The first season of the hit HBO comedy I Love LA finishes with its eighth episode. Titled I Love NY, the finale shifts the action from Los Angeles to New York City for a high-stakes fashion event that pushes friendships and careers to the limit. This final episode airs on Sunday, December 21, 2025.
The show, created by and starring Rachel Sennott, has become a standout success for HBO. It consistently ranks in the Top 5 most-watched shows on the platform in the United States and several other countries. The story follows Sennott’s character, Maia Simsbury, an aspiring talent manager whose life unravels when her old friend, influencer Tallulah (Odessa A’zion), comes back into her life.
I Love LA Episode 8 Finale Release Date and Time
The Season 1 finale of I Love LA is scheduled for Sunday, December 21, 2025. The episode will air on the HBO cable channel at 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) and 7:30 p.m. Pacific Time (PT).
For viewers who stream the show, Episode 8 will be available on HBO Max at the same time it airs on the linear channel. This simultaneous release means you can watch it live with a cable login or start streaming it on Max the moment it begins.
- United States: HBO and HBO Max at 10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT.
- Canada: Available for streaming on Crave.
- Australia: Available on Binge or Foxtel.
- India: Available on JioHostar.
This episode concludes an eight-week run that began on November 2, 2025. New episodes have aired every Sunday.
What Happened in Episode 7: Setting the Stage for the Finale
The penultimate episode, Divas Down, left the main characters in crisis, directly setting up the events in New York.
Maia’s professional and personal life fell apart. In an effort to secure a major audition for her client Tallulah, Maia confronted her boss, Alyssa (Leighton Meester). This bold move backfired, resulting in Maia getting fired from her job at the talent management company. Her relationship with her boyfriend, Dylan (Josh Hutcherson), also ended. Dylan told Maia he felt she could not support him emotionally, leading to their breakup.
Tallulah, despite Maia’s sacrifice, was left dealing with the fallout of a embarrassing commercial she filmed. This professional humiliation caused a major disagreement with Maia, severely straining their already fragile friendship.
The episode provided some lighter moments through characters Charlie (Jordan Firstman) and Alani (True Whitaker), but the overall tone was one of collapse and uncertainty for the central duo.
What to Expect in the Finale: I Love NY
Episode 8, officially titled I Love NY, transports Maia, Tallulah, and Alani from Los Angeles to New York City. The official description from HBO states: “The girls return to New York for an exclusive fashion event, and Maia tries to enjoy herself while Tallulah contends with some questionable styling decisions. Alani plans a surprise for her parents’ anniversary. Back in LA, Charlie checks on Dylan.”
The change of location is a major thematic shift. Promotional material shows the characters arriving in New York visibly anxious and drinking heavily, suggesting the trip will amplify their existing tensions rather than provide an escape.
A key figure from Maia’s past, her former New York boss named Ben, reappears. He flirts with Maia and offers her a new job opportunity with his company, presenting a potential lifeline for her now-unemployed character. This plotline introduces a new layer of complication, especially regarding her recent breakup with Dylan.
Meanwhile, the storyline circles back to Dylan in Los Angeles. A scene in the promo shows Charlie checking on him, with Dylan admitting he is confused about his own feelings. This moment suggests the finale will focus on emotional honesty and resolving the characters’ uncertainties.
Rachel Sennott described the show as “Entourage for internet It girls.” She told ELLE magazine, “I’ve yet to see the internet captured as the business that it is. I wanted it to exist in the show in the way it does in real life.”
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About the Show and Its Success
I Love LA is the creation of Rachel Sennott, who serves as the star, creator, writer, and an executive producer. For the Season 1 finale, she also stepped into the role of director for the first time.
The series has been a breakout hit for HBO Max. It quickly earned a second season renewal in November 2025 due to strong viewership and critical praise. The show holds an 85% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes and averages nearly two million cross-platform viewers per episode in the U.S.
Internationally, its appeal is broad, consistently ranking in the Top 10 most-watched shows on HBO Max in dozens of countries across Europe, Asia, and Australia.
The main cast includes:
- Rachel Sennott as Maia Simsbury
- Odessa A’zion as Tallulah Stiel
- True Whitaker as Alani Marcus
- Jordan Firstman as Charlie Cohen
- Josh Hutcherson as Dylan
- Leighton Meester as Alyssa
The show has also featured notable guest stars like Ayo Edebiri, Elijah Wood, and Ben Feldman.
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