Skip to content
MovieCove

The L.A. Complex

Get L.A.'d.

2012Ended2 seasons19 episodes~60 min/epTV-14Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

Six young performers having been dubbed “most likely to succeed” in their hometowns now face the challenges and opportunities of a lifetime in the City of Angels.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch The L.A. Complex?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists The L.A. Complex streaming on Prime Video and Tubi (free) and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

Subscription

FreeFree

Rent / Buy

BuyBuy

Highlights

What stands out about The L.A. Complex?

The L.A. Complex earns 3 badges, led by Crowd Pleaser and Preferred by Men.

Reception

Is The L.A. Complex worth watching?

The L.A. Complex's Midcredits score is the 52nd percentile of all shows, from 3K ratings across 2 sources. 79% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

52nd percentile

Better received than 52% of shows

47th percentile among Drama50th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)33rd
Approval (how many liked it)70th

Acclaim

Crowd Pleaser: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

67 /100

33rd percentile of all shows

30th percentile among Drama32nd percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

Big peaks at both ends — people either love this or bounce off it hard.

Approval

How many liked it

79% liked it

70th percentile of all shows

66th percentile among Drama68th percentile among 2010s
79% rated it 7–1021% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

70th percentile

3K ratings across platforms

63rd percentile among Drama72nd percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 20% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

The show is a melodramatic, soapy drama about 20-somethings trying to make it in LA, with a focus on the industry's gritty underbelly.

Fans praised

  • realistic depiction of struggling Hollywood dreamers
  • surprisingly relatable and well-developed characters
  • bold, non-stereotypical storylines (closeted gay rapper, porn industry, incest)

Detractors panned

  • unlikable characters with no joy in their pursuits
  • predictable, cliché-ridden storylines
  • bad acting across the cast

What stands out

OriginalityDivisive65

fans see fresh approach to familiar premise; detractors call derivative

Emotional impactDivisive65

fans deeply invested; detractors feel nothing

Pacing65

fans praise tight rhythm and addictive momentum

Atmosphere65

fans appreciate gritty, realistic Hollywood vibe

CharactersDivisive60

fans love realistic depth and arcs; detractors find them unlikable and soulless

Dialogue55

not heavily discussed; fans note witty and natural flow

ActingDivisive50

polarizing: fans cite Jewel Staite and Cassie Steele as strong, detractors say uniformly bad

Plot and storyDivisive45

fans praise bold storylines; detractors call predictable and cheap

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Men

Men scored it 13 points higher than women.

US vs non-US

Preferred by US Viewers

US viewers scored it 11 points higher than non-US viewers.

Episodes

2 seasons

Season 2 · 2012 · 13 episodes

  • S2E1
    S2E1

    Vacancy

    Jul 17, 201243 min
  • S2E2
    S2E2

    The Contract

    Jul 24, 201243 min
  • S2E3
    S2E3

    Choose Your Battles

    Jul 31, 201243 min
  • S2E4
    S2E4

    Be A Man

    Aug 7, 201243 min
  • S2E5
    S2E5

    Taking The Day

    Aug 14, 201242 min
  • S2E6
    S2E6

    Rules of Thirds

    Aug 21, 201243 min

Watch experience

What is The L.A. Complex like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, serious and charged — a slow-burn watch that leaves you hopeful.

How it leaves you

  • Hopeful
  • Wistful

Style

  • Warm
  • Melodramatic: Heightened emotion, played large.

Feelings

  • Contemplative
  • Hopeful
  • Melancholic

What it asks of you

  • Slow burn
  • Engaged
  • Affecting
  • Resolved

Themes

  • Ambition
  • Identity
  • Displacement

Setting

  • Contemporary
  • Realistic
  • Urban
  • Domestic

Story

  • No archetype
exact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Heaviest: middleWry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Told as
Multiple perspectives · 2% of shows: The same events retold from different characters' points of view.Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.SerializedNew arc each season
ToneThe show takes its characters' struggles seriously while maintaining an affectionate, often light-hearted tone.
The rideThe series sustains a reflective, mid-tempo emotional palette as characters navigate setbacks and small victories in their careers and relationships.
StructureThe show weaves together the intersecting stories of several residents, often shifting focus between characters.
Episode formatThe series tells one continuous story across its 19 episodes, with each episode advancing the personal arcs of the ensemble.
Season formatThough the same core cast continues, each season appears to focus on a distinct phase in the characters' Hollywood journeys.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Why it leaves you this wayThe series leaves you rooting for the characters as they navigate the uncertain pursuit of their dreams, with a sense of bittersweet longing.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40% (this title)

No archetype fits — true of 40% of shows: ensemble pieces, satire, slice-of-life.

Why this archetypeThe series follows an ensemble of aspiring performers in a Los Angeles motel; it is a character-driven drama without a single story arc fitting a classic plot archetype.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27% (this title): Identity 20% (this title) · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% (this title) · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10% (this title): Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% (this title) · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Self

Ambition · 14% of showsIdentityDisplacement · 1% of shows
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe series explores the pursuit of Hollywood dreams, the personal cost of that ambition, and how characters redefine themselves far from home.
StanceThe series questions the cost and toll of artistic ambition without celebrating or condemning it, staying close to each character's personal experience.

The world

PopOrchestral modernSupportive music · hybrid
SettingHighland Gardens, an apartment motel in Los Angeles housing Canadian aspiring actors

Content guide

Is The L.A. Complex okay for kids?

TV-14

The L.A. Complex is rated TV-14. As of August 29, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at moderate (53/100), sexual content at moderate (56/100), language at moderate (50/100), drug and alcohol content at intense (73/100) and frightening material at moderate (50/100). None has enough votes to rank yet.

Overall
Moderate · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Moderate
too few votes to rank (5 votes)
Sex & Nudity
Moderate
too few votes to rank (6 votes)
Profanity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
too few votes to rank (4 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
too few votes to rank (5 votes)
Frightening / Intense
Moderate
too few votes to rank (4 votes)

Too few votes to rank this title overall (24 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does The L.A. Complex have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in The L.A. Complex?

Cast

Jonathan Patrick Moore
as Connor Lake
Joe Dinicol
as Nick Wagner
Cassie Steele
as Abby Vargas
Jewel Staite
as Raquel Westbrook
Andra Fuller
as Kaldrick King
Kristopher Turner
as Cam
Jordan Johnson-Hinds
as Kevin
Ennis Esmer
as Eddie Demir
Georgina Reilly
as Sabrina Taylor-Reynolds
Dayle McLeod
as Beth Pirelli

More like this

What are shows like The L.A. Complex?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like The L.A. Complex include Melrose Place (2009), Good Trouble (2019) and Suits LA (2025).

Like this, but

Explore by

What other shows share a tag with The L.A. Complex?

1K other shows share the rarest tag below, follows: artist. Each tag opens Browse with the shows that share it.