Why did a cult-hit Netflix mystery drama spark a real-world hunger strike?
In short: When Netflix canceled The OA after two seasons, fans launched a global campaign to save the show. They funded Times Square billboards, performed interpretive dance movements from the series, and one devotee even staged a hunger strike outside the company's headquarters, proving the show's intense, almost spiritual hold on its audience.
Created by Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij, The OA debuted in 2016 as a genre-defying mystery. The story follows Prairie Johnson, a young woman who returns home after seven years of disappearance, miraculously cured of her blindness. She calls herself the OA—or original angel—and recruits five locals to help her open a portal to another dimension. The creators developed the story aurally over two years, acting out scenes to refine the narrative before pitching it to studios.
The series is noted for its surrealism and ambition, blending science fiction, fantasy, and supernatural elements. Its production involved unique creative choices, such as choreography by Ryan Heffington, whose interpretive dance movements became a central, iconic feature of the show. While critics were initially polarized, the second season earned widespread acclaim, with Rotten Tomatoes scores rising from 77% to 92%. Publications like Empire and the BBC later ranked it among the greatest television series of the 21st century.
Despite its critical success and a planned five-season arc, Netflix canceled the show in August 2019, leaving fans with a cliffhanger. The cancellation triggered an extraordinary response, with creators Marling and Batmanglij expressing deep sadness over the unfinished story. The fan base's dedication remained steadfast for years; as recently as June 2025, actor Jason Isaacs, who played the antagonist Hap, suggested that the creators and cast remain committed to finding a way to bring the series back.
The show remains a polarizing but significant experiment in television auteurism. Reviewers have described it as both "ludicrous" and "genius," often noting that the viewing experience is unlike anything else on television. By challenging audiences to abandon traditional expectations of plausibility, The OA carved out a unique space in modern genre storytelling, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire fervent debate and hope for a revival.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The OA
- Also: Wikidata — The OA · CC0
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