Let me start by being blunt and perhaps a bit harsh. In this season, a group of misfits get engaged in a fanciful story told to them by the main character. They go along with the story, buy into it, and believe it. Then, it transpires maybe it was all nonsense and lies but, while they are still processing that, something totally out of the blue happens that means actually it is all true – but then that event had nothing to do with all the stuff that suggests it wasn't true, but then the stuff that suggests it wasn't true doesn't make sense either. The experience of the group is very similar to my experience here, which is why I found The OA to be both an engaging show, and yet also a deeply frustrating one that I will be unlikely to return to.
The journey of the 8 episodes should be the focus, because this is the majority of your viewing time – not the hour of the conclusion. In terms of that journey, it is interesting and I appreciated that it asked a lot of the viewer and I went along with it. Having recently watched Stranger Things (which always seems to be mentioned when discussing The OA), I sort of liked that the show did not seem so polished and packed and eager to please. It develops well, draws in lots of moving parts, has lots of things of interest, and as a journey is actually pretty interesting. It also has that very worthy and serious tone which for some people can justify what it is doing, and for others means they dismiss it as being "up itself"; for me it walked a very fine line but generally I went with it. The performances, the imagination, and the bravery of the show keeps it working, but ultimately we are watching for the story, and this is why the show is so divisive.
The journey leads to a destination and, although The OA is brave to challenge the viewer where Stranger Things panders, there still needs to be a destination. The final hour screws the whole season though. It produces so many plot holes and questions that even someone going with it has to step outside of the moment and say "wait, what?" as it unfolds. The school shooting comes out of nowhere, produces an unconvincing moment, and gives us no answers. And I do not suggest that the whole thing was not tidied up in a neat bundle (no show does this – they all want you back for that next season), I mean it delivers so little of substance, and dismantles so much that I'd trusted, that it does the opposite – it really made me feel like "well, f**k you then".
I normally can see both sides of the argument and find a central position on most things, but even reading people defending the show, I can't reach them. Their words seem like defensive positions because this is what they are. In the end the season leads to a point of frustration where it takes away so much that led the viewer there, and replaces it with questions (which is fine) and plot holes (which is not). As a result I cannot help going back over what I "went with" and trusted in the previous episodes, and taking it apart at the same time – because all of it offers a great story but yet seems content with its own importance and deepness.
Maybe a second season will pull it back together, and deliver a really satisfying and engaging story to go with the other strengths it has; maybe. Personally I really doubt I will be there to find out. When push came to shove, The OA had nothing behind its sweeping gestures, and insightful patience; the conclusion wasn't just bad – it revealed that this was not just a problem of a weak ending, but that it ran through the season. Kudos to those creating it for trying something unusual; well done to those that find a great piece of television here; but ultimately its failure is significant and is not just a minor blot on the copybook.
The journey of the 8 episodes should be the focus, because this is the majority of your viewing time – not the hour of the conclusion. In terms of that journey, it is interesting and I appreciated that it asked a lot of the viewer and I went along with it. Having recently watched Stranger Things (which always seems to be mentioned when discussing The OA), I sort of liked that the show did not seem so polished and packed and eager to please. It develops well, draws in lots of moving parts, has lots of things of interest, and as a journey is actually pretty interesting. It also has that very worthy and serious tone which for some people can justify what it is doing, and for others means they dismiss it as being "up itself"; for me it walked a very fine line but generally I went with it. The performances, the imagination, and the bravery of the show keeps it working, but ultimately we are watching for the story, and this is why the show is so divisive.
The journey leads to a destination and, although The OA is brave to challenge the viewer where Stranger Things panders, there still needs to be a destination. The final hour screws the whole season though. It produces so many plot holes and questions that even someone going with it has to step outside of the moment and say "wait, what?" as it unfolds. The school shooting comes out of nowhere, produces an unconvincing moment, and gives us no answers. And I do not suggest that the whole thing was not tidied up in a neat bundle (no show does this – they all want you back for that next season), I mean it delivers so little of substance, and dismantles so much that I'd trusted, that it does the opposite – it really made me feel like "well, f**k you then".
I normally can see both sides of the argument and find a central position on most things, but even reading people defending the show, I can't reach them. Their words seem like defensive positions because this is what they are. In the end the season leads to a point of frustration where it takes away so much that led the viewer there, and replaces it with questions (which is fine) and plot holes (which is not). As a result I cannot help going back over what I "went with" and trusted in the previous episodes, and taking it apart at the same time – because all of it offers a great story but yet seems content with its own importance and deepness.
Maybe a second season will pull it back together, and deliver a really satisfying and engaging story to go with the other strengths it has; maybe. Personally I really doubt I will be there to find out. When push came to shove, The OA had nothing behind its sweeping gestures, and insightful patience; the conclusion wasn't just bad – it revealed that this was not just a problem of a weak ending, but that it ran through the season. Kudos to those creating it for trying something unusual; well done to those that find a great piece of television here; but ultimately its failure is significant and is not just a minor blot on the copybook.