Is The OA woke?
TV Show · 2016
The OA has a wokeness score of 7/10, which we rate as Strongly Ideological. Woke messaging is very prominent and often feels forced or shoehorned in. Characters and plot are primarily shaped to serve the ideology. Many viewers feel the agenda overshadows the entertainment.
Key points
- Features prominent transgender character Buck played by trans actor Ian Alexander as authentic representation.
- Ensemble of marginalized misfits emphasizes themes of identity, acceptance, and found family.
- Diversity casting and minority voices positioned as intentional highlights in reviews and production.
Wokeness analysis
The OA prominently features intentional diversity and inclusion elements that serve as key narrative drivers rather than organic background details. A central supporting character, Buck, is a transgender youth portrayed by transgender actor Ian Alexander, with the casting explicitly designed to highlight authentic trans representation of color. Reviews and production notes emphasize this as groundbreaking LGBTQ visibility, with the character's storyline integrated into the group's formation and the show's exploration of identity, trauma, and connection. The series also spotlights minority voices and challenges traditional norms around disability, gender, and belonging through its ensemble of misfit characters recruited for a mystical mission. While the core plot revolves around near-death experiences, interdimensional travel, and a sacred dance, these elements frequently intersect with progressive messaging on acceptance, non-binary identity, and critiquing societal marginalization. Conservative-leaning audiences often perceive the trans inclusion and emphasis on diverse 'found family' dynamics as shoehorned ideological priorities that overshadow the sci-fi mystery, making the show feel message-driven in its character construction and thematic focus on empathy for the 'other.' This aligns with broader Netflix-era trends of embedding social commentary, elevating the wokeness beyond subtle inclusion into prominent ideological territory without fully dominating the entertainment but frequently drawing attention to itself.
Plot
The OA follows Prairie Johnson, a young woman who returns home after seven years missing, now able to see despite prior blindness. She renames herself the OA, claiming to be an 'original angel' who endured captivity and near-death experiences that unlocked interdimensional travel via a series of sacred movements or dances. Recruiting five troubled locals—including a transgender teen, a teacher, and others—she trains them in these movements to open portals, prevent tragedy, and explore alternate realities. The narrative spans timelines of captivity, escape, and high-stakes missions blending mystery, supernatural elements, and personal redemption across two seasons released in 2016 and 2019.
Analyzed by AI on June 8, 2026