La Brea: A Sinkhole of Confusion and Ludicrousness
La Brea: A Sinkhole of Confusion and Ludicrousness
If you are looking for a show that makes sense, has a coherent plot, and respects the laws of physics, then La Brea is not for you. This NBC drama, which premiered in September 2021, is about a massive sinkhole that opens up in Los Angeles, swallowing hundreds of people and buildings, and transporting them to a prehistoric world full of sabre-toothed tigers, giant birds, and mysterious tribes. Sounds intriguing, right? Well, not so much when you realize how many plot holes, inconsistencies, and absurdities this show has.
What’s going on?
First of all, let’s talk about the sinkhole itself. How did it happen? Why did it happen? How does it connect to the past? How does it affect the present? These are some of the questions that the show tries to answer, but fails miserably. The explanation given by the show is that the sinkhole is a portal to 10,000 BC, created by a secret project from the future that is trying to save humanity from a resource crisis by using de-extinction technology. Yes, you read that right. The show involves time travel, genetic engineering, and environmentalism, but does not bother to explore any of these themes in depth or with logic. Instead, it throws in random twists and turns that make no sense and contradict each other.
For example, in one episode, we learn that the sinkhole is actually a wormhole that can transport people and objects across time and space. In another episode, we learn that the sinkhole is actually a gateway to another dimension that exists parallel to ours. In yet another episode, we learn that the sinkhole is a trap set by an evil cult that wants to use the survivors as sacrifices for their god. Which one is it? The show does not seem to care or know.
Character development
Secondly, let’s talk about the characters. They are bland, clichéd, and unlikable. The main family consists of Eve (Natalie Zea), a mother who falls into the sinkhole with her son Josh (Jack Martin); Gavin (Eoin Macken), a father who stays above ground with his daughter Izzy (Zyra Gorecki); and James (Mark Lee), a grandfather who turns out to be the leader of the future project. None of them have any personality or development beyond their roles as parents or children. They also make stupid decisions and act irrationally throughout the show.
For example, Eve decides to leave her son behind with a stranger to find a way back home, even though she has no idea where she is going or what dangers she might face. Gavin decides to trust his visions of the past as clues to find his family, even though he has no evidence or reason to believe they are real. James decides to betray his son and grandson to pursue his selfish agenda, even though he claims to love them. These are just some of the examples of how the characters behave inconsistently and illogically.
It’s in the ratings
Thirdly, let’s talk about the ratings. Despite its poor quality and reviews, La Brea somehow managed to attract a decent audience and even got renewed for a second season1. According to Rotten Tomatoes1, the show has an average critic score of 29% and an average audience score of 43%. According to IMDb2, the show has an average user rating of 5.7 out of 10. According to TV Fanatic3, the show had an average viewership of 5 million and an average demo rating of 0.6 for its first season.
La Brea is a sinkhole of confusion and ludicrousness. Do yourself a favor and avoid it at all costs.
