The writing was all over the place in the first episode, but I was still intrigued. By the end of the second episode, I'm getting frustratingly bored. The sub-plots are annoyingly dragged out and seem pointless as all that filler. I hope the writers haven't cramped already. The melodramatics are cringe, and I also really haven't cared about any of the characters in the hole. So far, the above-ground story is more interesting. For now, 5/10. Will give a few more episodes a chance.
651 Reviews
Sometimes, I'm in the mood for some NBC trash.
paulig-gr3 November 2021
Classic dorky network TV show, with bad VFX, pretty actors that wear perfect outfits, makeup and hairstyles even when teleported 10000 BC and living in the woods without shower. Laughable drama, dumb jokes, tropy camera work, plot that moves from commercial break to commercial break, dramatic music, unnecessary flirting, this TV show has it all. It's like a relic from 2006.
Poorly written dialogue
knedb28 October 2021
Truly listen to the dialogue each episode. You will see it all sucks... every line. That said, I do enjoy the plot of the show. It has a great sci fi idea. But these generic blah lines without good character development just won't cut it for a season two. No doubt this show is cancelled after one season. Find better/smarter writers!!!
Great concept killed by helicopter mommy
davidjdoyle-140-89233513 November 2021
Poorly written, horridly acted with painfully low-budget special effects... the Asylum Studios has productions better than this drivel. Even the ScFy Channel has produced better content than this. You can't blame anything this bad on the Pandemic.
Hollywood loves trying new shows with strong female leads but Natalie Zea as the fawningly over-protective helicopter Mom is just disastrous. Her acting is heavy-handed and reminds me of Debrah Farentino from Earth 2. As the lead in this sewer circus, Natalie is just a dragging this show down the drain quicker than Debrah did to E2.
Clearly the addition of Zyra Gorecki as daughter Izzy is a cheap PC attempt to cast an "impaired" actor who's better off behind a still camera. Her acting talents aren't even fit for commercials. Even though she appears to be able to work up tears on command, her facial expressions and execution of dialog don't fit the moment or the waterworks.
Whoever was responsible for casting Eoin Macken as the Dad should be fired immediately. I can't really think of anything positive about his role or his talent in this part. I really kept expecting him to die in one of the early episodes... too bad.
What can you say about Jon Seda as Sam and Nicholas Gonzalez as Levi other than they are simply just embarrassing. Was this a conscious effort by the production to cast such weak talent? Something that seems to be a trend in Hollywood over the last 10-15 years.
Chiké Okonkwo as Ty is the only secondary actor that has any chops and it's too bad he's been relegated to such a minor roll.
I watched 5 episodes of this garbage hoping that the cast would settle in to the roles and the writing and production would find their groove... no such luck. If anything, it's gone downhill. At the beginning I was intrigued by the concept but by the end of the 2nd episode, I no longer cared what happened to any of the characters and actually looked forward to a few of them being killed off... eaten or otherwise graphically dispatched.
Unfortunately, this is exactly the type of brainless garbage that will be renewed for more seasons... but one can only hope otherwise.
Stay away from this mind-numbing drivel... you've been warned.
Hollywood loves trying new shows with strong female leads but Natalie Zea as the fawningly over-protective helicopter Mom is just disastrous. Her acting is heavy-handed and reminds me of Debrah Farentino from Earth 2. As the lead in this sewer circus, Natalie is just a dragging this show down the drain quicker than Debrah did to E2.
Clearly the addition of Zyra Gorecki as daughter Izzy is a cheap PC attempt to cast an "impaired" actor who's better off behind a still camera. Her acting talents aren't even fit for commercials. Even though she appears to be able to work up tears on command, her facial expressions and execution of dialog don't fit the moment or the waterworks.
Whoever was responsible for casting Eoin Macken as the Dad should be fired immediately. I can't really think of anything positive about his role or his talent in this part. I really kept expecting him to die in one of the early episodes... too bad.
What can you say about Jon Seda as Sam and Nicholas Gonzalez as Levi other than they are simply just embarrassing. Was this a conscious effort by the production to cast such weak talent? Something that seems to be a trend in Hollywood over the last 10-15 years.
Chiké Okonkwo as Ty is the only secondary actor that has any chops and it's too bad he's been relegated to such a minor roll.
I watched 5 episodes of this garbage hoping that the cast would settle in to the roles and the writing and production would find their groove... no such luck. If anything, it's gone downhill. At the beginning I was intrigued by the concept but by the end of the 2nd episode, I no longer cared what happened to any of the characters and actually looked forward to a few of them being killed off... eaten or otherwise graphically dispatched.
Unfortunately, this is exactly the type of brainless garbage that will be renewed for more seasons... but one can only hope otherwise.
Stay away from this mind-numbing drivel... you've been warned.
Decent show
bangel332229 January 2022
Wasn't so sure about this when I started watching it....it had an air of predictability about it. However I was surprised by it as it didn't pan out as I was expecting. A lot of twists and turns along the way with a mostly solid cast. I would have preferred to have seen some other people cast in certain roles, also I would have liked it to be a little darker; something along the lines of LOST. It's a little too PG for me and with this storyline, a little more of an edge is needed. Nevertheless I thoroughly enjoyed it and can't wait for season 2.
Sci Fi Channel programming
Craig-fikes30 September 2021
Not a bad premise but atrocious writing and Sharknado levels of CGI. I tried making a drinking game from this show, every time someone said something ridiculous I took a drink, I was just discharged from the hospital with alcohol poisoning.
1st episode is alright but...
brandonbray-3569829 September 2021
Hopefully it picks up some speed. The cgi wasn't as bad as I read it was. I really enjoyed Terra nova. And this gives me Terra nova vibes with lost. I'm in as of right now. People need to chill out tho. I've watched plenty of shows that don't have the best first episode and then they get better. Quick to judge over one episode. And also at least its something that's not another cop or medical show.
It won me over
Gin-ster22 February 2022
I thought it was interesting initially. I'm familiar with mid-town LA and thought it was especially fun to see it at the center of things. But after it got going, I found it really annoying. I don't care that it's utter nonsense, I'm willing to suspend disbelief for this type of subject. The problem is that most of the characters are truly awful - not only wafer-thin - but actually grating. While I like science fiction, and normally it does not feature Shakespearian levels of character depth, they can't just be "The annoying talkative guy," "The thuggish guy," "The religious nut," "The moody teen(s)" etc. Etc. And while I'm willing to suspend disbelief about the whole story line, the things that didn't make sense at all - such as the degree to which people could recover from deadly injuries and can go on as if nothing happened - kept making "looking the other way" more of a challenge. I endured, though, as the underlying science fiction story is actually an interesting one. So by the time I reached episode 10 I was enjoying it - I never got the the point where I cared about what would happen to any of the characters, but at least I'd become used to the "talkative guy" etc. And I could more easily suspend disbelief at utterly nonsensical things, etc. I don't think it merits any awards for writing or acting, but by the end I found it to be just plain "dumb fun" and am looking forward to the second season.
SMF550
egeferentino929 September 2021
I really liked the first episode. I do not know why all the negative reviews on here! Please people this is a fictional TV show get a grip and just enjoy it. It is meant for entertainment foe goodness sakes! I will definitely keep watching it.
Mildly watchable but clunky with dialogue and character development
Okonh0wp22 November 2021
A cross-section of LA denizens fall through a groundswell in Los Angeles that takes them to the stone age and prompts the question "how is this different from a normal day in Los Angeles?" Seriously, I don't know. It seems like an LA thing though from so many films and TV shows I've seen.
The show cross-cuts between two different scenes.
The dad and husband of two of the victims has paranormal premonitions about what's happening and gets the attention of a shadow government agency that is determined to suppress the truth and conduct a rescue mission.
Getting the lion's share of the action is the group of displaced people as they try to figure out what is happening in a loose rip-off of "Lost." The crew includes a wide variety of professionals such that many are the deus-ex-machinas for each other's ailments. There's a kid with life-threatening injuries but fortunately there's a doctor among the stranded to rescue him. Ditto with a stunted child who's been trained to pretend she's mute and a child psychologist who needs to get information from her without traumatizing. Similarly, there's a paleontologist who can decipher the tea leaves and a cop who can keep order.
The coincidental nature of each person's abilities isn't so bad but there's a clunkiness to the dialogue and the character development that's par for the course for standard broadcast procedurals rather than the middle brow serial this show aspires to be. This certainly slows down the show but it's marginally watchable and has enough potential that it's worth finishing the season.
The show cross-cuts between two different scenes.
The dad and husband of two of the victims has paranormal premonitions about what's happening and gets the attention of a shadow government agency that is determined to suppress the truth and conduct a rescue mission.
Getting the lion's share of the action is the group of displaced people as they try to figure out what is happening in a loose rip-off of "Lost." The crew includes a wide variety of professionals such that many are the deus-ex-machinas for each other's ailments. There's a kid with life-threatening injuries but fortunately there's a doctor among the stranded to rescue him. Ditto with a stunted child who's been trained to pretend she's mute and a child psychologist who needs to get information from her without traumatizing. Similarly, there's a paleontologist who can decipher the tea leaves and a cop who can keep order.
The coincidental nature of each person's abilities isn't so bad but there's a clunkiness to the dialogue and the character development that's par for the course for standard broadcast procedurals rather than the middle brow serial this show aspires to be. This certainly slows down the show but it's marginally watchable and has enough potential that it's worth finishing the season.
Wanted to like it from the previews...
s00nerjeff29 September 2021
But it was just so bad we were actually making jokes throughout the first episode. The writing was so bad the actors suffered. I've read reviews from others about bad acting and that was my first take as well. However I've seen some of them in other shows that they did well, so I can't say bad acting but instead just really poorly written material. And the CGI was so bad it felt worse than a C movie on the Syfy network. I guess it's probably a good thing I'm not getting hooked on this show because these are the types of shows we see year after year that hook you in and then the networks cancels them and we never see a finished story.
Yawing mah of sinkhole as an unintentionally ironic metaphor for the show
random-7077828 September 2021
You are going to feel like you are traveling in time all right -- the cheap CGI is going to take you back three or four decades right way!
Worse yet you absolutely will sense you have been transported back to a bygone era: before the golden age of TV, to a time when networks treated their audiences like 80 IQ types who have no problem with the most idiotic of dialogue, and need to be led around by the nose.
What a shame. Premise has lots of potential to be above average series, but is held back by awful acting, writing and laughable CGI.
4/10 at best, based on first two episodes distributed to reviewers.
Worse yet you absolutely will sense you have been transported back to a bygone era: before the golden age of TV, to a time when networks treated their audiences like 80 IQ types who have no problem with the most idiotic of dialogue, and need to be led around by the nose.
What a shame. Premise has lots of potential to be above average series, but is held back by awful acting, writing and laughable CGI.
4/10 at best, based on first two episodes distributed to reviewers.
$70 million just evaporated, only junk left
russian_mr_do_you_speak_it4 December 2021
So this show is the reason that Natalie Zea left Unicorn and Nicholas Gonzalez left The Good Doctor.
This is the show, as Sydney Morning Herald says "the effects-heavy production will spend around $71 million in Australia, more than $60 million of it in Victoria. It is the most expensive TV production in Victoria since Steven Spielberg's HBO series The Pacific wrapped in 2009"
One can only hope this money went on purchasing bunch of heroine in the car trunk, because there is no real FX in the series that can cost this amount of money, and obviously there is no money gone to the script, it's just awful writing.
Do not bother, this show is below any rating. Seems more like money laundering.
This is the show, as Sydney Morning Herald says "the effects-heavy production will spend around $71 million in Australia, more than $60 million of it in Victoria. It is the most expensive TV production in Victoria since Steven Spielberg's HBO series The Pacific wrapped in 2009"
One can only hope this money went on purchasing bunch of heroine in the car trunk, because there is no real FX in the series that can cost this amount of money, and obviously there is no money gone to the script, it's just awful writing.
Do not bother, this show is below any rating. Seems more like money laundering.
Eh
csharrett-7696918 October 2021
Fun, sorta entertaining and I want to give it a try.. but it just reeks of one of those shows especially that you see on NBC and ABC that will last a season, maybe get thrown a bone and make it a second season. 6 outta 10 (for now)
I gave it a chance, but... No
lusciousmuffins14 October 2021
I really like Natalie Zea as an actress, so I was looking forward to this.
I also really enjoyed a similar Fox show from several years ago, Terra Nova.
Consequently, I watched all three episodes of this wanting to give it a chance, but I am officially out.
There is simply too much going on.
I enjoy complex plots and scripted dramas with larger casts, but La Brea throws everything and the kitchen sink at you, all at once.
There isn't a lot of subtlety or mystery, just a lot of contrived drama tacked onto every character.
Making matters worse, it is all strung together by a concept that has in fact been explored far better by other shows.
Not to be unkind, but this is no Terra Nova; in fact, this isn't even a rival to Land of the Lost when it comes to entertainment value.
The other major flaw is that the dialog is painfully bad.
For example, you cannot forget the main character's name is Eve because they remind you every second.
This is so poorly written that you almost feel bad for the actors as they struggle with a script that was composed by someone incapable of creating even one exchange that doesn't come across as awkward and stilted.
While the fantastical can be a challenging genre to sell to an audience, the writers for La Brea make even mundane exchanges between the characters sound natural.
Instead, it seems as though the characters exist primarily to deliver exposition.
With so few scripted shows left on television, it is heartbreaking that they wasted such a large budget and such talented actors on such a poorly constructed and uninspired show.
I also really enjoyed a similar Fox show from several years ago, Terra Nova.
Consequently, I watched all three episodes of this wanting to give it a chance, but I am officially out.
There is simply too much going on.
I enjoy complex plots and scripted dramas with larger casts, but La Brea throws everything and the kitchen sink at you, all at once.
There isn't a lot of subtlety or mystery, just a lot of contrived drama tacked onto every character.
Making matters worse, it is all strung together by a concept that has in fact been explored far better by other shows.
Not to be unkind, but this is no Terra Nova; in fact, this isn't even a rival to Land of the Lost when it comes to entertainment value.
The other major flaw is that the dialog is painfully bad.
For example, you cannot forget the main character's name is Eve because they remind you every second.
This is so poorly written that you almost feel bad for the actors as they struggle with a script that was composed by someone incapable of creating even one exchange that doesn't come across as awkward and stilted.
While the fantastical can be a challenging genre to sell to an audience, the writers for La Brea make even mundane exchanges between the characters sound natural.
Instead, it seems as though the characters exist primarily to deliver exposition.
With so few scripted shows left on television, it is heartbreaking that they wasted such a large budget and such talented actors on such a poorly constructed and uninspired show.
Enjoyable fantasy
mrburton-0956329 September 2021
The negative reviews are a bit harsh for me. I actually enjoyed the first episode and I'm looking forward to the 2nd.
It's nice to have another fantasy programme to drift in to, it's been such a long time ago since prime evil and terra nova.
May not have the greatest of scripts and a couple of wooden characters but makes a nice change to watch something that's not political or a police programme.
I personally am going to carry on watching this series and thoroughly can't wait for episode 2!! My advice is forget about reality for a short space of time and enjoy some fantasy for a bit.
It's nice to have another fantasy programme to drift in to, it's been such a long time ago since prime evil and terra nova.
May not have the greatest of scripts and a couple of wooden characters but makes a nice change to watch something that's not political or a police programme.
I personally am going to carry on watching this series and thoroughly can't wait for episode 2!! My advice is forget about reality for a short space of time and enjoy some fantasy for a bit.
Ok
originalbadguy17 November 2021
La Moronic
jonasatmosfera13 October 2021
"The Land of the Lost", compared to this dumpster fire, is deserving of Nobel Prize in Literature and Physics.
OK, I agree that there must some suspension of disbelief, and that these shows are not about science.
But, nothing seems to work in "La Brea" . Nothing makes sense, even if we account that things should not make that much sense.
There are too many side stories, too many characters. The dialog and the situations are atrocious.
Instead of having a show about people trying to survive in an alternate reality, we have a show where we are exposed to the same reality we live in, with all of its problems. So, what is the point?
OK, I agree that there must some suspension of disbelief, and that these shows are not about science.
But, nothing seems to work in "La Brea" . Nothing makes sense, even if we account that things should not make that much sense.
There are too many side stories, too many characters. The dialog and the situations are atrocious.
Instead of having a show about people trying to survive in an alternate reality, we have a show where we are exposed to the same reality we live in, with all of its problems. So, what is the point?
Great show albeit a little slow at times
yairmanoussi16 January 2022
I have been waiting for a show of this for a while. I like it more than Manifest and a little less than Lost. I like it a lot because of the time travel and sinkhole connection. I hope a second season will have more action but also keep the philosophy and background story. I like the cast for its diversity and vulnerability. Everyone ends up falling victim to something and no one is immune from impending doom. We need entertaining shows like this one during this challenging pandemic...
Not that bad
omendata25 November 2021
Have only watched the first two episodes but the idea and story are quite intriguing.
Yes the effects are basic, yes some of the acting is pure pants and the dialogue could be a bit better but it is low budget Sci-Fi channel level of production, so expectations should be in line with that and to be fair as I always am, its ok so far!
Yes the effects are basic, yes some of the acting is pure pants and the dialogue could be a bit better but it is low budget Sci-Fi channel level of production, so expectations should be in line with that and to be fair as I always am, its ok so far!
New series, I gave it a chance. Now watched the final episode in 2024.
TxMike28 September 2021
I found the premise interesting but quit watching after the 3rd episode, falling into the tar pit and going back to 10,000 BC is interesting but not enough for me to watch beyond that. It isn't a very exciting show and sort of plods along.
The show isn't that bad. But it isn't that good either. In a really good show you quickly forget you are seeing actors because the dialog is so well written. In this show the dialog is often laughable and the acting inconsistent. I was mainly curious to see how they explain the falling into what amounts to unexplained time travel backwards but if they did it was after I gave up on it..
For any who may not know this show is named for the actual, factual La Brea tar pits in Los Angeles. Tar pits where a large number of ancient fossils have been discovered. So this fictional show bridges off that, and the idea that a sinkhole might open up and people might be transported to an ancient time.
Update February 2024: Tonight is being touted as the final episode when they return home. I am watching it to see how the wrap it up. Frankly I am amazed that it lasted as long as it did. The dialog didn't improve over the years.
The show isn't that bad. But it isn't that good either. In a really good show you quickly forget you are seeing actors because the dialog is so well written. In this show the dialog is often laughable and the acting inconsistent. I was mainly curious to see how they explain the falling into what amounts to unexplained time travel backwards but if they did it was after I gave up on it..
For any who may not know this show is named for the actual, factual La Brea tar pits in Los Angeles. Tar pits where a large number of ancient fossils have been discovered. So this fictional show bridges off that, and the idea that a sinkhole might open up and people might be transported to an ancient time.
Update February 2024: Tonight is being touted as the final episode when they return home. I am watching it to see how the wrap it up. Frankly I am amazed that it lasted as long as it did. The dialog didn't improve over the years.
Remake of Land of the Lost?
jmbwithcats4 October 2021
I want to like La Brea, but one word keeps flashing in my head... the daughter missing a leg like Avatar. Hey, I feel the disabled are under-represented too, but... the father has visions, dad is a navy seal and a surgeon. That word is contrived. The reviews are even harsher.
I still think it can be good, if the writing follows through... but for now, the dialog, acting, cast, CGI, and script is pretty bad.
I'd rate the first episode a 4/10.
I still think it can be good, if the writing follows through... but for now, the dialog, acting, cast, CGI, and script is pretty bad.
I'd rate the first episode a 4/10.
Another embarrassing NBC pile of crap...
podein29 September 2021
NBC hires 12 year olds again to write another show for them. Absolutely pathetic writing. Awful casting with horrible acting. Full of cancelled series actors. Embarrassing CGI. And the same old greedy NBC crap riddled with 4 minute commercial breaks every 5 minutes.
Hope everyone has other job options. If this makes it through a season, it'll be a huge surprise.
Hope everyone has other job options. If this makes it through a season, it'll be a huge surprise.
It was good for evoking hoots and howls of laughter !
robfollower30 September 2021
It was good for evoking hoots and howls of laughter ! I am a huge fan of sci-fi and horror schlock ( Slave Girls from Beyond Infinity 9/10, Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death 8/10, A feminist professor (Shannon Tweed) and her team seek a missing Dr. Kurtz (Adrienne Barbeau) and find a lost tribe of piranha women.)
My point is that there are plenty of entertaining films and TV shows that are rough around the edges ; its all depends on the viewers frame of reference and the spectrum of there cinematic tastes; mine is very "eclectic"(a person who derives ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources.)
La Brea is not sci-fi schlock it takes it self to seriously. However the lack of professionalism with regards to ... lets say the "special effect" or over the top melodramatic flair I found to be hysterically entertaining and fun giving me a sci-fi schlock vibe though that was not the creators intent. I fond the show pleasant entertaining .
I am a big fan of this kind of science fiction whether it's highbrow or lowbrow I generally eat this type of story telling up . I think the show showed potential letting the carnage loose and the weirdness of the La Brea tar pits turning into an alternate version of Los Angeles, full of tasty strangeness like prehistoric birds, early Homo sapiens , creepy low end CGI wolves and according to (Coast to Coasts radio ) Art Bell R. I. P ... hand-prints (which had four fingers) were from lizard-people as the were myths in the 1930's of an ancient subterranean lizard people city beneath L. A. So theirs that too !! There are only 5 episodes .So the time commitment is very doable . I will definitely keep watching its lowbrow entertainment value . Why ? As it was fun and entertaining science fiction . :)
My point is that there are plenty of entertaining films and TV shows that are rough around the edges ; its all depends on the viewers frame of reference and the spectrum of there cinematic tastes; mine is very "eclectic"(a person who derives ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources.)
La Brea is not sci-fi schlock it takes it self to seriously. However the lack of professionalism with regards to ... lets say the "special effect" or over the top melodramatic flair I found to be hysterically entertaining and fun giving me a sci-fi schlock vibe though that was not the creators intent. I fond the show pleasant entertaining .
I am a big fan of this kind of science fiction whether it's highbrow or lowbrow I generally eat this type of story telling up . I think the show showed potential letting the carnage loose and the weirdness of the La Brea tar pits turning into an alternate version of Los Angeles, full of tasty strangeness like prehistoric birds, early Homo sapiens , creepy low end CGI wolves and according to (Coast to Coasts radio ) Art Bell R. I. P ... hand-prints (which had four fingers) were from lizard-people as the were myths in the 1930's of an ancient subterranean lizard people city beneath L. A. So theirs that too !! There are only 5 episodes .So the time commitment is very doable . I will definitely keep watching its lowbrow entertainment value . Why ? As it was fun and entertaining science fiction . :)
Monumentally Bad Writing
mcgooganz29 September 2021
The first sentence in this teleplay:. Stuck squarely in traffic the driver says to her children "Why is driving such a difficult concept in this city?." What follows is equally meaningless, a world where even gravity has lost its mind.
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