Written by Annie Burdick
Netflix continues to produce sensational original series and The OA is one of them. The series was released in December 2016 and combines elements of drama, mystery, fantasy, and the supernatural to create a final product which is both perplexing and captivating, and for some, unlike anything currently out there. While there are only eight episodes, they all follow the standard Netflix style they have built for themselves, plus it’s also great when they can be a full hour in length with no advertisements. In February it was announced the series had been renewed for a second season, but unfortunately there has been little information released.
I’m gonna tell you my story from the beginning. And there will come a point when you’ll see why you’re here what you might do together, how you could help people who you’ll never meet. But you have to pretend to trust me until you actually do.
The OA focuses on protagonist Prairie (played by Brit Marling), who is blind as a child and then disappears for seven years. She then returns with her sight restored, calling herself “The OA” and refusing to answer questions asked by her parents and the FBI. For mysterious reasons, she gathers a group of five people—four high school boys and an older female teacher—and begins telling them the story of her life. She begins her story from the very beginning as she was the child of a wealthy Russian man, and goes through her disappearance and everything that follows.
For me personally, I started the show recently and have only made a small dent in it, however I can already say I’m hooked and you will be too. How? Although it seems like Netflix has yet to produce many real failures in their current roster of originals, this one immediately comes across as different. From the first episode, the show presents its own unique style and way of going about things.
There is certainly a ‘typical’ format series follow when it comes to drama, fantasy or mystery, and though every episode attempts to break the mould, there is always the feeling you’ve watched it all before or you know what is to come. This is something I am yet to feel when it comes to watching The OA. The filming of the show gives it a shockingly realistic feeling and though the series features plenty of divergences from reality, the subdued costuming, natural shooting angles, and simplistic dialogueall make it feel incredibly real, almost surprisingly so.
But the biggest mistake I made was believing that if I cast a beautiful net, I’d catch only beautiful things.
This is merely my personal opinion, especially since the series has received a wide mix of reviews ranging from exceptional praise to serious criticism. I’m speaking mainly to the fact that the first episode of this show lets you know right off the bat that you will be emotionally invested, intrigued and impressed by the very end of the first hour.
What I will say is if you are looking for a new television series which is different and breaks the typical norms of television, this may just be the show for you. It completely follows through, even in the first and second episodes, on delivering a mysterious plot and featuring realistic production techniques, impressive acting and stunning visuals. If the first episode of this show doesn’t hook you, I’ll be surprised!
Have you been hooked by The OA? Let us know in the comments below!
