Unpopular opinion: “The OA” is not, in fact, a “Stranger Things” copycat desperately trying to capitalize on the popularity of the Netflix original series. At first glance, some parallels between the two shows are immediately clear: a cute, naïve girl with strange eyes, supernatural powers, and a mysterious agenda shows up out of nowhere and tries to fit in with society. However, the mood and themes of “The OA” are a sharp departure from “Stranger Things”. “Stranger Things” may have had sinister elements, but it was fun and full of nostalgia, with scenes of stealing waffles and riding bikes.  “The OA” was dark, with themes of trauma, death, and helplessness.

The characters in “The OA” are complex, but they are almost too human. In yet another departure from “Stranger Things,” in which even children are courageous heroes, the characters in “The OA” are often flawed, whiney and cowardly. While this might make them less likeable, they are nonetheless interesting characters that the viewer wants to see more of.

“The OA” does not work to please the audience. Rather, it is a fearless exploration of what the effects of trauma on victims. Prairie, the star of “The OA”, is traumatized by her life experiences. She is anxious, pained and, as acknowledged by another character, possibly unable to ever lead a normal life. She is trying to do something good, but she is still unsure how to live her life, especially since she should be dead and knows it. The traumatic events of Prairie’s past are not something that she can simply abandon, as illustrated by the show’s frequent flashbacks. As much as Prairie’s parents would like her to forget what happened to her, her experiences have left an indelible mark on her psyche. Too often in media, the victim character quickly overcomes whatever happened to them. Prairie’s experience reflects the struggle of real people who must deal with the lasting effects of traumatic experiences on a daily basis, no matter how inconvenient.

“The OA” is not easy to binge watch. The happy ending is elusive.  The plot is completely unclear until the third episode. This combination does not exactly make for a stunningly popular series. However, if viewers are willing to continue watching, the story is completely original, and the characters are engaging. Ultimately, “The OA” is not going to inspire fanatic devotion like “Stranger Things”– no one is going to get OA inspired tattoos anytime soon. However, it is worth watching for its interesting, in depth exploration of trauma and its original premise.