Divisive Sci-Fi: The OA, Watchmen and Invasion Join 7 Shows Fans Either Love or Hate
The OA asks viewers to believe
The OA follows Prairie Johnson, played by Brit Marling, after she returns from a seven-year disappearance able to see, despite having been blind. Its story brings together near-death experiences, alternate dimensions, and people who may transcend ordinary reality.
Fans value the show’s unconventional storytelling and its earnest focus on belief and human connection. Skeptics, however, find its dialogue overly profound and its mysteries too obscure, seeing its lack of clarity as a weakness rather than an invitation to interpret events.
Watchmen extends a celebrated story
HBO’s Watchmen continues Alan Moore’s graphic novel in an alternate 2019, where masked police officers face a white supremacist group in Tulsa. Detective Angela Abar, played by Regina King, investigates a mystery tied to racial violence, costumed heroes, and inherited trauma.
Supporters praised the series for giving the source material new relevance and addressing contemporary social anxieties. Critics objected to its focus on American racism or its use of legacy characters such as Dr. Manhattan and Ozymandius, making the central dispute about what a continuation owes its predecessor.
Invasion favors personal stories
Apple TV’s Invasion follows people in different countries as extraterrestrial forces arrive. Rather than emphasizing explosive spectacle, it focuses on personal grief and the confusion of facing a catastrophe whose scale is not yet understood.
Some viewers welcomed this grounded approach to an alien invasion story. Others found the slow unfolding of events stalled the narrative, reflecting a broader divide over whether the series’ emphasis on character responses works.
Key points
- The OA’s surreal mysteries are a draw for fans but a barrier for skeptics.
- Watchmen’s treatment of race and legacy characters divided viewers.
- Invasion trades alien spectacle for grief and confusion on a personal scale.