The OA is Gone and I’m Glad!

I’m glad to see that Netflix put The OA out of our misery. I learned about its cancellation from a coworker, who got the notification over his Smart watch. When he told me, I responded with a firm, “Good riddance!” He was hardly surprised. This colleague is well aware of the utter disgust I had for that series after its first season. I vowed never to give it another chance, and its untimely demise is proof that I was right about that series all along. It was excessively artsy and ambiguous to make up for the fact that it was ultimately a gigantic waste of time. In other words, it’s a stone-cold loser.

Here’s the trailer for the second and final (Yay!) season of this total disaster of a Netflix original series:

The Point Where The OA Bombed…

…It was during the closing moments of season one’s last episode, “Invisible Self.” I invested hours of my life watching someone named Prairie/Sasha/The OA teach some ridiculous gyrations to a group of social outcasts. (I’ve seen better dances routines in Napoleon Dynamite.) The purpose of all that flopping and floundering was supposed to be so the OA could rescue her friend, Homer. During the closing minutes of the last episode, the group of nobodies uses that routine to prevent another tragedy. That’s a good thing, right?

Wrong!

The potential tragedy that those misfits prevented was never hinted at or foreshadowed during the previous 7.5 episodes. It just sort of happens during season one’s final episode. The whole thing was just some contrived device to set up Prairie’s “dimensional shift” into season two. It was precisely at that point that I felt hoodwinked. I invested HOURS of my time into that show only to be let down by a horribly-written ending. That was the point that I took a “quantum leap” far away from The OA.

Which Brings Me to Stuart Sweet…

…Yup, I have a score to settle with him. He foolishly waited two whole years to watch season two of The OA. And what did he get for his loyalty? A gigantic case of disappointment, just like I did after the first season. Here’s what ol’ Stuart had to say about the second season of this flailing series: “The second season was certainly not without its flaws, but it actually started to build a mythology that could have propelled it forward for years. And then, pfft.”

Sounds like season two’s ending was just as disappointing as the last episode of the first season. Ha ha! Yeah, I might be a “junior blogger” who didn’t know what Spotify Premium is, but I’m smart enough to know when to abandon a sinking ship. (Hint: Before there’s no lifeboats left.) With so much great new content available, there’s no need to cling to an abject failure. I’d rather replace a thoroughbred loser with something shiny and new.

Alternate Dimensions… of Suckitude

What’s with all these TV shows about alternate dimensions/timelines/realities? Could it be the firing up of the large Hadron collider at CERN that’s set all this into motion? Whatever the case, most of these shows tend to collapse after their first season. This is especially true with Netflix. Case in point, Dark’s second season is become a total bomb, while Stranger Things continues to circle the bowl. (Yes, I said it.) Even Counterpart, a Starz series, was cancelled after two unremarkable seasons that failed to deliver any real bang for the buck, so to speak.

What’s the matter, sci-fi fans? Did my words leave you spitting mad? If so, you might be itching to prove me wrong by mentioning Lost and Fringe. If you do, you’ll only prove my point. Those two shows employed writing teams that managed to stay consistent season to season. The OA and the other Netflix shows failed because they fell victim to the “Netflix Curse.” It’s what happens when sub-standard writing crushes whatever successes that were delivered during the show’s first season. It’s a total letdown.

Streaming in THIS Reality (For the Most Part)

I’ll never regret skipping The OA’s second season. That gives me time to head over to HBO GO, which has a variety of programming worth watching. One of those shows is Watchmen. I already know what you’re going to say, so I’ll say it for you. Yes, I know that Watchmen is set in an alternate reality. It just so happens that the concept of that reality – where superheroes are treated as criminals – sounds like an awesome concept.

I’m willing to give Watchmen a chance because it’s based on a successful graphic novel. That means there’s less of a chance that the writers will lose the plot, so to speak. Also, it stars Don Johnson, an icon from my generation ever since his Miami Vice days. And to be completely honest, the trailer looks intense:

Most of HBO’s new series and shows seem to be set in our current reality. These include The Righteous Gemstones, Succession, Ballers, Silicon Valley, The Deuce, Hard Knocks, and Room 104. HBO also said we can expect new seasons of Westworld, Insecure, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. (Yes, Larry David’s cringeworthy comedy series about awkward social situations is returning!) All of these shows offer so much promise that I’m willing to overlook His Dark Materials, which is set in the Golden Compass’s magical and mysterious universe.

About the Author

Jake Buckler
Jake Buckler is a cord-cutter, consumer electronics geek, and Celtic folk music fan. Those qualities, and his writing experience, helped him land a copywriting gig at Signal Group, LLC. He also contributes to The Solid Signal Blog.