- The OA, a Netflix original series that aired from 2016 to 2019, has been ranked as one of the “100 Best TV Shows of the 21st Century” by the New York Times.
- Despite only running for two seasons, The OA has garnered a passionate following and has been included in multiple lists of shows that were canceled too soon.
- The series, known for its dense storytelling and emotional impact on viewers, has been praised for its unique premise and captivating narrative.
Over the last several years, Netflix has produced a slew of shows that many people feel were ended too quickly. However, one of the streaming service’s 2016 series has stood out among them, as its passionate viewers continue to praise it and decry its early ending. Now, that unique sci-fi show, The OA, has just been included in a prestigious ranking of the greatest modern TV shows.
Who Just Ranked ‘The OA’ Among the ‘Best TV Shows of the 21st Century’?
This week, the New York Times has been unveiling its ranking of the “100 Best TV Shows of the 21st Century.” The outlet detailed how the fascinating list was created. “More than 500 influential stars, showrunners, and other notable names in the world of TV voted on the best series released since Jan. 1, 2000.” The prestigious list features The OA at No. 98.
The OA was a Netflix original series that ran for two seasons, the first of which premiered on December 16, 2016, and was followed by the second batch of episodes on March 22, 2019. It focused on a previously blind young woman who mysteriously resurfaced after a seven-year disappearance with the ability to see. The series consisted of 16 remarkable episodes in total and sometimes felt like it left as many questions as it answered.
The prestigious list’s inclusion of The OA shows that the series, which ran from 2016 until 2019, still has a celebrated legacy. Incredibly dense and full of meaningful details, the series could be just as maddening as it was captivating. Most importantly, it was a show that evoked strong emotions in many viewers, which caused many to continue to think about it long after they’d consumed every episode. That is why it has often been argued that Netflix’s decision to end the series after only two seasons was a colossal error.
The 2016 Classic Was Canceled Too Soon
Throughout television history, there have been many cases of viewers expressing outrage over shows ending earlier than they wanted them to. As a result of the fascination people have with shows that deserved to last longer, like Firefly or Freaks and Geeks, many outlets have published lists of the best examples.
In January 2026, Collider published a list of “8 Sci-Fi Shows Canceled Before They Could Achieve Greatness” and ranked The OA at No. 4. Before that, in August 2024, the series was ranked at No. 18 on GamesRadar’s list of “the 32 greatest TV shows that were canceled too soon.” Perhaps most notably, it was included at No. 10 on WatchMojo’s list of the “Top 10 Netflix Shows That Were Cancelled Too Soon” that was published on November 29, 2019. That shows how quickly The OA’s cancellation was viewed as a travesty, as the list was released just over three months after IGN reported the series was over on August 5, 2019.
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This story was originally published byMen’s Journalon Sep 22, 2026, where it first appeared in theNewssection. Add Men’s Journal as aPreferred
