Parents' Guide to

The OA

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Strange, supernatural sci-fi series has disturbing content.

TV Netflix Drama 2016
The OA Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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age 16+

Based on 19 parent reviews

LlamaLogic152
LlamaLogic152 Adult
March 27, 2019
age 15+
The OA is a beautifully directed show with some very important and thought provoking themes. Some may say that the show has too much sex or violence, but I would disagree saying that it doesn’t have more than what children are already exposed to everyday throughout media usage. The OA presents messages of self made families and of hope in a very unique and authentic way. Along with this the story telling of the show is able to draw you in and it keeps you wondering what will happen next. Although the reviews for this show are not all positive I recommend that you open your mind to the messages of this show and try to give it a chance.

This title has:

Great messages
1 person found this helpful.
wolf214wolf
wolf214wolf Adult
March 25, 2019
age 13+

really good show, but not for the smallest

The show is put out very well, maybe not for everyone. If you like it, you'll love it. Yes, it contains some nudity but teens are used to that these days, I mean if you open the internet adult videos are probably the easiest to find. Language wise, the show is not more than what most people are used too.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
1 person found this helpful.
See all 19 parent reviews

What's the Story?

THE OA is a mystery thriller about a young woman who is coping with traumatic events and how she makes sense of her life afterward. Without giving too much away, the series stars Brit Marling as Prairie Johnson, a young woman who reappears seven years after going missing. But her return to the community she grew up in marks the beginning of a strange awakening among a handful of high school teens, including Steve Winchell (Patrick Gibson), French (Brandon Perea), Buck Vu (Ian Alexander), and teacher Betty Broderick-Allen (Phyllis Smith). Meanwhile, Prairie, who now wants to be known as the OA, hopes that with their help she can find a way to fulfill what she believes is her mission: to help the people she left behind.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (19):
Kids say (13):

This unique Netflix series mixes edgy realism with mysticism, time travel, and horror to create a viewing experience that is as confusing as it is engaging. It tells a good story, but the narrative's constant flashbacks are sudden and jarring, and current events often fail to explain the logic behind it all. There is a spiritual component to it, too, but these moments feel awkward and are often overshadowed by the disturbing drowning scenes that precede them.

All this being said, The OA is compelling if you're looking for something that's strange and unpredictable. The strong cast, which also includes Jason Isaacs, Emory Cohen, Scott Wilson, and Alice Krige, also makes the series easy to commit to. It isn't an easy journey, but the unique blend of genres will be an interesting watch for some viewers.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what makes a good story. What are some of the risks producers and writers take when they produce series that break away from traditional ways of storytelling, such as in The OA? Can you think of any shows that are noteworthy or popular because they're so unique and creative?

  • Families can also talk about mysteries. Why are we drawn to tales of the unknown?

TV Details

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