La Brea was cut short by NBC after three seasons, but with a recent resurgence on streaming, perhaps the story could continue on another venue.
What Is It?
This series begins when a massive sinkhole suddenly opens in the middle of Los Angeles, pulling hundreds of people into a mysterious prehistoric world. Separated from their loved ones, the survivors must band together to face dangerous creatures, hostile environments, and the shocking discovery that they have been transported to a time and place connected to a much larger mystery. Mixing survival drama, time travel, and family relationships, the series follows multiple groups across different timelines as they search for a way home and uncover the secrets behind the sinkholes.
Aired: NBC, 2021-24, Three Seasons Totaling 30 Episodes
Starring: Natalie Zea, Eoin Macken, Chiké Okonkwo, Karina Logue, Zyra Gorecki, Jack Martin, Veronica St. Clair, Rohan Mirchandaney
Created By: David Appelbaum
Why Was It Cancelled?
La Brea arrived on NBC in the Fall of 2021, and it was a rather odd entry on the Prime Time schedule at that time. The broadcast networks had been shying away from sci-fi and fantasy shows, preferring to fill their lineups with less risky fare like procedurals, comedies, and reality shows. This new series delivered a Land of the Lost-type tale with elements of Lost thrown in, and it certainly seemed like an outlier on the schedule. But it actually performed quite well in its first season, ending its ten-episode run as the 24th most-watched show on the broadcast networks that Fall and the fifth most-watched drama on NBC. The series was renewed, but when it returned, its numbers dropped notably, ending its second season at Number 68 among broadcast network shows. Still, NBC decided to bring it back, though for a shortened final season of six episodes.
The decision to end the show after three seasons was in part due to the writers’ and actors’ strikes going on at that time, though series creator David Appelbaum always knew that it had a short leash because it was costly for a broadcast network entry. But in an interview he indicated that the creative team did use those final six episodes to wrap up as many storylines as possible:
While we’re certainly upset that it was the end of the show, it’s useful to know you’re writing towards an ending. And that way we can craft the finale with the biggest impact both emotionally and have the plot coalesce in the most exciting way.
However, Appelbaum did have ideas on where the story could go if given the chance to continue it:
It’s something that I have thought about as the show was going along. So it’s always been something in my mind. But particularly as we got to the end of Season 3, I definitely put thought into where it could go if I had the opportunity. I would take some of the core cast members and a brand new cast, and put them into a new adventure in 10,000 BC. I think [with] any version of it, I’d want the show to be an adventure in 10,000 BC and have a family story at the center of it. But I would like to explore new characters and new dynamics.
And while the show did get the chance to offer some degree of resolution, fans felt like the ending was rushed and that the series could have used at least one more season.
Can the Show Revived?
The numbers for La Brea dropped even further in its final season, and once it came to an end, it seemed like yet another genre entry ushered off to the TV wasteland. But the show found some new life recently with its premiere on Netflix. It made it into that streamer’s Top 10 for the week of its premiere on that service, pulling in 14.9 million hours viewed. Then it had a five-week run in the Nielsen Streaming Rankings for its combined viewership on Netflix and Peacock, approaching 1.3 billion minutes viewed at its high point and averaging 889 million minutes per week during that time. For a show with only 30 episodes, that was certainly impressive and proved that it had built up a notable following that the original linear Nielsen ratings did not reflect.
So while this one did wrap up its storylines, the creative team has ideas on where the show could go if given another season, and perhaps that could still happen. Fans should take the momentum La Brea received from its recent appearance in the charts and push down on the throttle. It has dropped out of the Top 10, but if they start staging watch parties, perhaps it could return. At the same time, they should get it trending on social media to bring it more attention, and they can vote for it in our Summer Save My Show poll. (You can find more ways to help the show at this link.) NBC may have cut this one short, but the streaming numbers prove there is definitely an audience out there, and perhaps Netflix or Peacock or another venue would consider bringing it back for another season or more. It is an expensive series, and the cast and crew have headed to other projects, but if there is enough push from the fans, maybe La Brea could rise from the tar pits again and continue its story.
Where Can You Watch It?
As mentioned above, all three seasons are available for streaming on both Netflix and Peacock. You can also watch it for free (with ads) on Tubi TV. It has also been released on DVD and Blu-ray, and you can purchase it VOD.
Did you watch La Brea, and would you support fan efforts to bring the show back? Chime in with your thoughts in the comments below.
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