The OA (2016)
TV series · Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Mystery, Drama
Stream it, ifif you are willing to embrace sincere, high-concept eccentricity despite the story remaining forever unfinished.
A polarizing and deeply strange mystery that asks for a massive leap of faith from its audience. It is an experimental, slow-burning puzzle that rewards patience with profound, if sometimes baffling, narrative swings.
What it is about
Seven years after vanishing from her home, a young woman returns with mysterious new abilities and recruits five strangers for a secret mission.
Trailer
What The OA is like, and who it is for
What it is like to watch
Watching The OA feels like entering a collective dream or a hushed secret. It moves with a deliberate, almost hypnotic slowness, trading traditional action for intense, long-form storytelling and vulnerable emotional connection. The atmosphere is thick with earnestness and a sense of cosmic importance, oscillating between a grounded suburban mystery and a surreal, metaphysical odyssey that defies easy categorisation.
Who it is for, and who should skip it
This series is for those who crave experimental narratives and do not mind a story that demands total sincerity over irony. It will likely alienate viewers who prefer logical, hard sci-fi or fast-paced thrillers. The major caveat is its sudden cancellation; the show concludes on a massive cliffhanger that remains unresolved, leaving several complex threads dangling in the void.
The right evening for it
It suits a quiet, immersive evening when you are prepared to lean into something strange and philosophical. It is best watched when you have the mental space to ponder its grander, more abstract themes.
Written by our AI from the facts on this page. It has opinions; it has not watched it.
How The OA leaves you
One line on the mood it ends on, with no plot. Some people count that as a spoiler, so it stays hidden until you ask.
It leaves you with a lingering sense of wonder and profound curiosity, feeling like you have brushed against something vast and unknowable that slightly shifts your perspective on the mundane.
Stills
Images from TMDB.
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Questions people ask
- Is The OA a mind-bending series?
- Yes. On Watchlist Boosted it is tagged Mind-Bending. A polarizing and deeply strange mystery that asks for a massive leap of faith from its audience. It is an experimental, slow-burning puzzle that rewards patience with profound, if sometimes baffling, narrative swings.
- How many seasons of The OA are there?
- 2 seasons and 16 episodes. It has finished, so you can watch the whole thing.
- Where can I watch The OA in Canada?
- In Canada, The OA is included with Netflix (all plans).
- Where can I watch The OA in the UK?
- In the UK, The OA is included with Netflix (all plans).
- Is The OA worth watching?
- It depends: if you are willing to embrace sincere, high-concept eccentricity despite the story remaining forever unfinished. IMDb users rate it 7.8 out of 10 from 124,749 votes and TMDB users 7.5.
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