Created by Sam Boyd and executive produced by director-writer Paul Feig (A Simple Favor, Bridesmaids), the 2020 rom-com series Love Life is now streaming on Netflix. Season 1, starring Anna Kendrick (A Simple Favor) sets up what to expect from the series: a single person in their 20s or 30s navigating New York City dating, and an exploration of how the different people we get involved with can shape our lives until we meet the one. 

The show also serves as a time capsule of both NYC and life prepandemic — the first season begins in the early 2010s, an era when Fetty Wap played at bars, Serial was the podcast of the moment, and the musical Hamilton had a chokehold on the theater world. Season 2 takes place a few years later and follows Marcus, played by The Good Place’s William Jackson Harper. Scroll down for a deep dive everything you need to know about the series. 

What’s the TL;DR of Love Life? 

• The show premiered on HBO Max, but was canceled after two seasons.
• It’s about dating life in New York City, and it’s a romantic comedy.
• Both seasons of the series are now streaming on Netflix.
• Anna Kendrick stars in Season 1, and William Jackson Harper in Season 2.
• Actors from Succession, Shrinking, and Saturday Night Life play supporting roles.
• The show features a ton of cameos — like The White Lotus’s Leslie Bibb.
• Love Life debuted in 2020, but it’s set in 2010s NYC. 

Where can I watch Love Life?

Stream Seasons 1 and 2 on Netflix now.

What happens in Love Life Season 1?

Darby (Kendrick) is trying to figure out both her place in both the New York City art scene and its chaotic dating world. After an initial whirlwind relationship with Augie (Jin Ha) that leaves her reeling, we follow Darby from 2012 to 2019, throughout her evolving career and the many ups and downs of her romantic prospects — from casual flings to boyfriends that change the trajectory of her life. Darby and her friends come of age as they deal with infidelity, sobriety, friendship, and the many hallmarks of young adulthood.

What happens in Love Life Season 2?

It’s 2016, and Marcus (Harper) is a book editor in NYC whose been married to restaurant worker Emily (Maya Kazan) since they were both much younger. But after befriending Darby’s co-worker Mia (Jessica Williams) at a wedding, the two get flirty — fast. Soon, Emily finds texts on Marcus’s phone that detonate his marriage. Meanwhile at work, Marcus faces microaggressions while trying to bring diversity to his publisher’s slate of titles. As he begins to date in earnest, he goes through random flings and friends with benefits, then starts to get serious with an accomplished playwright. Always in the background, however, is his will they, won’t they relationship with Mia.

Who is in the cast of Love Life Season 1?

• Anna Kendrick (Pitch Perfect) as Darby, a single twentysomething
• Zoë Chao (Nightbitch) as Sara, Darby’s best friend and roommate
• Peter Vack (Someone Great) as Jim, Sara’s longtime boyfriend
• Sasha Compère (Single Drunk Female) as Mallory, Darby’s friend and other roommate
• Jin Ha (Only Murders in the Building) as Augie, Darby’s on and off boyfriend
• Hope Davis (Succession) as Claudia, Darby’s mother
• James Le Gros (Point Break) as Larry, Darby’s father

Who’s in the cast of Love Life Season 2?

• William Jackson Harper (Midsommar) as Marcus, who’s facing life after his marriage blows up
• Jessica Williams (The Incredible Jessica James) as Mia, who Marcus meets at a wedding
• Maya Kazan (The Knick) as Emily, Marcus’s ex-wife
• Punkie Johnson (Saturday Night Live) as Ida, Marcus’s sister
• Christopher “Comedian CP” Powell (Detroiters) as Yogi, Marcus’s friend
• Arian Moayed (Succession) as Kian, Marcus’s friend
• Janet Hubert (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) as Donna, Marcus and Ida’s mother
• John Earl Jelks (True Detective) as Kirby, Marcus and Ida’s father

Who makes cameos in Love Life Seasons 1 and 2?

• Scoot McNairy (Blonde)
• Nick Thune (Knocked Up)
• Kingsley Ben-Adir (The OA)
• John Gallagher Jr (10 Cloverfield Lane)
• Amar'e Stoudemire (Trainwreck)
• Leslie Bibb (The White Lotus)
• Ego Nwodim (Saturday Night Live)
• Kimberly Elise (Set It Off)
• Blair Underwood (Sex and the City)

Where does Love Life take place?

Love Life’s two seasons take place in New York City, and feature NYC spots like Veselka, The Whitney, The Museum of Modern Art, The Strand, and more. 

Is there a Season 3 of Love Life? 

First appearing on HBO Max, the series was canceled after two seasons in 2022. Boyd recently tweeted about Love Life being available on Netflix: “When I was growing up, many of my favorite shows were ones that had been canceled after a season or two, and I cherished their DVD box sets. So I’m happy to now confirm what I guess is the modern equivalent.”

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