‘The OA’ = best cancelled show ever? Vote in the Bingewatch Awards
Netflix has once again laid waste to a show before its time was up. The OA was praised by Netflix’s VP of Original Content Cindy Holland shortly before part two dropped, yet she was the one to drop the news that part two would be the end of The OA. Naturally, the fanbase is angry because this show ended on the worst note.
Watch out for spoilers below.
The OA is a finalist in our annual Bingewatch Awards. Do you think The OA is the best sci-fi TV show to ever be cancelled? Then you need to vote for your show now.
You have until Saturday, September 7th to vote for your fandom favorite. We’re breaking it down into two important and controversial categories: Best U.S. Streaming Platform & Best Show to Bingewatch. Make sure to tell us your favorites and tweet at us when you’ve voted for your faves. Here’s why you need to vote for The OA.
The data could help The OA be saved
A petition with over 100,000 signatures demands Netflix give the show at least one final season to get closure, though fans want the five seasons the creators planned. Advocacy has continued for years without success, yet the core frustration remains unchanged. Fans should fight for The OA even though it didn’t strictly end on a cliffhanger. The OA is 100% what Netflix is all about: taking unpredictable, provocative programs that could never make it on network television and giving them a home. The OA brought twists and turns while being sincere and giving us the sci-fi thrills we love so much. Imagine if a 50-hour movie got cut off at hour 16. You’d be angry too if you couldn’t find out the ending. That’s exactly how The OA’s fans feel about its cancellation. A vote for The OA can show decision-makers how important the show truly is.
Ongoing Fan Campaigns and Digital Legacy
Petitions remain active with historical totals exceeding 100k signatures. Coordinated campaigns and fan content continue on Reddit and other platforms as of 2026. The same arguments that surfaced in 2019 keep resurfacing because the story still feels unfinished. Digital archives of early reaction videos and discussion threads continue to circulate, preserving the raw disappointment that followed the cancellation announcement.
Cast and Creator Statements on Potential Return
Jason Isaacs confirmed in 2025 interviews that he, Brit Marling, and Zal Batmanglij will not let it go and have mapped out future seasons. The three have dined recently to discuss next steps. Marling and Batmanglij also entered a multi-year creative partnership with Sister, the production company led by former Netflix VP Cindy Holland, the same executive who announced the original cancellation. These developments have renewed cautious optimism among longtime viewers.
Rights Reversion Timeline and Industry Context
Rights to The OA may plausibly revert around 2029 under standard co-production terms involving Plan B and Anonymous Content. That window gives the creators and potential new partners a concrete period to explore revival options. Industry observers note that similar reversion timelines have led to renewed negotiations for other ambitious series that initially seemed permanently shelved.
The OA's Place in Streaming Sci-Fi History
Retrospectives from 2025-2026 position The OA as emblematic of bold but risky Netflix originals. The series is frequently referenced when discussing the sci-fi genre’s challenges on streaming platforms, where ambitious storytelling often collides with short-term performance metrics. Its abrupt end remains a cautionary example cited by creators and executives alike.
Planned Story Arcs Beyond Season 2
Creators originally planned five seasons. Season 3 was envisioned as a meta narrative taking place inside a television production soundstage, complete with layered dimensions and self-referential storytelling. Those specific plans underscore just how much narrative ground remained unexplored when the series was cut short after only two installments.
The OA means a lot to its fans
We were very lucky to be able to speak with The OA fans about why they love the show. Fan groups and discussions remain active on platforms like Reddit as of 2026. The legacy of emotional impact continues to be cited in retrospectives long after the final episode aired.
Matthew said:
“The story is so realistic and compelling. The passion and detail that has gone into the writing and even the set design is not something I had ever seen before. The OA’s painstaking amount of detail linking the two existing seasons go far and above foreshadowing. There are groups devoted almost entirely to finding similarities and links between characters, dialog, symbols, and images. The emotions you experience watching this show are powerful. You won’t find anyone who has seen the show that didn’t get chills at BBA saying: ‘My boys!’ or Steve chasing the ambulance screaming: ‘Take me with you!’”
JP said:
“The OA does what any show is trying to do, connect to the audience. It does it in the most extreme and beautiful ways. Anything that keeps me glued to the screen is something peculiar nowadays, there is just so much entertainment out there and if I am not checking my phone for entire episodes then it’s really something special. This kept me thinking between episodes and still today. It provokes positive, expansive thoughts and that is what this world needs more of. I fully believe that The OA is very important in today’s society, we need it more now than ever.”
Bela said:
“I think The OA is a unique show. Its world, its story can be explained in many different ways: with psychological only theories, with physics, with alien influences, etc. It is very artistic too, with lot of pareidolia and apophenia feelings (automatically happen in the viewer). It uses many modern magical theories, shows methods and models from modern thinkers. I think this movie is very fresh. I didn’t see any other movie with such new thoughts.”
The combination of sustained fan energy, recent creator comments, and a clear rights timeline keeps the conversation about The OA alive years after its cancellation. Whether those elements ever converge into new episodes remains uncertain, yet the case for finishing the story has only grown stronger with time.
