Stranger Things' impressive five-season run makes it hard not to wonder what another incredible Netflix sci-fi series would've been like if it had lasted so long. Many original sci-fi shows on Netflix were canceled before they could reach their natural conclusions, but Stranger Things managed to become a rare exception.
After first landing on Netflix in 2016, Stranger Things quickly rose in the ranks to become one of the most valuable sci-fi IPs for the streamer. With its final installment, which will be split into three parts, Stranger Things is all set to end its incredible run before returning to the streaming service with other potential follow-ups and spin-offs.
Unfortunately, while Stranger Things thrived, another epic sci-fi show on Netflix struggled to last as long. Its creators seemingly had the vision and ambition to turn it into something as influential as Stranger Things, but Netflix pulled the plug on it before it reached its true potential.
Like Stranger Things, The OA Could've Had A 5-Season Run On Netflix
The OA's Creators Had Envisioned Five Seasons For The Series
Brit Marling as Prairie Johnson in The OA
Netflix's The OA boasts an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score of 84%, with its second season having a 92% critics' rating. The show is often touted as a sci-fi masterpiece by many who watched it on Netflix, and, despite being canceled in 2019, the show managed to garner 96.1 million views across its first season between January 2023 and December 2024 (via Unilad).
The OA's creators, Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij, had initially envisioned a five-season run for the show when they pitched it to Netflix. Unfortunately, their ambitions were cut short when Netflix canceled The OA after season 2, even though the show had a massive cult following.
Given how The OA and Stranger Things premiered in the same year and showed incredible promise with their opening seasons, The OA's early cancellation leaves one with a massive "what if" about what it could have become. Despite delivering a compelling opening season, The OA significantly improved in season 2.
If it had been given the opportunity to last longer, it is possible that its following would have grown with each installment, which would have allowed Marling and Batmanglij to fully realize their five-part vision. The story beats from The OA's seasons 1 and 2 show how it was designed to evolve into something even more brilliant if only it had been as fortunate as Stranger Things.
The OA's Cast & Creators Still Believe It Can Return
Jason Isaacs Also Hopes The Show Will Return In The Future
The OA's creators have previously revealed that Netflix gave them the opportunity to wrap the series with a final movie. However, realizing that the show deserved far more, they declined the offer. It has been over five years since The OA's cancellation, but many viewers still cannot help but demand its return.
In a 2023 interview (via Vulture), Brit Marling opened up about how The OA's cancellation was unfair and even revealed that "if the right conditions and circumstances come again," the show might return. Jason Isaacs, who played the primary villain in the Netflix series, also talked about how he still laments the show and highlighted how they would be willing to pick it up again if given the chance.
Many years have passed since The OA's second season came out, which significantly reduces the odds of its return. However, the fact that the demand for its return is still quite high and even its cast and crew want it to return makes one hopeful that Netflix or some other streaming service will give it a second shot.
