The OA: That Unresolved cliffhanger That Still Haunts Us!
Netflix's The OA: A Masterpiece Cut Short
The OA was unlike anything Netflix ever aired: ambitious, mysterious, and totally genre-bending. It followed Prairie Johnson (Brit Marling), who reappears after being missing for seven years— now able to see, and calling herself "The OA"—telling an insane story to some local misfits in an abandoned building! That initial setup becomes utterly complex.
The OA had earned a loyal following in just three years (seasons 1 and 2 were huge!). Season 1 scored a solid 76% on Rotten Tomatoes; then season 2 shot up to an even more impressive 92%! Critical acclaim was massive and fans deeply loved it! It made sense that many viewers expected more.
Unfortunately, it wasn't enough. Netflix canceled it— citing budget issues! Despite protests, and cast members begging for renewal; The OA ended on an insanely mind-blowing cliffhanger; a completely unique and absolutely stunning yet highly frustrating ending which many expected never would end this way. It's considered a tragic decision from many, even to this day. Let's explore the mind-blowing final moments that left us craving more.
The Shocking Twist: Our World as Another Dimension
The show's ambiguous reality became undeniably shocking toward the very ending, Season 2’s finale brought the story to this incredible turning point, the very reveal which had created such an extremely devoted and rabid following after season 1 ended! Prairie claims NDEs and crossing dimensions–this ability is one she could also teach others. Those claims became factual; through an insanely amazing climax which became a major narrative reveal that affected the entire perception around the prior episodes; an event the ending cleverly revealed that everything previously happened on a TV set, in this very dimension, making the ending far, far greater. Suddenly, our own world is another dimension in this unbelievably huge OA multiverse! We’re all inside the OA’s crazy fictional world.
That however raised even more questions than answers! What’s "real" within the show? That crazy ending involves subtle hints (The show's setting takes place in California, the actors appeared to be in the UK); adding an incredible depth of mystery only added to the complexity of the experience in those final few moments!
The Unfinished Story: Five Seasons Cut Down to Two
Brit Marling and Zeb Batmanglij (the show's creators and Marling plays Prairie), planned five seasons. The details for season three remain strictly confidential – even after cancellation – only making the frustration even greater. A major loss to audiences and many are disappointed. A planned resolution however exists, even in some form. The writers planned this out already!
Jason Isaacs (who played Hap), spoke with Collider; describing how deeply impactful and amazing season 3’s plans were, describing what happened with that plotline. His own amazement, awe at these plotpoints further establishes this loss for fans, because even insiders had been deeply shocked, leading to immense hope that these plans get realised!
The Tragic Legacy of a Canceled Masterpiece
The OA wasn’t just about Prairie. The supporting characters were deeply important too; and those characters were amazing. They had that necessary grounded quality – showcasing those very human experiences; making that overall story deeply profound! Those specific characters became increasingly important during the later parts of season 2; demonstrating the need for an appropriate conclusion that could further flesh those relationships and further emphasize the relationships involved. The show was known for extremely creative casting: Betty Broderick-Allen (BBA), showed an older woman with true strength; a rare occurrence in those eras. Buck (played by a transgender actor) featured prominently too; showcasing another important level that few others achieved – this incredibly brave act became immensely profound and further helped generate those larger following that had emerged after season 1’s massive release. This abrupt cancelation therefore impacts a much broader audience, and is highly questionable for ethical concerns. That abrupt and largely unexplained ending for many great characters remains unforgettable and adds insult to injury for the fans; a truly major setback and ultimately tragic. This became arguably Netflix’s most controversial cancelation for many involved, both viewers and staff involved!
Conclusion: A Cliffhanger That May Never Get Resolved
Netflix offered Marling and Batmanglij a film to conclude the story. They rejected this outright, aiming instead for that single, final season that would do this unbelievably complex show complete justice. It remains one of television’s most iconic cliffhangers ever; leaving behind many questions without resolution and emphasizing a key aspect; audiences really did deeply want the entire story finalized; leaving much anticipation towards the prospect that an ending, however eventual might still be made possible.
