La Brea Season 3 Episode 3 Review: Maya

Throughout its three seasons, La Brea has managed to add time travel, prehistoric creatures, family dramas, crime, and even comedy to its episodes. On La Brea Season 3 Episode 3, “Maya,” the show dips its toes into the LGBTQ+ community by bringing representation to the screen.

Izzy’s storyline seems to finally be digging deeper into who she is as a person outside of her family, and it looks like a promising story for this teenage girl who had her life turned upside down at the beginning of La Brea Season 1.

What could we expect from this newfound bond that’s blooming between her and Leyla?

On La Brea Season 3 Episode 2, “Don’t Look Up,” it felt as if Izzy and Leyla were just another example of how these two communities were struggling to connect. One quick look at their new dynamic had us believing they might turn into rivals.

However, things change on La Brea Season 3 Episode 3, “Maya,” when the two young women are out hunting together. Contrary to what the previous episode had us believing, Izzy and Leyla have a lot more in common.

That is when we begin to realize their relationship is changing. Even though there weren’t any mentions of Izzy’s sexuality in previous seasons, it becomes quite obvious that there’s more than a friendship brewing between these two characters.

Even if, at the moment, we cannot know what the implications of this relationship will be, the show introduces a queer relationship in the most natural way possible — as it should.

At least for now, Izzy and Leyla are two young women who like one another and are getting to know each other. That already feels like a warm hug to queer viewers who look for representation on TV.

Although we don’t know how this relationship will evolve on the next few episodes, La Brea has done the introduction of queer characters quite perfectly and the way we need to see it: as people who do exist and do deserve to fall in love even in a world of chaos full of dinosaurs and dangers.

Besides having the obvious contrast between the clearing people and the village people, La Brea Season 3 seems to be splitting its characters into those who are still desperate to make it back home and those who are building a home (or trying to) in 10,000 B.C.

While Izzy is exploring the personal connections, Lucas and Veronica are exploring the political venue. In order for there to be some sort of balance between the two groups, the couple believes Lucas should join the village council.

But things take a turn when Veronica ends up being the one asked to join the council. Even though by the end of La Brea Season 3 Episode 3, “Maya,” we haven’t seen the repercussions of this decision, the relationship between Lucas and Veronica seems tense.

These two characters managed to survive in 10,000 B.C. and make changes for the better because they found one another. They pushed each other to be better, do better, and, in the end, become a family.

The fact that Veronica is the chosen one might interfere with the dynamic they have created since becoming a couple. However, it aligns with the beliefs and way of living of the people in the village.

From the moment the village was introduced on La Brea Season 1, it became very clear that it was a matriarchy. The living and working dynamics were determined by the fact that Paara was the leader, the one in charge.

Now that Paara is away, the leadership falls on Ruth. Still, it is a woman in charge, so it makes sense that Veronica is invited to be a part of the council.

Lucas is not only an outsider but also a man. Even though it sounds like there are men on the council, it is always the women who decide what happens within the village.

Veronica has proven to be worthy of this new role. She is a more mature version of the woman who fell into the sinkhole on La Brea Season 1.

This new role within the council will further prove her evolution. And she is the most fit member of the clearing people to represent their needs as she seems to be calm and collected and knows that they all need to adjust to one another.

Hopefully, the next few episodes will give us an insight into what the council can truly do.

While Izzy, Veronica, and Lucas are trying to adjust to their new reality, people like Sam and Gavin are fighting to get their family back and head back home. They are doing this in two different realities, and that makes for a great storyline.

La Brea Season 3 has allowed both Jon Seda and Eoin Macken to show a wide range of emotions and lessons on what it is like to play two different versions of your character.

In 10,000 B.C., Sam and Gavin are putting their differences aside to work together to recover Gavin’s memories, work with Maya, find Eve, and look for Riley and Josh. 2021 Sam and Gavin are just getting to know one another.

On both timelines, trust is a big part of their relationship. If they don’t trust one another (or Ty), it will be impossible to accomplish what they want. And this aligns with the general theme of La Brea since the show started.

In order to survive, stay alive, and defeat every danger that has come their way, these characters must trust one another and rely on one another. Sam and Gavin haven’t been the best at that, but it’s interesting to see them trust each other as the show is nearing its ending.

Even though La Brea Season 3 Episode 3, “Maya,” helps us understand these characters’ desires a bit better, there are still plenty of unanswered questions.

Where is Eve? Where did the aurora take Riley and Josh? Is Riley alive?

Hopefully, these kinds of questions will be answered before the show comes to an end.

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What did you think of this episode of La Brea? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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La Brea airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on NBC.

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La Brea Season 3: Creator and Cast Members on What to Expect from Those Auroras [Interview]