Netflix's The OA

[Ubik]

Been reading many many glowing reviews of this show. Am going to give it a try this week. Looks to be intriguing and tightly plotted with multiple layers. I'm definitely game!

[babylonlurker]

I just finished watching The OA, I think it has, to a certain extent, some echoes of Twin Peaks, but it is definitely its own thing.
An odd show, that will make people think.

It does, however start a bit slow.

My spoiler free review : I liked it.

[Ubik]

I just watched the pilot and loved the tone, acting and cinematography.

Wasn't at all what I was expecting. I think Sense8 fans would get a lot out of this.

[babylonlurker]

Wasn't at all what I was expecting. I think Sense8 fans would get a lot out of this.

I agree with that assessment. I also found some Twin Peaks vibes.

[sense8ional]

It's great, I loved it.

[Ubik]

Well, I just finished up watching The OA and WOW, this was one pitch perfect piece of TV. If you have Netflix, do yourself a favour and watch this. Just beautiful, clever, restrained and nuanced storytelling, with a strong emotional core. One thing that struck me, is that with very little high drama, all characters matter to you by the time the 8 episodes wrap up.

Part of me selfishly hopes they aren't tempted to make a second season, as this should be allowed stand alone as it is. There is nothing that needs explaining or concluding, it's perfect as it is. If it were to be continued, it would need to be an anthology style thing with different characters, fresh start and a fresh story.

I compared this to Sense8 in my earlier post as I feel it's on a similar wavelength, but it has something I felt Sense8 was sorely lacking; subtlety. Things are implied, important points are made a about the human condition, but none of it is hammered home, they let the viewer take the leap and draw conclusions. It's a smart show, but it's very humble about it. It has a certain grace, befitting its central themes

Easily some of the best TV I've seen in ages. Bravo Netflix, Bravo!

[sense8ional]

A second season has been confirmed and the creators promise they know the answers to all the mysteries and when you rewatch the first season you are going to be like "Wow, everything was there from the beginning!"

You have to watch Sound of My Voice now, the first part in a trilogy that doesn't look like it will ever get completed.. but it appears it has been soft-rebooted and extended in the form of The OA.

It's just as great.

[Ubik]

A second season has been confirmed and the creators promise they know the answers to all the mysteries and when you rewatch the first season you are going to be like "Wow, everything was there from the beginning!"

You have to watch Sound of My Voice now, the first part in a trilogy that doesn't look like it will ever get completed.. but it appears it has been soft-rebooted and extended in the form of The OA.

It's just as great.

Damn... as much as I don't begrudge them the success. Part of me doesn't want to see a second season, as I don't want answers or things spelled out. To me that would ruin the beauty and magic of the first season.

I am very curious to see how they go about it. If they were to perhaps continue following the other characters. Or follow another one of the captives. I predict we may get Homer's story. If handled well, it could be good. But as a stand alone piece, it's just perfect. It doesn't feel lacking in any way.

Will check out Sound of my Voice. Cheers for that.

[phazedout]

I'm netflixing this with my good friend riitis usually of a Friday evening. Seh comes over, I feed her and we sit on couch watching. There was a really weird 30 odd minute episode, which kinda cuaght me off guard. I like how each episode is the length the story needs it to be. Streaming TV frees writers to tell the stories their own way, rahter than being limited by a broadcast/42 minute format.

Tell me is anyone crazy enough to want to podcast about this with me? My own stargate one is coming to an end.

[Ubik]

So S2 is live, and I am having to eat my words. This is once again, beautiful, inventive and razor sharp in its intelligence.

[babylonlurker]

I have been away to the Sense8Con2, so I still need to find time to watch.

[Ubik]

I have been away to the Sense8Con2, so I still need to find time to watch.

I finished S2 and it blew my mind. It does remind me of Sense8 in terms of ambition, but I think this show has the smarts to back it all up. Tightly plotted, some insanely wonderful bizarre moments and very emotionally resonant. Just excellent TV.

[sense8ional]

Cancelled, like the vast majority of Netflix series once they reach season 2 or at most 3. https://deadline.com/2019/08/the-oa-...ns-1202661408/

"We are incredibly proud of the 16 mesmerizing chapters of The OA, and are grateful to Brit and Zal for sharing their audacious vision and for realizing it through their incredible artistry," said Cindy Holland, VP of Original Content, Netflix. "We look forward to working with them again in the future, in this and perhaps many other dimensions."

Netflix has a relatively high Season 1 to Season 2 renewal rate (around 80%) but the threshold gets significantly higher after Seasons 2 and 3 as series get more expensive for Netflix and the cost vs. viewership is heavily scrutinized in the renewal decision-making process. The majority of Netflix's original scripted shows last two or three seasons.

Deadline published an article not that long ago that explains why Netflix will very rarely renew a show beyond the 2nd or 3rd season: https://deadline.com/2019/03/netflix...me-1202576297/

Instead, Netflix's deals include bump/bonuses after each season that are getting progressively bigger. While the payments are relatively modest after Season 1 and a little bigger after Season 2, I hear they escalate after Season 3, especially for series owned by Netflix - sometimes from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars - as the studio starts to pay off the shows' back-end. For series from outside studios, which I hear cost about 20% more than their Netflix-produced counterparts, I hear the built-in payment increases do not skyrocket as much but still are bigger after Season 3, Season 4 and beyond.

...

I hear that, according to Netflix's data, beyond Season 2-3, middle-of-the road series - even those with loyal fan base like One Day at a Time - would not generate significant new signups.

But shiny new things will. Netflix's strategy to grow subscription base is focused on introducing new series all the time, sometimes multiple ones each weekend. According to industry observers, fans of some of the canceled series would be disappointed by their demise but not upset enough to drop Netflix as there is new product coming out all the time that catches their attention.

"At the core of their business is churn," one industry insider said, noting that there are always subscribers who drop Netflix after a free trial period or a month or two later, and the goal is to get more people to sign up, which comes mostly thanks to hot new series everyone is talking about.

As an asset, having 30 episodes of a series (three seasons) is considered enough to satisfy viewers discovering the show. Tacking on more episodes does not add significant value, I hear. "A show doesn't serve a purpose [anymore]," an observer said. "There is no reason for the network to continue to invest in it."

Also, see Sense8.

[Looney]

Cancelled, like the vast majority of Netflix series once they reach season 2 or at most 3. https://deadline.com/2019/08/the-oa-...ns-1202661408/



Deadline published an article not that long ago that explains why Netflix will very rarely renew a show beyond the 2nd or 3rd season: https://deadline.com/2019/03/netflix...me-1202576297/



Also, see Sense8.

This is why I hear STRANGER THINGS won't get more than one more season. I so want to see what else they come up with. Season 3 was sooo good. I wonder if they will do any spin-offs. I'd love to see DUSTIN & STEVE'S SCOOPS AHOY ADVENTURES. LOL

And speaking of shows that will likely just have one more season, tomorrow one of my new favorites GLOW will have its Season 3 premier. My guess is it will definitely be the final season, but who knows. Anyone else watch GLOW on Netflix?

[Ubik]

Man, this sucks. The OA was one of the smartest SF shows on Netflix. I wish they'd offset the more artsy 'cult' shows with the massive success of say, Stranger Things (which, imho, isn't ever that great. Eminently watchable, but nothing special). The OA was something special. Whip smart and really different. They had a future cult classic on their hands and they sink the ship. I mean, after THAT S2 cliffhanger that pretty much broke the fourth wall... Damn. Curse you Netflix! Curse youuuuuuu!