Stan unveils Love Life this week, but is it something to invest your heart in?
Love Life is an anthology romantic comedy series which explores the journey from first love to last love, and how the people we’re with along the way make us into who we are when we finally end up with someone forever.
The first series focuses on Darby Carter (Anna Kendrick), a 20-something looking for Mr. Right. In the first three episodes watched for this review, we follow Darby as she navigates life in New York. Darby’s experiences with love have been more fleeting until she meets Augie Jeong (Jin Ha) and Darby’s view on the world of love is changed forever.
Adding to Darby’s world is her work as a historically significant butts tour guide, a moderate success for her engaged boss Bradley (Scott McNairy). Her close friends include Sara (Zoë Chao), a sweet individual with occasional bad judgment, who’s in a long-term relationship with the easy-going Jim (Peter Vack). It’s this type of relationship that Darby is looking for, but it may not be as rosy as it appears. Rounding out this core friendship group is Mallory (Sasha Compere), Darby’s outspoken roommate who uses her dry sense of humour and bluntness to tell Darby the hard truths she sometimes needs to hear.
Creator Sam Boyd serves up an engrossing pilot that sets the stage for what should be a delightful journey. Casting Kendrick was a refreshing move that makes the show an easy watch as we are drawn into Darby’s world. Hopefully those around Darby develop as we progress, but everyone gives a decent performance.
Love Life will use subsequent episodes to explore the men in Darby’s dating life, so each episode is a mini snapshot in a much bigger narrative.
4 Stars
The first three episodes of Love Life premieres May 27, with new episodes weekly on Stan.
