The OA Season 1 Overview: Started Off Strong But Fizzled In The End

"The OA" is currently streaming on NetFlix. There are eight episodes total. A blind women reemerges after being missing for seven years. Somehow she has miraculously regained her eyesight during that time. Her long suffering adoptive parents have no idea what happened and Prairie isnt confiding in them. Instead she amasses a group of followers in the form of four teenagers and their teacher. Each person is searching for something in their life. Prairie's story unfolds during multiple clandestine meetings.

Prairie was kidnapped (along with several others) and kept in an underground missile silo. Her capture (we'll call him Happ) is a physician who is obsessively searching for the secret of life after death. He drugs and drowns his subjects just to bring them back to life over and over again. Watching the helpless victims slowly drown was definitely the most frightening part of the series. It still gives me the willies.

Prairie and company discover a series of five movements that alter reality (and brings one person back to life). We learn that "OA" (the initials Prairie goes by) stands for "Original Angel". There's lots of talk about metaphysics, portals, and alternate dimensions. I do not profess to understand any of this. Prairie plans to teach her new followers the movements in the hopes of locating her love interest Homer and the others.

This is all fine and good but then we arrive at the final scene. I wont give it away but...seriously? This ending doesnt fit at all IMHO (but no one asked me).

Grade: 3 Monsters (out of 5). "The OA" started off strong but in the end lost my interest. It took WAY too long for the story to unfold. The show not what I expected. At first it appeared to be about trauma and recovery. Then it was about abduction. Then it was about alternate dimensions and life after death. Then it was perhaps about the effects of a charismatic leader on malleable individuals. Who knows. Maybe it's all too deep for me. Apparently I'm not among the majority since NetFlix has announced a season 2. I'll be passing but I hope the OA and her followers find what they're looking for.