Warning: Light spoilers in the form of GIFs lie ahead. Text will not give any groundbreaking twists away.
Created by Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij, "The OA" paints a picture filled with loss, happiness, love, the supernatural, time travel, hatred, belonging and everything in between. The show debuted as a Netflix original on December 16th, 2016 -- and it was previously only advertised for a week before it's release.
The Facebook fan page for the series only started posting teasers and a trailer four days prior, giving no details on the show besides a photo, a short trailer and cryptic sentences accompanying them. For the most part, "The OA" had a very unprecedented release -- but that's what made it so exciting and quickly leaned itself to being one of the most important releases of 2016. Here are some of the reasons you need to give this show a chance (honestly, just give it a chance anyways):
1. Surprisingly beautiful interpretive dance
Key characters were taught a dance by the main character, the OA (played by series co-creator, Brit Marling), in order to help save those they cared about. When beginning this show, you do not expect it to take this turn -- but when it does, you can't imagine the show without the interpretive dance. This piece becomes quite integral to the series.
2. Trans and minority representation
The character Buck Vu, who is a trans guys, is actually played by an honest to goodness trans person! Too often are trans characters cast using cisgender actors only to apply makeup and change their appearance in order to get the point across that they are trans. Played by Ian Alexander, the casting managers for the show explicitly put out a casting call for an actual trans male to apply for -- not just someone already experienced to play the part, no matter their gender.
Not only is Buck trans, but also a non-white main character. Buck is also joined by Alphonso, another non-white main character, showing that POC's can definitely be more than supporting characters in a show, as they are often cast.
3. Multiverse exploration
The show's main antagonist is named Hap, who is a scientist that studies the existence of multiple universes and the afterlife. This character is another reason why you should watch "The OA" in itself, but honestly, I could write a whole article on his emotional complexity and inner struggles.
Even though "The OA" does have a very strong romantic backstory and elements (some of these characters were just MADE to be shipped together), the majority of the show focuses on NDEs or near-death experiences, and what happens to our souls after we die. Hap is determined to find out if there is indeed an afterlife, or if our souls go somewhere after we've moved on from this universe.
This project of his leads to very interesting explanations, comparisons, and situations that the characters find themselves in. So if you're not one for an underlying romantic story, the deeper parts of this show involves very descriptive science and theories, and that should be enough to lure you in.
4. Complex and realistic relationships
In reality, relationships and friendships bloom from very unlikely people, place and the situations we put ourselves into. "The OA" focuses heavily on this -- as all of the character relationships feel as realistic as they can get. OA brings together five seemingly unrelated and very different people together -- an emotional teacher, a delinquent, a smart kid, the pothead and the insecure trans character, and helps them manifest a bond so strong, that by the end of the season they can't imagine themselves without the companionship.
By meeting the OA every night, the group starts to learn about each other, OA and their situations and start to care about each other in ways that wouldn't make sense to people outside of their circle because of how unrelated the characters would seem to be. This also rings true for the characters that OA met while in Hap's experiments -- driving home the idea that home isn't a place but a person or a group of people. You create it.
5. Words to live by
"But my biggest mistake I made was believing if I cast a beautiful net, I'd only catch beautiful things." This show is littered with inspiring words and things that absolutely need to be said. Notes about mental health, expectations, self love and one's ability to cope is enough to inspire anyone who may be struggling.
Not only are the words inspiring, but the way they are presented, makes all the difference. There are many shows that have attempted to dive deep into the human existance, and many have failed to not only approach them with grace but also present them gracefully as well. "The OA" manages to do both.
