Netflix's decision not to renew "The OA" for a third season allows me, by my own contrary rules to review the two seasons we've had.
Having been missing for seven years Prarie Johnson (Brit Marling) is found in distress and returned to her family. Unwilling to talk about where she's been, and inexplicably with her sight restored from a blindness that began as a child, Prarie eventually begins to open up to a group of local high school children about her experience.
There's no two ways to get around this fact. I'm sure some people are going to hate "The OA". It's plot has several moments that are so bizarre and outlandish I'm sure it's going to alienate part of the audience, particularly those looking for a more scientific reason for what's going on. Personally, I'm just impressed that Netflix agreed to finance it. I also felt that despite the leftfield choices, it was, at the least never boring. The second series add a whole other storyline level to the glorious nonsense, involving a house in San Francisco.
The performances are really strong, Brit Marling gets to play the character at several points of vulnerability and personality changes. It's the kids though, and their teacher Betty, played by Phyllis Smith that ground the series. They have much more rational problems, loneliness, school pressures, bullying to deal with, but Prairie's story and discoveries help them with their issues and binds them as a group. Jason Isaacs on the other hand, gets to play the villain of the piece as he's accustomed too.
I'm again a little relieved that the show has ended when it has, as I felt that the show has perhaps painted itself into a corner with the Meta season two finale, but it was a bizarre and memorable show whilst it lasted.
Having been missing for seven years Prarie Johnson (Brit Marling) is found in distress and returned to her family. Unwilling to talk about where she's been, and inexplicably with her sight restored from a blindness that began as a child, Prarie eventually begins to open up to a group of local high school children about her experience.
There's no two ways to get around this fact. I'm sure some people are going to hate "The OA". It's plot has several moments that are so bizarre and outlandish I'm sure it's going to alienate part of the audience, particularly those looking for a more scientific reason for what's going on. Personally, I'm just impressed that Netflix agreed to finance it. I also felt that despite the leftfield choices, it was, at the least never boring. The second series add a whole other storyline level to the glorious nonsense, involving a house in San Francisco.
The performances are really strong, Brit Marling gets to play the character at several points of vulnerability and personality changes. It's the kids though, and their teacher Betty, played by Phyllis Smith that ground the series. They have much more rational problems, loneliness, school pressures, bullying to deal with, but Prairie's story and discoveries help them with their issues and binds them as a group. Jason Isaacs on the other hand, gets to play the villain of the piece as he's accustomed too.
I'm again a little relieved that the show has ended when it has, as I felt that the show has perhaps painted itself into a corner with the Meta season two finale, but it was a bizarre and memorable show whilst it lasted.