There is one episode recap per page, so dig in and read along while you watch.
The answer, it seems, isnt going to come to us as easily as we might like.
Shes obviously unstable, but is there something real to her wild imagination?
Credit: JoJo Whilden/Netflix
This is why we came here, it seems.
Shes none too pleased about having survived her fall, but her lips are sealed as to why.
Prairie, but letting her touch her face.
But random walks out in the nothingness by herself are just fine.
But her price is steeper than some mere modem.
Hes probably going to get shipped off to military-style reform camp anyway, so why not, right?
Its only then that we finally get the opening credits, a whopping 55 minutes into this business.
The only thing missing is telekinesis and a box of Eggo waffles, really, but anyway.
We were a message, you see?
From the void to our parents.
A message that said you are powerful to be sure, but you are not all powerful.
The youngest sons and daughters of every Russian zion was on the bus that day.
Every single one of them, including me.
tells her she doesnt want her to see those horrors ahead of her.
Its here we learn that Prairie was not abducted well, not at first.
This was successful in attracting the ear of someone, but it wasnt her dad.
Your thoughts are going to have a go at take you down but dont let them.
Youll find your freedom in sleep in your dreams.
Its how we stay sane.
That voice, she informs her rapt audience in the abandoned house, was Homers.
We were the living dead, right next to each other but alone, she says.
To break the silence and separation, the four start talking to one another.
Its still wadded up in a crinkly ball of cash down there with Homer, completely useless to everyone.
Why is this information useful, you ask?
Turns out, the woman Rachel was screaming for, August, has been dead since before Prairie arrived.
But somehow, I get the feeling her teachers pet card has just been revoked.
THIS IS GETTING GOOD.
Random curiosity: Whats with the wolf hoodie being such a happy-maker?
Thats what it is.
Thats what it means.
We know that now.
But now a whole new can of questions has been opened about what in the worldthatmeans.
Our story group is going through some changes as Prairie lays out her crazy narrative.
She returns to the place with many stars and meets her angel, Katoon, once again.
Hes there, too (guess he reallydiddie after all).
But she cant leave existence just yet because shes got three others to think about.
You might think shed use that little nugget to her advantage, but not so much.
They quickly learn that the gas doesnt make you sleep soundly through his experiments, but to be compliant.
They call it Devils Breath.
All for the sake of recording their hearts and other stats to catch that pivotal whoosh he once heard.
Its the only way.
L. Ron Hubbard would be so proud of her.
But then, all of a sudden, he passes out again and when he comes to, GASP!
Has he been away?
Is Homer another OA?
Were over halfway through this thing now, so its time for some answers.
And Buck is, in a very literal sense, finding a voice.
Their development parallels nicely to whats happening beneath/in Prairies past.
Their fascination with each other gives Happ a terrible idea.
With the departure of August (did she justdecideagainst coming back for the umpteenth time?)
What a great way to get back at them for their little dance rebellion, right?
Naturally, Homers shocked to bits about every moment of the outside.
His mission is to seduce Happs newest person-prize so that she can be taken back with them.
And whats worse is that accidentally launches some kind of ear-brain piercing devices in the process, so Scottsreallydone.
And while she had her feelings hurt by Homers cheating (?)
And guess who joins them for a new round of Dancing with the Scars?
With the addition of a fifth, theyre suddenly more powerful than ever.
That way, she can go into the tunnel and spring her friends at long last.
What happens if someone else closes them during one of these meetings?
Whats with the scars?
But were at least starting to peel the onion here, so snaps for progress!
Grade: B+
NEXT: The other Happ…
Episode 6: Forking Paths
OH.
Well, thereweretwo Happs.
This is not a drill.
Instead of waxing philosophical again and congratulating each other on being equally awful, Leon gets angry with Happ.
Guess Leon got to find out all the answers to his questions after all.
Those would be Leons subjects, whod starve unnoticed without his heads-up there.
Has he had some major change of heart?
Like shed have a choice about keeping company with him anyway, right?
She knows hes starting to unravel and can somehow sense that hes just killed someone.
What OA is compliant to is another experiment without so much as a puff of the gassy stuff.
When OA gets to the next level, though, no ones home.
It was there the whole time, wasnt it?
The significance was about more than just its homonym status with away after all.
She needs to accept her pain as it comes this time, he says.
Their dinner out goes over like a lead balloon.
Where did the scars come from?
Who did that to her?
As OA predicted, Nancy does not like the answers she has to give.
See, Steves parents have finally found out about his throat-punching incident from the pilot.
If they werent serious about calling in the Asheville guard before, now its really happening.
Plus, hes taken to dance move training like he was made for it.
And because OA is still completely weird, she accepts that pain and hugs him til he calms down.
She tells him the only way she survived for so long in her pain is by having friends.
As they say, misery does love company.
A thousand times, yes.
So theres a lot to accomplish in the final hour, and I am HERE for it.
Grade: B-
NEXT: Is this is the end or just the beginning?
Episode 8: Invisible Self
Whoooo boy.
Were there really some mystical moves that could transport her to another dimension?
Their entire platter of proof right there in one little-seen clip.
Her five high school buddies arent so sure, either.
So, they did the dance, and Evelyn was made mobile again.
Their decision to forego freedom so this woman could be healed would certainly qualify, and guess what?
Whats Frenchs last name?
Whats Betty even stand for?
She knows exactly nothing about these people whose lives shes royally messed up.
In the end, the five basically break up.
Is this the kind of life-saving maneuver she meant or mere coincidence?
For him, its real.
Indeed, we see OA wake up in a bright room and mutter the word Homer?
to leave us on a major cliffhanger.
Are the others with him?
Is Happ there with them?
Other lingering questions: The open door policy was pointless, right?
Whatever happened to Katoon?
Did Homers kid ever get word of his condition?
What do the Prairie Five do now?
If theres a season 2, its gonna be bonkers.
Another Netflix Original win.
