Despite recent turmoil and natural disasters, Los Angeles is having a moment on screen. Through three new Netflix productions — Nobody Wants This, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, and Forever — the city is portrayed with vibrant authenticity and emotional depth, offering viewers a renewed perspective of LA beyond its clichés.
In recent months, Los Angeles has endured significant challenges — from devastating wildfires to civil unrest. Yet, Netflix’s creative teams chose to showcase the city not as a backdrop, but as a central character in its storytelling.
A Rom-Com Rooted in East LA
Nobody Wants This, a romantic comedy starring Kristen Bell and Adam Brody, is set in east LA neighborhoods such as Hollywood, Los Feliz, Silverlake, and Eagle Rock. Production designer Claire Bennett and editor Maura Corey emphasized the importance of shooting on location. Corey explained that the team deliberately avoided overused visuals like the Hollywood sign and instead captured everyday moments — buses, restaurants, and residential streets — to ground the series in lived reality.
“We wanted LA to feel like a character,” Corey shared. “Shooting in real homes and venues gave actors a tangible connection to the setting.”
To enhance the atmosphere, the team used off-speed footage and jump cuts in interstitial scenes, evoking a dreamlike quality that reflects the emotions of the characters.
Forever: A Sonic Tribute to LA’s Cultural Pulse
Set in 2018, Forever brings Judy Blume’s novel to life in Baldwin Hills and Beverly Hills under the creative direction of Mara Brock Akil. Music supervisor Kier Lehman curated a soundtrack featuring iconic LA artists including Tyler, The Creator, SZA, Nipsey Hussle, Victoria Monét, and Frank Ocean.
Lehman explained the intent behind the music: “We asked ourselves what the characters would actually be listening to. What songs would be playing on the radio or shared among friends?”
From Daniel Caesar’s Blessed during a pivotal reunion to Frank Ocean’s Moon River marking a heartbreaking breakup, the music acts as both time capsule and emotional amplifier.
Monsters: Reconstructing 1980s Beverly Hills
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, produced by Ryan Murphy, revisits the infamous 1989 murders that shocked the nation. Production designer Matthew Flood Fergusson faced unexpected hurdles in recreating the era — particularly when it came to tennis courts.
Because tennis courts today are mostly blue due to a 2004 rule change by the National Tennis Association, the team struggled to find authentic green courts from the 1980s. Fergusson recalled one breakthrough: discovering a private home in Sherman Oaks with the appropriate court color, allowing for an authentic portrayal of Erik Menendez’s tennis training.
“Every detail matters when you’re telling a real story,” Fergusson said. “Even the color of a tennis court can make or break a scene’s accuracy.”
By focusing on the overlooked streets and real stories within LA’s diverse communities, these Netflix shows offer more than just entertainment — they offer tribute. With the city woven into the fabric of each narrative, Nobody Wants This, Monsters, and Forever remind us why Los Angeles continues to be a compelling force in television.
