The OA - Season 1 Review
This review of Season 1 of The OA is spoiler-free!
Netflix has churned out show after show throughout the past few years. I bring this up at the start of nearly every article I write regarding something on their platform, but shows continue to slide under the radar when shows like Stranger Things and the Marvel Netflix series are coming out. The OA has a tendency to be one of these shows and also manages to get a bit of a reputation for being another version of Stranger Things. I can understand this comparison from a distance, but when you dive into the show you realize this is only a face value comparison. The OA stands on its own as good television, with one of the better buildups in recent memory. Well enough small talk, let's get right into the story and premise of The OA!
This show starts off right away throwing you into the story of Praire Johnson, watching her appear on a bridge in pure confusion. She's lost and doesn't know what has happened to her. After being secured by police and brought to good health, she begins to worry about the life she left behind (or was saved from in the opinion of some characters). See Praire ran away 7 years ago and never came back until now. After this point, Praire, or the OA, sets out on a journey of discovery and redemption along with some of those from her hometown who feel like they have been left behind by life. I mentioned it in the opening paragraph but this show's strength is in it's attention to detail and overall build up. The OA focuses on the small details of its characters, allowing multiple scenes to build the world and it's supporting characters. Along with this, The OA manages to feel like one of the most connected series in recent memory. Even though it is labeled as a season, it truly feels more like a long-form film. This is something I'll discuss later on, but now let's discuss some of the characters in Praire's story.
Without saying, Brit Marling's portrayal of the OA is outstanding and by far the best performance in the entire show. There are complexities with the OA that need to be met in order for her to be interesting and Marling hits all of them well. She has pain and fear in her eyes that you can sense them on screen, and keeps you interested in what's to come. The truth of the matter is that this is her show, and everyone is built to support her story. Three members of the OA's new group also step up in the beaten down Steve (Patrick Gibson), the star athlete Alfonso (Brandon Perea), and the old teacher Betty (Phyllis Smith). They all have their own small stories and I appreciate the attempt to create interesting characters outside of the OA. Also, Emory Cohen's Homer is one of the best parts of the show but discussing him in any detail would be a spoiler to the story.
Now, going back to what I stated in the story paragraph, The OA feels more like part one of a longer film. The episodes don't follow any specific length requirement, only going for whatever feels right for the story. I like this approach because it keeps your more involved in the overall story and allows for there to be less chance for deviation. But, this also brings up one of the major problems I have with The OA. I mentioned that there is a great build in this show, but The OA falls flat in it's ending. It throws everything you know throughout the series out the window in the end, and when looking online it appears I'm not the only one who thinks this. I love the show's tense build to the finale, but it just leaves you wanting much more.
All in all, The OA is a good show that has the potential to get even better. While I don't know if I can recommend The OA right now as a standalone product due to the way it finishes if you're willing to have your heart ripped out and left out for multiple months until Season 2 returns (perhaps later this year), jump in now. Otherwise, let this show sit until Season 2 comes out, and indulge them both. This isn't a bad show by any means, it just doesn't capitalize on it's best points by resolving its story in a satisfying manner. So, my answer is not the most simple, I think this is a show that will require a person to person decision on when to watch. Don't get me wrong, it is a good show, I just don't know if I can support watching it just yet.
