My rewatch of 'The OA' made me see its ending in a new way

I always felt cheated when 'The OA' got canceled after two seasons, but during a rewatch last month, I realized my mistake. I was so focused on the big puzzle and the cliffhanger that I missed the whole point of the show. The moment that tipped me off was in the season one finale, when Prairie tells her story to the school shooter. For years, I thought the show was about proving the movements worked or solving the mystery of Hap's lab. But that scene is really about the power of a story to change someone in that exact moment, whether it's 'true' or not. I was waiting for a third season to give me answers, but the show already gave me its message. I wanted to see more dimensions and the war they hinted at, but now I think the ending we got, while abrupt, completes its core idea. Has anyone else had a show's early cancellation make you rethink what the story was actually about?

3 comments

3 Comments

olivert182mo ago

My barber told me a wild story last week that I know wasn't true, but it still changed my whole day.

dylanjohnson2mo ago

Barbers are the best for that... mine once told me about a guy who claimed he was a time traveler. Totally fake but I thought about it for hours.

clark.kelly2mo ago

My barber in Chicago told me he once shaved a guy who said he was a ghost. The story was clearly made up, but it made me realize those weird tales are just a fun mental break from normal life. I stopped trying to figure out if they're true and just enjoy the ride.