Anouk De Silva

I enjoyed it until the end of the fifth and penultimate season. That was when I felt it lost its way and never recovered - [spoilers] firstly by killing off the narrator (arguably the most endearing/pitiable character in the entire series), then absurdly using his "ghost" to continue that role. And then in the final season, veering off almost altogether from its occasionally insightful social criticisms to become increasingly preachy and despairing. Overall, this "Save our souls" trajectory of the narrative reflects a lack of perspective on the part of the show's creators. It's a shame, because Oz preceded The Sopranos, and in this writer's view had significantly more relatable substance to it, even for those of us who haven't been inside a prison. I thought the finale left much to be desired, and felt too much like a cliffhanger, or even prelude to a sequel that never arrived. I'd suggest its saving grace, aside from some wonderful performances, is its consistently raw and seemingly authentic depiction of the brutality of both prison life and the underworld in general. Still, I can't help but think that opportunities were missed here.