I Love LA: Season 1 Episode 4 – Recap and Review

Tallulah comes to learn more about the business side of being an influencer, while Alani and Maia think they may have their first threesome.

ByAmari Allah Hours Posted on Hours Updated on

Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.

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Episode 4 “Upstairses” Recap and Details

Networking Means, Don’t Be An Ass: Lukas, Charlie, Quenlin, Maia, Tallulah, Alani

Alani, Tallulah, Charlie, and Maia end up at a party at Elijah Wood’s house and split up within minutes of getting there. Quenlin, the host, ends up taking Tallulah away from Maia’s watchful eye, Alani and Maia explore the house, and Charlie? Well, he talks to this sweet kid, named Lukas, who looks like he is fresh meat.

But, upon learning that Lukas isn’t gay and is very much Catholic, Charlie’s interest initially disintegrates, and he has to hold back from outright verbalizing how annoyed he is. However, then he realizes Lukas has 4 million followers on TikTok, tens of millions of likes on videos, is a popular musician, and has a Vegas residency coming up that could use a stylist.

With that, Charlie switches up and is ready to do or say what it takes to land a gig.

A Wood: Alani, Elijah, Maia

When Alani and Maia were attending NYU, they took an acting class where Elijah Wood did a Q&A. Since then, maybe before, Alani has had a huge crush on Elijah, so with knowing Quenlin is hosting a party at Elijah’s house, she leads an exploration of the forbidden rooms. This leads them to meeting Elijah, who is notably eccentric.

Mind you, at first, they roll with the punches, treating it like how someone would act meeting the childlike persona of Michael Jackson. However, throughout their interaction, they are sitting on the floor, and he notes they need to put on a robe to sit in the bed – as there are no other chairs in the room. Alani and Maia take this as him wanting a threesome, and after Maia gets conditional permission from Dylan, they strip down to their underwear to Elijah’s horror.

You see, Elijah just wants to make friends but is socially awkward. So, despite how many times people have wandered upstairs, he hopes they can be friends, but they get his germaphobia twisted with wanting to hook up, and it infuriates him. Not to the point of yelling at Quen, who assumingly is his platonic friend, but certainly him stewing in his room as Maia and Alani sneak out.

Why Be The Best When There Is A Nice Middle Ground?: Quenlin, Naomi, Tallulah, Maia

Tallulah and Quenlin have been DM’ing back and forth, and after she is able to get Tallulah away from Maia, they talk. At first, it seems Queenlin wants to plant the seed that maybe Tallulah doesn’t need Maia, just a good employee like Naomi. But then Quenlin starts putting Tallulah to game regarding trends, creating the perfect video, engagement farming, and it all makes Tallulah see the business side of the influencer lifestyle.

Now, don’t get it twisted, Tallulah likes money and free things, like her Balenciaga bag. However, it doesn’t seem she takes this job, potentially a career, seriously enough. So when Quenlin quickly drops her when she learns Lukas is in the house, it makes Tallulah so thankful to Maia for not only being her manager, but her best friend.

New Characters in Episode 4

Quenlin Blackwell

Quenlin Blackwell – I Love LA Season 1 Episode 4 – HBO Max
  • Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
  • Character Summary: Quenlin Blackwell is a massively popular influencer who took an interest in Tallulah, especially after her takedown of Paulena.

Elijah Wood

Elijah Wood – I Love LA Season 1 Episode 4 – HBO Max
  • Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
  • Character Summary: A legendary, but reclusive, actor, known for both his roles as an adult and child equally, who would like to make a genuine friend.

Lukas Landry (Froy Gutierrez)

Lukas Landry (Froy Gutierrez) – I Love LA Season 1 Episode 4 – HBO Max
  • Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
  • Character Summary: An up-and-coming Christian, by way of Catholicism, pop star, who often reads as gay to people since he is so upbeat and friendly – especially compared to many in Los Angeles.

Naomi (Caitlin Reilly)

Naomi (Caitlin Reilly) – I Love LA Season 1 Episode 4 – HBO Max
  • Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
  • Character Summary: Naomi is Quenlin’s assistant who is almost always running around like a squirrel who heard an acorn fall.

Review and Commentary

Highlights

A Balance Between Madness And Something Serious [82/100]

This episode felt more in line with what I was hoping for. Weird hijinks featuring random actors and influencers, balanced with the challenges people face in terms of networking, underestimating people’s values, and misreading situations. On top of that, I loved that Tallulah, as much as she wants to make money, seeing what Quenlin does to be as big as she is, it seems she doesn’t have the same hunger.

Establishing that Tallulah doesn’t want to be the best, just as much as Charlie just wants a steady paycheck, felt like a wonderful way to push that this is a different generation. No one is trying to be the biggest, most powerful, or an icon, just make a living, have fun, and not hate going to work.

Overall

Our Overall Rating [82/100]

With being renewed for a second season since episode 3, there is hope that I Love LA could be more in line with this. Yes, a comedy with hijinks and madness, but an underlying realness of what it takes to survive, examples of how people are thriving, and seeing each character make their own way because of or despite the opportunities in front of them.

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Amari is the founder and head writer of Wherever-I-Look.com and has been reviewing media since 2010. He approaches each production with hope, rooting for every story to succeed, and believes criticism should come from unmet potential, while praise is reserved for work that meets or exceeds expectations.