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Message
The OA (Netflix original series): Discussion Thread **SPOILERS**
Posted on 12/22/16 at 7:20 am
Posted on 12/22/16 at 7:20 am
************SPOILERS BELOW**************
**YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED**
Justification for why I am starting this thread:
1) more and more viewers on this board are finishing the series
2) there seems to be debate/confusion about the ending and the future of the show
3) I am familiar with the team of Marling and Batmanglij from Another Earth, to The East, to Sound of My Voice.
4) I have time to discuss over the holidays.
Apparently for shooting Sound of My Voice, which is about cults, they went undercover and gathered lots of information. More than they put in the film. It was actually going to be a trilogy? Either way, you can tell some of that made it into the OA.
So, that being said, we need to discuss this series. Everything from how you rate it to things that were neat, to things that need clarity.
As for the movements, I have to say that this is something that has shown up in their films before. Some gestures that are shared that no one else would know about if not for another ethereal connection. There was a handshake in Sound of My Voice. There are dance movements here.
**YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED**
Justification for why I am starting this thread:
1) more and more viewers on this board are finishing the series
2) there seems to be debate/confusion about the ending and the future of the show
3) I am familiar with the team of Marling and Batmanglij from Another Earth, to The East, to Sound of My Voice.
4) I have time to discuss over the holidays.
Apparently for shooting Sound of My Voice, which is about cults, they went undercover and gathered lots of information. More than they put in the film. It was actually going to be a trilogy? Either way, you can tell some of that made it into the OA.
So, that being said, we need to discuss this series. Everything from how you rate it to things that were neat, to things that need clarity.
As for the movements, I have to say that this is something that has shown up in their films before. Some gestures that are shared that no one else would know about if not for another ethereal connection. There was a handshake in Sound of My Voice. There are dance movements here.
6
Posted on 12/22/16 at 9:42 am to Pectus
***SPOILERS***
I guess I'll get this started. I'm one of the ones that thought the season finale was pretty bad and kind of ruined the entire season. It felt like I just watched an eight hour long version of the Evan video. Actually, it felt kind of cheap that they threw in a school shooting at the end, almost like they did it for shock value. But it ended like she said it would. She got her five accomplices to do the dance, and she got taken away to her final destination. Seemed like a lot of great building up to a shitty conclusion.
Someone posted a theory that the FBI guy planted those books to make it look like she was making the whole story up. But why? How would the FBI guy even know all of the details of her story? We never see her opening up to anyone completely about her tale to anyone but the group. Was the FBI guy in cahoots with Hap? How? Why? There is nothing to indicate in the show in any way that they're related, or that Hap is working with the government, or the government has any idea about anything she's done or might know. It just doesn't add up.
In the end, it's just a show about a collection of misfits that find each other and work together... and don't really, in the grand scheme of things, accomplish anything. Sure, they do the dance and distract the shooter for a moment, but it's not like anything mystical happened. Their friend died, and even Steven realized that when Prairie was getting driven off in the ambulance, that she was disappearing to her final stop.
So what would be the point of another season? All of the questions were pretty well wrapped up in the show. The scars on her back were explained. The "movements" were pretty well explained. Her story ended like she said it would. What more do you want?
The show itself was a different twist on The Breakfast Club, The Usual Suspects, and god knows what else. But the show was all about her telling her story. I'm not sure you could have a second season without already cheapening a pretty cheap first season. For the first seven episodes, I would have given the show somewhere between a 7-8 out of 10, but with the conclusion, it's a solid 6. The story's over. It didn't make me care enough about any of the other characters to watch another season about their story, and even if they did, I don't see how they could make it as interesting a second time around. Overall, a decent show, but zero desire to watch it again or a second season.
*** SPOILERS ***
This post was edited on 12/22/16 at 10:39 am
Posted on 12/22/16 at 9:59 am to Pectus
Series gets a 10/10 for me because of the Olive Garden bitch slap scene alone. I can watch that over and over again.
Posted on 12/22/16 at 10:29 am to P-Dawg
quote:
The story's over. It didn't make me care enough about any of the other characters to watch another season about their story, and even if they did, I don't see how they could make it as interesting a second time around. Overall, a decent show, but zero desire to watch it again or a second season.
The next season would have to focus on the people from the basement and the crazy doctor. We shall see
Also, I updated the original thread - if you have spoilers that aren't super clearly marked before and after your post please go back to it and update.
Thanks,
Posted on 12/22/16 at 10:45 am to BaddestAndvari
quote:
The next season would have to focus on the people from the basement and the crazy doctor. We shall see
I know that would be the logical step, but I just don't see how it would fit with the structure of the first season. The first season was basically her telling a story with some present day intermingled. And since it was her telling a story, that's kind of what made the show intriguing. Trying to figure out if it was real or not.
To go and do a second season couldn't really follow that same structure. They could follow one of the other characters, but what could they do? Make another character escape? Try to get five other people to do the dance? They've already gone that route.
Doctor Hap? There's nothing really mystical or mysterious about his character. I just don't see it going over as well as the first season could have.
Posted on 12/22/16 at 12:11 pm to P-Dawg
quote:
I guess I'll get this started. I'm one of the ones that thought the season finale was pretty bad and kind of ruined the entire season
I've seen this reaction from several people and don't agree at all. Right now I'm rewatching (watched alone, now have my wife and kid watching - on episode 5 with them). When she has another NDE after getting hit by HAP and she revisits Khatun, she is told that the five will come together to stop a great tragedy. One immediately assumes that this refers to the people in the lab. It doesn't . This makes the school shooting incident their predestined purpose. Completely relevant.
I love how the show ended with the unanswered questions. There are several clues that support either interpretation regarding the truth or falsehood of her story. A series finale, in my mind, should always lead to discussion just like is happening here. Every question doesn't need to be answered and neatly gift wrapped. It creates so much anticipation for a second season.
This post was edited on 12/22/16 at 12:23 pm
Posted on 12/22/16 at 12:42 pm to Pectus
I loved the show. Especially her origin story. The ending was disappointing to me because we had a resurrection and a miraculous healing in the middle, so I expected something truly angelic for the end.
Posted on 12/22/16 at 1:45 pm to P-Dawg
quote:
Someone posted a theory that the FBI guy planted those books to make it look like she was making the whole story up. But why? How would the FBI guy even know all of the details of her story? We never see her opening up to anyone completely about her tale to anyone but the group. Was the FBI guy in cahoots with Hap? How? Why? There is nothing to indicate in the show in any way that they're related, or that Hap is working with the government, or the government has any idea about anything she's done or might know. It just doesn't add up.
A. I am assuming that OA's story is true.
B.The biggest hole in her story is that the people in captivity via Hap's dead doctor friend would make national news. That would be easy to google.
That is unless the FBI gets in front of the story. Covers it up to begin their own study. So the FBI is aware of the studies and is trying to see what OA knows.
quote:
So what would be the point of another season? All of the questions were pretty well wrapped up in the show. The scars on her back were explained. The "movements" were pretty well explained. Her story ended like she said it would. What more do you want?
I agree that there really isn't a point to new season but they left it open to one
This post was edited on 12/22/16 at 1:48 pm
Posted on 12/22/16 at 2:53 pm to Dire Wolf
I also think her story is true.
I think she told the FBI guy more than they've shown her telling him simply because she has seemed to become quite comfortable with him. The FBI would definitely have interest in covering up a story that involves interdimensional travel. Remember that it was him who suggested that the family should go out and do something together (thus creating the opportunity to plant the books). And the motive is simply so her parents will find them, possibly institutionalize her, or at the very least just discredit her story.
As far as the hole in her story, I find it somewhat plausible. Homer just knocked up his girlfriend and even he thinks that his baby momma thinks he just ran off to avoid responsibility - so it is safe to assume his family would think the same (as opposed to an abduction). Similar train of thought with Rachel - she was running off to try to raise her little brother on her own when she got in a wreck that killed him. A girl that was running off already, who is then distraught at causing in some way the death of her brother - could be assumed to have just "run off" as opposed to being abducted. And Scott has said that he really doesn't have anyone around that cares about him. Renata would be the only one that really vanished for unknown reasons.
For me, this series is a 10/10 and I look forward to another season. And from what I've read, they've thought that far ahead and have much more planned.
I think she told the FBI guy more than they've shown her telling him simply because she has seemed to become quite comfortable with him. The FBI would definitely have interest in covering up a story that involves interdimensional travel. Remember that it was him who suggested that the family should go out and do something together (thus creating the opportunity to plant the books). And the motive is simply so her parents will find them, possibly institutionalize her, or at the very least just discredit her story.
As far as the hole in her story, I find it somewhat plausible. Homer just knocked up his girlfriend and even he thinks that his baby momma thinks he just ran off to avoid responsibility - so it is safe to assume his family would think the same (as opposed to an abduction). Similar train of thought with Rachel - she was running off to try to raise her little brother on her own when she got in a wreck that killed him. A girl that was running off already, who is then distraught at causing in some way the death of her brother - could be assumed to have just "run off" as opposed to being abducted. And Scott has said that he really doesn't have anyone around that cares about him. Renata would be the only one that really vanished for unknown reasons.
For me, this series is a 10/10 and I look forward to another season. And from what I've read, they've thought that far ahead and have much more planned.
Posted on 12/22/16 at 3:20 pm to Dire Wolf
quote:
B.The biggest hole in her story is that the people in captivity via Hap's dead doctor friend would make national news. That would be easy to google.
That is my question. Was Homer THE football guy in the news/talk show clip they showed? Or was that another guy?
Posted on 12/22/16 at 6:39 pm to TigrrrDad
Oh dang.
Well that makes it go back to her making it up.
She got his character from the news reels.
Well that makes it go back to her making it up.
She got his character from the news reels.
Posted on 12/22/16 at 7:58 pm to Pectus
quote:
Oh dang.
Well that makes it go back to her making it up.
She got his character from the news reels.
**Kinda spoilers for Mr. Robot ahead***
While I could see them going this direction... Anonymous content already did something similar to this with Mr. Robot
So I just don't see them going the completely made up route again
This post was edited on 12/22/16 at 8:00 pm
Posted on 12/22/16 at 8:09 pm to BaddestAndvari
quote:what's up bro? should I watch this?
BaddestAndvari
Posted on 12/22/16 at 10:54 pm to Pectus
quote:
Well that makes it go back to her making it up.
That still doesn't explain how she got her sight back
Posted on 12/22/16 at 11:21 pm to Pectus
Going to rewatch the last episode before I post in here.
I'm not clear on a few things just yet.
Gut reaction is I like it, but I feel like I missed something.
I'm not clear on a few things just yet.
Gut reaction is I like it, but I feel like I missed something.
This post was edited on 12/22/16 at 11:23 pm
Posted on 12/23/16 at 12:58 am to Fearthehat0307
quote:
what's up bro? should I watch this?
This, stranger things, and crazy head
Watch them over Christmas break
Posted on 12/23/16 at 1:18 am to Pectus
quote:
Oh dang.
Well that makes it go back to her making it up.
She got his character from the news reels.
Not necessarily - it could just as well support her story by showing that Homer is real.
Several things are indisputable about her story. She was definitely Russian - the video on her video camera that Abel shot supports this. And the fact that she played classical violin supports that she was probably well off. While the story of Homer's scar came after French got his, she told Rachel's story about the red backpack in the street at the accident scene before Buck saw the same thing in their neighborhood (scene with the flares). There was video of her playing the violin in New York to support that aspect. And she definitely had specific premonitions about the shooting - right down to the high ceilings, lots of glass, and clanking sounds (silverware in the cafeteria) and knew right where to run.
My family just finished, and my son's immediate reaction was the same as many here - the last part of the finale ruined a good series. However, all it took was the mere suggestion that Rogue One (FBI therapist) planted the books (why else was he in the house) to make him completely rethink everything. Also, the presence of the books, even if they weren't planted, doesn't have to mean that her story was made up. If you had a near death experience, wouldn't you be interested in reading about the experiences of others? If she was in love with Homer, what would be so unusual about reading classical literature that gave her some sort of emotional attachment to "Homer"?
A couple tidbits I picked up watching for the second time:
-In the first episode when she is being interviewed by the police, she speaks about how they died more times than you could count. Finding out what the "experiment" was came off as shocking when I first saw it, so seeing that comment in the first episode was profound.
-When they show OA standing outside the cafeteria with the bullet hole in the glass, there are FIVE cracks branching out from the bullet hole (my son caught this one).
-As I mentioned, Buck sees a red backpack at an accident scene in the neighborhood. Rachel described the same thing in her story, and this was long before Buck saw it.
-My son also noticed that in the finale, French is wearing the same clothes that Homer was wearing when they went to snatch Renata in Cuba.
(These last two lend credence to the theory that the new "five" are the other captives in another dimension.)
-I've read that in the FBI guy's office or on the wall or somewhere, "Rachel" is spelled out in braille. Possibility that Rogue One is linked to HAP somehow?
Damn I loved this series - even more on the second watch. The fact that there is so much evidence to support either view about her story is what makes it so great. The entire season was just so intricately crafted. There are a lot of series that I'm really fond of, but this one just stands out as a work of art to me.
ETA: I suggest that people google a few articles about this series. I've read several takes one everything and the more you learn, the more differing views you're exposed to, the better it gets.
This post was edited on 12/23/16 at 1:21 am
Posted on 12/23/16 at 4:05 pm to whodidthat
quote:
That still doesn't explain how she got her sight back
If you believe she made it up, you would have to assume that her blindness was side effect from the psychological trauma she experienced. In other words her blindness would be somatic
Posted on 12/24/16 at 12:00 am to Pectus
Was there any significance to Steven stabbing her in the leg with a pencil? I found it interesting that she abandoned her no touching policy to hug him. But it can't be a random act of anger that he stabbed her right?
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