THE OA

Here’s the thing; The OA is the perfect intersection of high art and easily approachable television.
I think that there can be real art in the form of a television series. I mean that there can be both something simple, moving, and easily attainable while still providing all sorts of avenues for artistic expression and there can also be high art. A creation that can be complex, that requires us to think and dismantle and perhaps even put the work into understanding something about the creator in order to delve into the message and the meaning. Art is a language to do just that, to communicate something that isn’t easily portrayed with a phrase, or even a sentence, or even a paragraph. That it requires a whole set of tools in order to convey the message. Because sometimes feelings or messages are complex beyond simple words. The problem with a lot of that kind of art, is in the interpretation of it. ( ⎋Here is a great example of that kind of pay off from the amazing TV show, Ugly Betty). When a work of art becomes too laborious, or feels too complex; or when the emotion or idea the art is attempting to communicate becomes too complex, a lot of people toss it aside, or move on from it, or fail to put the work in to understand it. Which is kind of what that whole Ugly Betty episode from above, is all about… in a way.
This is where television as an art form can shine. It is a media that is used by so many across a broad spectrum of tastes and consumers. It can win back those that would not be convinced at first approach that they should put the work in. It can provide an avenue or a path to those who might feel like the art is not approachable. It can deliver complex and high concept ideas on a platter that is easier to digest, and then in turn encourage further exploration of higher ideas and expression. It can do this without having to break the work of art down into something that would take away from those who already appreciate the art. There is no need to change the path on behalf of the artist, it is a path that can be explored by all. Television is like the electric bicycle of art. All of a sudden many users can ride the same steep hill trail without the need to flatten the trail, taking away the challenge for other riders who might enjoy it, while also providing a great experience to those who would normally not consider riding their bicycle up the hill. Then we all get to the top to see the same amazing view.

Few TV shows capture this element so well as The OA. In many ways, The OA is a perfect case study. It doesn’t sacrifice ambition. It expects something of its audience—faith, patience, empathy—but it gives so much in return: questions about identity, belief, trauma, connection, and the limits of reality. It steeps in genre without becoming limited by it. It delivers surreal, experimental imagery while grounding it all in intimate human storytelling. It’s both avant-garde and comforting. It is the kind of rare thing I’ve come to expect from the amazing artistic team up of Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij.
Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij brought us the amazing films Sound of My Voice and The East. Marling was also responsible for the incredible film, Another Earth.

The OA dives right in at episode 1. Season 1 is the best, season 2 is equally strong, though you should be ready for a shift. The issue here was Netflix completely failing at every turn. I am staggered that Netflix would have the prestige of Marling and Batmanglij in their roster only to squander it based on any number of rotating excuses that are weak at best.

So we only get 2 seasons of The OA, and it ends in a cliffhanger of sorts. Really, for real this time, here really is the thing: Do not watch a trailer, do not read anything else about the show. Know there is a fantastic cast in this scifi-esque dramatic thriller, with Jason Isaacs (most recently White Lotus), Brit Marling, and others including Patrick Gibson, who knocks it out of the park in this series. The OA is the perfect intersection of high concept art presented on a platter of easily approachable story telling. It will have you binging the entire first season ala Portlandia’s Battlestar skit ⎋. And who knows you might start reading TV show blogs.