The OA

The OA
source
Title	The OA
Genre	Mystery, Science fiction, Drama
Creator	Brit Marling, Zal Batmanglij
Starring	Brit Marling, Emory Cohen, Scott Wilson, Phyllis Smith, Alice Krige, Patrick Gibson, Brendan Meyer, Brandon Perea, Ian Alexander, Jason Isaacs, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Will Brill
Country	United States
Language	English
Num episodes	16
Network	Netflix
First aired	December 16, 2016
Last aired	March 22, 2019

The OA is a mystery and science fiction television series created by Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij. The narrative follows Prairie Johnson, a young woman who resurfaces after a seven-year disappearance with restored eyesight and a mysterious new identity. The series, which premiered on Netflix, explores themes of trauma, faith, and interconnected dimensions through a complex, non-linear storyline that blends elements of psychological thriller and fantasy television.

Plot

The story is divided into two distinct parts. In Part I, Prairie Johnson, now calling herself The OA, recounts her past as a blind orphan who was adopted by Abel Johnson and Nancy Johnson in Michigan. She reveals she was held captive in an underground facility by a scientist named Hap Percy, where she and other prisoners experienced near-death experiences that granted them movements with supernatural power. In the present, she recruits five locals—Alfonso Sosa, Jesse Mills, Buck Vu, Steve Winchell, and Betty Broderick-Allen—to help her perform these movements to open a portal and rescue her fellow captive, Homer Roberts. Part II shifts the setting to San Francisco, where Prairie awakens in an alternate dimension as Nina Azarova, a wealthy heiress. She navigates a mysterious haunted house puzzle linked to a missing persons case, encountering Karim Washington, a private investigator, and discovering a complex conspiracy theory involving Hap Percy and a quantum physics experiment known as the Rose Window. The season culminates in a cliffhanger that suggests the characters are aware of their existence within a television show.

Cast and characters

The ensemble cast features Brit Marling in the dual lead roles of Prairie Johnson and Nina Azarova. Her fellow captives are portrayed by Emory Cohen as Homer Roberts, a former college football athlete; Scott Wilson and Alice Krige as her adoptive parents; and Phyllis Smith as a sympathetic teacher, Betty Broderick-Allen. The group of teenagers she mentors includes Patrick Gibson as Steve Winchell, Brendan Meyer as Jesse Mills, and Brandon Perea as Alfonso Sosa. Ian Alexander plays Buck Vu, a transgender character central to the narrative. The antagonist, Dr. Hunter Aloysius Percy, is played by Jason Isaacs. In Part II, Kingsley Ben-Adir joins as Karim Washington, and Will Brill portrays Scott Brown, another captive. Notable guest stars include Riz Ahmed as a FBI agent and Sharon Van Etten in a supporting role.

Production

The series was created by Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij, who previously collaborated on films like The Sound of My Voice and The East. They served as executive producers alongside Brad Pitt's production company, Plan B Entertainment, and Netflix. Filming for Part I took place in various locations, including New York City and Michigan, while Part II was shot primarily in San Francisco and at Cherry Street Pier. The show's distinctive visual style was crafted by cinematographers like Sundance Film Festival alumnus Larkin Seiple. The original score was composed by Rostam Batmanglij, formerly of the band Vampire Weekend. Production was notably secretive, with the creators describing the series as a "mystery box" narrative. Despite plans for a five-part saga, Netflix cancelled the series after its second season in August 2019.

Themes and analysis

The series explores profound themes of metaphysics and existentialism, using its science fiction framework to interrogate the nature of reality and consciousness. Central to the narrative is the concept of interdimensional travel, presented not as fantasy but through the lens of multiverse theory and quantum entanglement. The show delves into trauma theory and post-traumatic growth, examining how characters like Prairie Johnson process captivity and loss. The "movements" performed by the characters serve as a form of ritual and collective action, symbolizing faith and resistance against oppressive systems, a theme echoed in the works of Jorge Luis Borges. Scholars have analyzed its portrayal of mythology and storytelling as tools for survival, while its cliffhanger ending engages with metafiction, breaking the fourth wall to comment on narrative itself. The inclusion of a transgender character, Buck Vu, also prompted discussion on LGBT representation in television.

Release and reception

Part I was released globally on Netflix on December 16, 2016, with all eight episodes available for binge-watching. Part II premiered on March 22, 2019. The series garnered a cult following and polarized critical response; some praised its ambition and emotional resonance, while critics from The New York Times and The Guardian found its narrative overly cryptic. It received nominations for a Saturn Award and recognition from the GLAAD Media Awards for its representation. The abrupt cancellation after Season 2 sparked a significant fan campaign, including protests at Netflix headquarters and widespread use of the hashtag #SaveTheOA on social media. Despite its unresolved storyline, the series maintains a dedicated fanbase and is often discussed in analyses of peak TV and streaming media experimentation.

Category:2016 American television series debuts Category:2019 American television series endings Category:American mystery television series Category:Netflix original programming