Overheard a couple at the coffee shop arguing about 'The OA' and it got me fired up

They were saying the show was too weird to ever come back, but that's the whole point. It ended on a huge cliffhanger with a 5 season plan, and Netflix just dropped it. I need to know what happened in that dimension. Has anyone else seen a show canceled that just left you hanging like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_pat8d ago

Netflix has to make tough calls on what gets renewed. The OA had a tiny audience compared to something like Stranger Things. Shows are expensive, and if the numbers aren't there, it's just business. Plenty of great shows get canceled early, like Firefly or My So-Called Life. It's frustrating, but that's how TV has always worked. Don't you get more upset when a truly popular show gets a bad ending?

the_morgan8d ago

Saw an interview with a showrunner once that stuck with me. They said Netflix's problem is they only look at the first 30 days of viewing. A show like The OA finds its people slowly, through word of mouth. By canceling it fast, they kill that growth. You're right, the_pat, it is just business. But it's a short-sighted way to do business. Feels like they'd rather have a hundred okay shows that get clicked fast than a few amazing ones that build a real fanbase over time.

olivia_harris197d ago

The OA's cancellation still hurts because it was building something special. I actually think Netflix's 30 day window is a huge flaw, like @the_morgan said. They're missing out on shows that grow slowly but keep people subscribed for years because they love that world. It feels like they chase quick hits instead of building a library of lasting favorites.