IR TV Review: LA BREA - EPISODE 2 (“Day Two”) [NBC]
The essence of survival permeates the structure of "Day Two", the 2nd episode of the series "La Brea" on NBC. While the final note of Episode 1 points to the structure of the time and space of what is going on, the thrust of the show is still mired in the aspect of setting up the relationships while highlighting both the underpinnings of weakness and strength within certain cabals of survivors. The mother Eve is on a quest to save her son with a doctor and a mysterious man who seems out of sorts. This episode is better at integrating different elements of subtle character movement without the dialogue being overwhelmingly leading as it was in the first episode. The different ideas of characters are still a bit weak with caricatures abounding so the humanism does need to right itself a bit more. The episode actually seems like it is trying to juggle too much without having the strength to do so.
"Lost" was solid from the beginning because it also had the flashback structure to back it up. That makes a big difference. The texture here between a gay couple to a sequestered uber Christian family where the two daughters have lost their father can build up a brimming pot set to boil (but the pilot light seems set to low). Everyone s still acting fairly civil despite everything but there is of course the structure where primal nature will eventually fully kick in. Natalie Zea even mentioned in our interview "Lord Of The Flies" so there is a texture of what is coming possibly. The reveal through some different details is interesting in a "Lost" way but the dread and sense of wonder is missing, which might because of budget or just the makeup of the show from its core. The story is also balancing with the surface approach featuring Gavin Harris (Eoin Macken) who is having visions. While it makes sense in the superstructure of the story (and this reviewer won't reveal how it integrates in this ep after Gavin finds his wife's wedding ring buried at the end of the last episode), but the plot ploy it creates is still a little far fetched unless it can build to a satisfying reasoning that doesn't fall short. C+
By Tim Wassberg
