Netflix just got one of the best HBO shows you (probably) skipped — and you've got 2 seasons to binge-watch now
It's a fizzy HBO Max show that follows a protagonist (Anna Kendrick in season 1, William Jackson Harper in season 2) from their first proper romantic relationship, until their final, the one that lasts forever.
So, it's a show about the trials and tribulations of modern dating. Hardly groundbreaking stuff. And yet, it's elevated beyond its basic premise by sheer charm.
The show premiered in 2020, season 2 dropped a year later, and 12 months after that, it wasn't just unceremoniously canceled, but also outright removed from HBO Max's library. Since then, "Love Life" has bounced around lower-profile platforms like Plex, but now, it's found itself a new streaming partner in Netflix, as both seasons arrive on the service today (August 5).
This is particularly good news for viewers in need of a mood-boosting show, but also one with plenty of relatability. Anybody who was, or still is, unlucky in love will deeply resonate with the 20-episode anthology series, as several scenes may mirror your own personal experiences.
Want to know more about 'Love Life' before you put on a ring on it and add it to your Netflix watchlist? Here's the full scoop on this easy-watching series, and why it ranks as one of my favourite romantic-comedy shows of the past decade.
The basic premise of 'Love Life' is pretty straightforward: Each season follows a different main character, and covers their entire dating life, from awkward one-night stands to initially perfect relationships that fall apart after the honeymoon phase comes to a swift end.
It's all in an effort to explore how each relationship changes a person, and how the scars (and a few fond memories) shape them into the person they need to be to meet 'the one.' By the end of the season, the lead character has developed and settled into themselves.
The first season of 'Love Life' follows Darby Carter (Anna Kendrick), a millennial New Yorker, who attempts to find herself in the Big Apple while also juggling several relationships, from saying goodbye to 'the one that got away' to some very questionable dating decisions.
Meanwhile, season 2 subs in Marcus Watkins (William Jackson Harper), as we follow him from being stuck in a rocky marriage to becoming smitten with Mia (Jessica Williams), and also making a few questionable calls.
'Love Life's' biggest strength is simply that it's an extremely polished product. What it lacks in originality, it makes up for in emotionally smart writing, strong performances (particularly from Kendrick and Jackson Harper), and a slick style that fits its focus on modern dating.
I particularly enjoyed the insight into Darby's childhood in season 1. One of the later episodes is dedicated to an extended flashback, and it's interesting (and perhaps a little too relatable) how Darby's childhood traumas have influenced the flawed adults she's become.
Flip to season 2, and the show focuses more on a will-they-won't relationship between Marcus and Mia. This gives the season a stronger through line than found in its freshman outing, and it helps that Mia is never villainized.
If anything, Marcus is portrayed as the unreasonable one when he accuses her of stringing him along and not committing to him.
If you're looking for a comfort show, 'Love Life' definitely fits the bill. It's not all sunny, and it's not afraid to look at the difficult (and uncomfortable) parts of trying to find a soulmate, but its tone is light enough that you can turn to it when you need something warm and cozy.
'Love Life' was generally well received by critics, but there's a clear preference for season 2. On Rotten Tomatoes, Season 1 holds a respectable 63% score, but season 2 jumps up to an impressive 95%.
Curiously, the viewers' score flips this ranking. On RT's viewers' score scale, season 1 has 83%, while season 2 has a lower 66%. Perhaps some audience members felt the novelness of the core idea was wearing off by the second installment.
Calling a show 'perfectly pleasant' might seem like fairly mild praise, at best, but when it comes to a series like 'Love Life,' that was clearly the aim. This HBO series didn't have grand ambition; instead, it's a romance story framed around likeable and authentic characters. And it completely succeeds at this relatively modest aim. That's a good thing.
It's highly unlikely we'll ever get a 'Love Life' season 3. Even if the series becomes a monster hit now that it's arrived on Netflix, I suspect a revival off the table. But even if that's the case, I'm content to settle down with the two seasons we got and rewatch them now that they're on Netflix.
'Love Life' is far from the only new addition to the Netflix library this month. Check out our complete guide to everything new on Netflix in August 2025 for even more viewing options.
Watch "Love Life" season 1-2 on Netflix now
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