work and there is like to like about Darby.
She sails along on whatever life gives her, yet lands an incredible job without much effort. She has a difficult relationship with her mother, which isn't fully explained. She has issues that we don't really get. In short, we don't come to understand why Darby is the way she is, so the dissection trope is unrealised.
Now for the ending....
Disappointment #1: Of course, Darby can only experience "real love" when she has a baby, can only "find herself" by being a mother, can only repair her relationship with her own mother by becoming one. I wish the producers of these shows would think about the kind of message this sends to women, especially those who can't have or don't want children. Women's value is not defined in terms of motherhood, so please stop pushing this idea on us.
Disappointment #2: We get two episodes of Augie and two of awful Magnus, but we get hardly any of "the person" and learn almost nothing about him, so he fails to be a fully-formed character that we could believe Darby will spend the rest of her life with.
The ending, I guess, aims to subvert the notion that meeting the love of your life is all fireworks, but we are expected to believe that Darby meets her person while being rude to him, and that he keeps coming back despite her talking about nothing but herself and her baby and asking him one question about himself. Yes, romances are unrealistic, but we are given no reason to believe in their connection other than he thinks "it's cool that she's a mom". Again, the message is that Darby ceases to be her own person and is now defined in terms of her baby.
I really wanted the ending to be Darby taking control of her own life and learning to become an individual (like in Dakota Johnson's character in "How to Be Single"). Instead, we get the cliched, traditional ending where Darby does not become her own person but is instead defined in terms of her relationship with the three men in her life: her son, her son's father, and her person. Can't we offer anything new, anything more progressive or empowering than that?
Amazing show
evrivali10 June 2020
I am not much of a TV series person, I usually prefer movies but I decided to give this one a shot since Anna Kendrick is one of my favourite actresses out there. I saw the first episode and I thought it was okay, nothing particularly exciting, just a chill rom com but right now I am absolutely hooked. After watching every episode so far I can confidently say that this is a great TV show with great acting and plot. I am not biased, when an actor/actress I love does a bad job I'll be the first to acknowledge it so believe me when I say that Anna Kendrick shines with a hilarious yet partially heart breaking performance and she's a reason alone to watch this. The script is also very interesting with many ups and downs (emotionally speaking) and I am thrilled every time an episode comes out. If you are looking for something relaxing and entertaining to watch this show is for you. If you want something more exciting then you might not be particularly thrilled about this but I think it's still worth watching. Definitely recommended.
Updated for the 2020 perspective
acres-0439313 June 2020
Warning: Spoilers
While I do wish I had more time to connect with the main character and learn what she was all about, I thought this story was particularly personable if you have ever felt like you didn't know what you wanted or needed in a relationship. Kendricks character is basically navigating relationship through different phases of her life... It's very realistic and we have all been there, some heartbreaks, others are cringeworthy, traumatic, funny, and not just romantically either. She touched upon relationships with friends and family in a very relatable way. Her character grew so that by the end of the season, she finally became a more whole person who was happy with herself.
I do think the idea that a woman needs to have a child in order to be fulfilled in life is still a bit antiquated, but her personal journey was enjoyable and relatable. I would be interested to see if this show would make each season about different women or men going through their love lives in their early adult lives and beyond. It would be able to open up the opportunity to see different perspectives from around the world and show us what different types of love look like.
I do think the idea that a woman needs to have a child in order to be fulfilled in life is still a bit antiquated, but her personal journey was enjoyable and relatable. I would be interested to see if this show would make each season about different women or men going through their love lives in their early adult lives and beyond. It would be able to open up the opportunity to see different perspectives from around the world and show us what different types of love look like.
Anna Kendrick !
cekadah7 June 2020
At her best ... a role she is perfectly suited for her style of acting and persona.
The series shows one woman's experience in the dating world and how she handles the societal demands of 'finding a mate'. It's a bumpy ride for the majority of society and this show covers those bumps and makes it entertaining.
This is great escapist viewing for today's world in June of 2020.
The series shows one woman's experience in the dating world and how she handles the societal demands of 'finding a mate'. It's a bumpy ride for the majority of society and this show covers those bumps and makes it entertaining.
This is great escapist viewing for today's world in June of 2020.
Not bad but went downhill
gallagherkellie2 July 2020
Warning: Spoilers
The first few episodes reeled me in. I could relate being a single girl living in the city. I thought it would be a funny or quirky different guy story each episode but it changed halfway through and became more dramatic.
It also became a bit less relatable in that her career was just falling into place and she would meet men so easily - I mean seriously a tall dark handsome man is all into her right after she's had a baby, has leaking boobs and was kinda rude to him at first?
But all in all it was entertaining and easy to watch.
Mid-twenties divorcee
courtneymdaron11 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
It's very rare to find representation in television for divorced twenty somethings. I am pretty blown away that I saw the best representation of my first marriage in her relationship with Magnus and the subsequent adventure of getting back out there after an arguably embarrassing endeavor like that. The show is definitely not the greatest piece of work I've ever seen but it helped me feel like I'm not completely alone in that aspect so overall it's a win. It brings out all the feels.
Glitzy Hollywood twenty something lonelines
krisztinaobrien25 October 2020
The concept of this series is not bad, modern coming of age Experiences here, in lack of films like Breakfast Cub or St Elmo we shall welcome adulthood exploration. But why its happening in a tribeca NYC apartment, AK wearing Designer clothes she could never afford? And meeting incredible unfit/ugly and old men to make this tale real? Giving it a grit this way is a joke. This adaptation of twentysomething loneliness wont get real with a narrator, trying to give depth to shallowness. Sara is the only believable character.
Realistic
Billy D.-224 November 2021
This show has some of the best writing ever. It tells a real story of people who are actually in a relationship. It hit all the highs and lows of people in love and those trying to find love. Marcus is a male Issa Rae who is drowning in a sea of awkwardness. His mouth is a perfect home for is foot 9 out of 10 times. Overall, you do want him to succeed. Darby is a basic Carrie Bradshaw who you feel for. You know someone in your life who is her if it is not you. This is one of the best blueprints for what to do and not to do in a relationship. I truly like these characters and their journey.
Not great, not terrible.
zekmoe-0411020 June 2020
Sort of a mix of Girls and Sex in the City, with a niceness umbrella thrown over it. Overtly diverse but in a heavy handed way. You couldn't find a more un Friends like group if you tried.
Sometimes you felt like it was real and reflective, others manipulative and a fantasy of a real world. Short so not a waste and so,e good moments, just don't expect to feel like Anna K is worth empathy in most cases. She seems a bit promiscuous and cold and using than someone worthy of a really relationship.
Good show
jill_wooden16 November 2021
I absolutely loved the first season! The second season is good too it was just dirtier from a guys perspective I guess - so wasn't the cute lovey show from season 1 that I expected. Still good just not as good as first season since that's not my typical type of show (cheating and threesome's etc).
It grew in me
nancyldraper9 October 2021
This is an American version of a UK dramedy. It took me the whole of the first season to decide whether I liked this or not. I decided I did, almost solely on the discovery that Anna Kendrick has some serious dramatic chops. (I'd only seen her in acerbic comedic roles until now.). The writing is rather brutal, unflattering and crass but every once in a while it hits a profound note (but not nearly often enough). I give this first season a 7 (good) out of 10. {Slice of Life Drama}
Disappointing
shy61920 January 2021
Such a great concept but so poorly executed. None of the characters are relatable or even likable for that matter. I actually grew to dislike Darby more as the show progressed. Darby has no substance and no likable qualities. The show could have been great but it lacked romance, chemistry, depth, humor. I get that they wanted to tell us a story about how the wrong ones lead to the right ones but all of the "relationships" were extremely shallow and did not feel genuine. In reality, the wrong love can still be intense, passionate, electric, and can still feel right. Love Life just completely missed the mark for me.
Great series, but...where is the darn cat?
ggarcao12 June 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This series was better than I expected, with a luminous and very talented Anna Kendrick and a very good supporting cast, and the last three episodes were especially strong, but my one nag is (perhaps) futile, but it nevertheless struck me as some kind of script laziness: where is Wolfgang? The cat that Augie finds in the subway, in episode nine that he brings home?
Maybe it struck me as odd, because I'm a cat lover, but he's never mentioned again the the series. Did he died? He's he with Augie? Did they gave him away? Did they throw him out in the rain, like Audrey Hapburn does to Cat, in Breakfast at Tiffany's? Was he a methapor for Darby willingness to finally take charge of her life and responsability for another human being? Did the scripwriters simply forgot about him?
Well, maybe I have too much time in my hands, but anyone who had (and loved her/his) pets know the're not simply plot devices.
Anyway, great show, congratulations, and I really hope Wolfgang is doing ok in the mean streets of New York City.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
