Netflix’s Forgotten Hard Sci-Fi Masterpiece Is an Underrated Gem on Streaming

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I have to tell you about this incredible hard sci-fi series on Netflix – it’s a real hidden gem! Everyone talks about Netflix sci-fi like Love, Death & Robots, Dark, and Stranger Things, and those are great, but if you’re looking for something a little different, you need to check out their older content. It reminds me a bit of Love, Death & Robots and Secret Level, but it’s much more grounded and serious. If you’re a hard sci-fi fan who appreciates amazing visuals – and this is from the director of District 9, so the CGI is phenomenal – then Oats Studios is absolutely your next binge-watch. Seriously, you won’t regret it!

Released in 2020, Oats Studios was a science fiction series of short films created by Neill Blomkamp, known for directing movies like District 9, Chappie, and Elysium. The show’s ten episodes take viewers to a variety of strange and often bleak settings, from post-apocalyptic landscapes to alien planets and alternate realities. It’s visually impressive, combining live-action footage with 3D computer graphics in a way that’s comparable to the effects in District 9 and LD&R. The series also featured well-known actors like Sigourney Weaver and Dakota Fanning.

From the very first episode, this show doesn’t hold back. “Rakka” immediately throws you into a post-apocalyptic world where a reptilian alien race has almost destroyed humanity. But it’s “Firebase” that really grabbed me – a fantastic blend of science fiction and the Vietnam War. I wasn’t alone in thinking so, either; I saw a ton of comments on Reddit suggesting it could easily be expanded into a full-length movie, and honestly, I wouldn’t disagree.

Why ‘Oats Studios’ Flew Under the Radar


Netflix

If you weren’t familiar with Oats Studios before now, that’s understandable – they didn’t get nearly as much promotion as popular Netflix shows like Stranger Things and Love, Death & Robots. Many viewers wondered why Netflix didn’t invest more in promoting the series, considering the skilled people who worked on it.

Nobody was expecting much from Oats Studios. The show hasn’t gotten enough reviews to get a proper score on Rotten Tomatoes, so it relies on what regular viewers think. However, with fewer than 50 ratings from users, the current 51% score doesn’t really give a fair impression.

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Although Netflix hasn’t officially said so, many people believe Oats Studios was meant to be the start of a continuing series of stories. The show’s official poster on IMDb, which clearly states “Volume One,” hints at this possibility. Sadly, a second volume of Oats Studios seems unlikely, much like the barren planet shown in the “Rakka” episode. Hopefully, the series will eventually attract a dedicated audience, and Netflix might reconsider its future.

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2026-01-12 01:24