One of the best hard sci-fi series ever made is a hidden gem on Netflix. The streamer might be renowned for its original sci-fi offerings, including Love, Death & Robots, Dark, and, how could we forget… Stranger Things. But, for those looking for something new to sink their teeth into, Netflix’s back catalog is the perfect place to look. The show in question feels very similar to Love, Death & Robots and Prime Video’s Secret Level, but takes itself far more seriously. If you’re craving a great hard sci-fi series, with tremendous CGI and visual effects (we’d expect nothing less from the director of District 9), the Oats Studios is your next binge-watch.
Released in 2020, Oats Studios was a sci-fi anthology series created by Neill Blomkamp, the director of District 9, Chappie, and Elysium. Across 10 episodes, viewers are transported to a desolate post-apocalypse, strange outer worlds, and bizarre alternate realities. The show blends live-action elements with 3D CGI to astounding effect, with visuals that rival LD&R and District 9. The series also pulled in some big stars, including Sigourney Weaver and Dakota Fanning.
The show pulls no punches from its first episode. Titled “Rakka,” the short is set on Earth after a reptilian alien species has invaded and nearly wiped out all of humanity. Another fan-favorite episode is “Firebase,” which blends sci-fi with the Vietnam War. Fans on Reddit even suggested that “Firebase” could easily be turned into a feature-length movie.
Why ‘Oats Studios’ Flew Under the Radar
If you’d never heard of Oats Studios before this article, we’ll forgive you (just don’t let it happen again). The series received a fraction of the marketing that Netflix afforded to the likes of Stranger Things and Love, Death & Robots. Some fans were stumped as to why Netflix didn’t push the series harder, especially given the talent in front of and behind the camera.
Oats Studios wasn’t even on the critics’ radar. The show doesn’t have enough reviews on Rotten Tomatoes to form an average score. In cases like this, it’s usually up to fans and general audiences to submit their opinions. But, with less than 50 user reviews on RT, you’d be hard-pressed to call its 51% rating fair.
While it hasn’t been confirmed by Netflix, many assume that Oats Studios was intended to be the first part in an ongoing anthology series. The streamer might not have confirmed the theory, but the official poster on the show’s IMDb — the one with the words “Volume One” written in bold text — might be a bit of a giveaway. Unfortunately, Volume Two of Oats Studios appears to be as desolate as Earth in the episode “Rakka.” Hopefully, the series will find its fan base in the years to come, and Netflix may decide to change Oats Studios‘ fate.
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