Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Strange, supernatural sci-fi series has disturbing content.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The OA
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 15 parent reviews
Parents say the show struggles with pacing and clarity, often feeling slow and repetitive, while some find its graphic sexual content and language to be excessive and inappropriate, particularly for younger viewers. Conversely, others appreciate the show's unique storytelling and thought-provoking themes, arguing that despite the heavy adult content, it presents important messages about hope and self-made families.
- slow pacing
- explicit content
- thought-provoking themes
- engaging storytelling
- mixed reviews
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 14 kid reviews
Kids say the show is engaging and thought-provoking, making it a favorite for many viewers, though it contains mature themes like strong language, nudity, and drug use that may not be suitable for younger audiences. While some found the pacing slow and the explicit content off-putting, others praised the acting and the intricate plot, suggesting it is best recommended for older teens.
- mature themes
- engaging plot
- slow pacing
- explicit content
- strong performances
- not for children
Summarized with AI
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?
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
- Premiere date : December 16, 2016
- Cast : Brit Marling , Alice Krige , Jason Isaacs
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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