La Brea Canceled At NBC, Season 3 Given Final Order
NBC has officially confirmed that the third season of La Brea will mark the conclusion of the sci-fi drama series. The farewell season will consist of just six episodes, premiering on Tuesday, January 9, 2024. According to TV Line, the decision to go with a short season was influenced by the need to complete filming before potential work stoppages brought on by the then looming writers and actors strikes.
What Is La Brea About?
Created by David Appelbaum, La Brea revolves around a mysterious sinkhole in Los Angeles. When a family is separated due to the sinkhole, those who fall in find themselves in a prehistoric world full of strange creatures. Meanwhile, those who remain on the surface must deal with the aftermath of the disaster and try to rescue their loved ones.
La Brea combines elements of science fiction, fantasy, and adventure as it weaves together the dual narratives of the characters in the prehistoric world and those left behind in modern-day Los Angeles. The main cast includes Natalie Zea as Eve Harris, Eoin Macken as Gavin Harris, Chike Okonkwo as Ty Coleman, Zyra Gorecki as Izzy Harris, Jack Martin as Josh Harris, and Veronica St. Clair as Dr. Sam Velez.
Mixed Reviews
The series was shot in Melbourne, Australia, and produced by Keshet Studios and Universal Television. NBC granted La Brea an order for a 10-episode first season in January 2021. Despite the mixed reviews, the series was renewed for a 14-episode second season in November 2021. During its second outing, the show garnered an average of 4.8 million total viewers and a 0.5 demo rating with Live +7 playback.
Among the 11 dramas aired by NBC in the last season, La Brea ranked ninth in both audience size and the demo surpassing Quantum Leap, The Blacklist, and Magnum P.I. in those categories. In January 2023, NBC announced the renewal of the series for a third season comprising six episodes. The cast was given the option to be released from their contracts in exchange for working on the shorter season.
Where Season 2 Left Off
In the last episode of La Brea, Doctor Moore’s secret backup portal failed due to damage from a brief firefight. As the characters attempted to escape, Eve became trapped behind a secure, heavy door. In the midst of the portal’s violent pulsing, Eve disappeared to an unknown time and place. Simultaneously, numerous auroras appeared in the sky, introducing people and dinosaurs from various eras.
Finding A Way Home
Despite the apparent lack of accessible portals for the survivors, showrunner David Appelbaum emphasized that the essence of La Brea remains centered on the characters’ quest to return home. While an immediate return to a portal may not be imminent, the characters must discover a way home, whether through a portal or alternative means, before the upcoming season ends.
Shows Like La Brea
For fans of La Brea, several shows offer similar themes of science fiction and survival. Lost follows survivors of a plane crash on a mysterious island. Terra Nova explores a family’s journey to a prehistoric Earth to join a human colony, facing dangers from the past and present. Manifest involves passengers of flight 828 returning after being presumed dead for five years.
