Sometimes you need to go back home to remember why you left, right? That's my generous explanation as to why the finale of Rachel Sennott's new series I Love LA takes place in NYC. It's definitely not that the East Coast is better and nobody should ever leave it or anything... who said that? It is, ultimately, the vibe we get from that final moment.
The beginning of the episode Maia, Tallulah (Odessa A'zion), and Alani find themselves back New York for a little bit of work and a little bit of play. Tallulah has been invited to participate in a dinner event with models as an influencer. Tensions are high, but not between the three girls. Maia's boyfriend Dylan (Josh Hutcherson) left at the end of the previous episode, saying that he needed a break from their relationship. She also lost her job in the previous episode. So the chip on her shoulder to really kill it work-wise as an independent agent and make the most of her trip as a single woman is that much bigger.
Who TF was in Alani's parents' apartment?
Alani goes to surprise her parents at their New York apartment and discovers a woman in the shower who claims to be her father's mistress. Scandal! Or is it? After coming to terms with that bombshell of a realization, she learns the hard way that the woman is actually her father's stalker. There really hasn't ever been anyone like Alani on television, has there?
Are Maia and Dylan going to break up?
One of my favorite parts of the finale is the heart-to-heart that Charlie, Jordan Firstman's character, and Dylan have about Maia and communication in relationships. When Charlie arrives to check in on Maia's request, Dylan is spiraling about the seven-day break that he suggested. Charlie makes it his mission to get Dylan to figure out what has actually upset him. Dylan makes him watch a Ken Burns documentary. Bonding! Yay!
However, the next morning Dylan overhears Maia freaking out to Charlie about work over the phone and feels affirmed in his belief that she doesn't have room for him in her life. So he leaves again. When Charlie gets to New York, he lies to Maia by omission to protect her.
Neither Dylan nor Maia want to break up at the beginning of the episode. Both of them hook up with other people during their short break. But while Maia's dalliance just affirmed what she doesn't want, his head has been turned. All it took was the girl he slept with asking if he wanted to hang out later. That taste of what he's been missing could be enough to end his relationship, as interesting and challenging (compliment) as Maia may be.
Does Maia take a new job or stay solo?
Tallulah is not having a good time. Multiple men do their best to belittle her and put her in her place. She feels a lot of pressure to make money for Maia and urges her to take a new job. But when Ben offers Maia a role at her company, he makes it very clear that he's going to be an abusive boss. Like, abundantly clear. It would mean she'd be expected to carry on an affair with him, even though he's married and she has a live-in boyfriend. He's just a misogynist version of her old boss. So Maia turns him down, and relies on Charlie and her own wits to get Tallulah dressed and to the dinner.
Because of the stalker who stabbed Alani's dad, there's a traffic jam preventing the models from getting to the dinner. Only in New York, right? Right... and because Maia is a New Yorker and doesn't rely on a car like those losers in the town this show is normally set in, she takes Tallulah on the subway. There's a lot of uncertainty in their future and plenty of potential for disaster, but their friendship has truly healed.
