La Brea: "Maya" Is A Set-Up Episode For What Is To Come

As La Brea works toward its final three episodes and the mid-way point through the final season, "Maya," is more set-up than execution.

"Maya" follows through on Ty's desire to gather Sam and Gavin to help save their friends and loved ones in 10,000 B.C., but they hit a snag in the form of Gavin's alcoholism.

La Brea is right in a way to drag this out. If Gavin had been as low at this point in time, weeks before the sinkhole opened, as the Harris family had made him out to be, then if he had been seemingly perfectly willing to listen to Ty immediately, it would have contradicted the show's history.

It also makes sense that "Maya" needed Ty to relate to Gavin on a personal level, which explains bringing Ty's alcoholic ex-wife into the picture. However, other than using that storyline for the sake of connecting Ty to Gavin in a stronger capacity, La Brea had not spent that much time previously on Ty's thoughts and feelings regarding his ex-wife, as the plot had focused more on his cancer diagnosis.

Since "Maya" could not move too fast for the Ty, Gavin, and Sam plot line, that also meant that the events of 10,000 B.C. could not move too quickly either. Instead, the story relies on Gavin's reunion with Maya, who reveals her role in Gavin's missing memories and helps guide him back to those that may be important.

Still, Gavin only gets glimpses and guess work of such memories in the episode's final minutes, so there is not much that could really happen in the remainder of the episode. Instead, Gavin and Sam tease that there is a larger plot occurring in the background regarding what Gavin stole, or whatever information he is unaware of having.

Lucas and Veronica's storyline is at least showing interest in their inclusion in the community. Lucas, wanting to grow his leadership role, wants to be a part of the council. But, Veronica's attempt to speak up on his behalf only results in Veronica being chosen for the council while Lucas is left to his farm job.

Veronica and Lucas clearly hit a bit of an awkward bump as Lucas tries to claim he is happy for Veronica while simultaneously being upset that he was not chosen. But, the question remains how much any of this will end up mattering in the end, depending on if they truly remain in 10,000 B.C., or if the series finale finds them back in their original time.

As for Izzy, La Brea is trying to give her more to do. Allowing her to learn archery gives her a better chance of survival, as well as allowing her to help her friends. But, it is her growing relationship with Leyla that is really captured by "Maya."

While Izzy has sat at the edges of the series previously, never quite being as able to enter the forefront of the action, season three has made the choice to finally give her more time to shine.

While "Maya" is an important episode for the sake of setting up the final three episodes of the series, on its own, sadly, there is not of substance or excitement happening. Given the importance of what "Maya" is preparing the audience for, this episode appears as more of a bridge, leading the audience toward the final sprint in the show's big conclusion.