Character Relationship Map: The OA

Characters

• OA / Nina Azarova (played by Brit Marling) — protagonist

  Prairie Johnson, who calls herself the OA, resurfaces after a seven-year disappearance with restored sight and mysterious scars. She assembles five local companions to share her story and plans to ope...

• Dr. Hunter 'Hap' Percy (played by Jason Isaacs) — supporting

  Identified in the plot as the OA's former captor. She travels to another dimension and San Francisco specifically to continue her search for him and her fellow captives.

• Homer Roberts (played by Emory Cohen) — supporting
• Karim Washington (played by Kingsley Ben-Adir) — supporting

  A private eye in San Francisco whom the OA crosses paths with. He is investigating the surreal disappearance of a missing girl involving an abandoned house with a supernatural history and an online pu...

• Renata (played by Paz Vega) — minor
• Elizabeth 'Betty' Broderick-Allen (played by Phyllis Smith) — supporting
• Angie (played by Chloë Levine) — minor
• Steve Winchell (played by Patrick Gibson) — supporting
• Jesse (played by Brendan Meyer) — supporting
• Alfonso 'French' Sosa (played by Brandon Perea) — supporting
• Buck Vu / Michel Vu (played by Ian Alexander) — supporting
• Scott Brown (played by Will Brill) — minor

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• OA / Nina Azarova → Dr. Hunter 'Hap' Percy (Adoptive Parent-Child) — A complex bond that transforms from control and trauma into mutual trust and familial love.

  "Their dynamic evolves from captor-captive to a deeply bonded adoptive relationship as they navigate the experiment and the movements together."

• OA / Nina Azarova → Homer Roberts (Adoptive Mother-Son) — OA serves as an emotional anchor and protective figure for Homer, bridging his fractured family ties.

  "Homer is adopted by Betty and Hap, and OA becomes a central figure in his life, eventually acting as a protective sister and mission partner."

• Dr. Hunter 'Hap' Percy → Homer Roberts (Biological Father-Son) — A fractured biological bond that heals through shared purpose and mutual acknowledgment of past failures.

  "Hap and Homer's estranged relationship is repaired through shared missions and emotional vulnerability."

• Dr. Hunter 'Hap' Percy → Scott Brown (Captor) — A calculated power relationship where Hap monitored and manipulated Scott's environment.

  "In episode 6, Hap tracked Scott's progress through the basement's surveillance system, adjusting his methods based on Scott's performance."

• Dr. Hunter 'Hap' Percy → Buck Vu / Michel Vu (Captor) — A coercive power dynamic where Hap used isolation as a tool for behavioral conditioning.

  "In episode 6, Hap isolated Buck in the basement to study his psychological resilience under prolonged confinement."

• Dr. Hunter 'Hap' Percy → Alfonso 'French' Sosa (Captor) — An authoritarian power structure that stripped French of autonomy to serve Hap's agenda.

  "In episode 5, Hap maintained strict control over French during the seven-year confinement, dictating his daily existence."

• Dr. Hunter 'Hap' Percy → Jesse (Captor) — A surveillance-based power relationship where Hap maintained constant observation over Jesse.

  "In episode 5, Hap recorded Jesse's physiological responses during the movement sequences to refine his dimensional theories."

• Dr. Hunter 'Hap' Percy → Steve Winchell (Captor) — A manipulative power dynamic where Hap exploited Steve's vulnerability for experimental gain.

  "In episode 4, Hap used Steve as a test subject for the portal mechanics, isolating him to study his adaptability."

• Dr. Hunter 'Hap' Percy → Renata (Captor) — A clinical power structure where Hap treated Renata as a data point in his dimensional studies.

  "In episode 4, Hap monitored Renata's psychological state during the captivity period, documenting her responses to the movements."

• Dr. Hunter 'Hap' Percy → Karim Washington (Captor) — A coercive relationship defined by isolation and forced participation in Hap's research.

  "In episode 3, Hap subjected Karim to the same basement confinement and forced him into the movement training regimen."

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• OA / Nina Azarova → Karim Washington (Fellow Traveler) — A core ally who shares the experimental trauma and commits to helping OA fulfill her mission.

  "Karim is one of the five individuals who experienced the same experiment and joins OA to complete the movements."

• Homer Roberts → Elizabeth 'Betty' Broderick-Allen (Abusive Guardian) — A toxic adoptive relationship defined by emotional neglect, control, and eventual rupture.

  "Betty's neglect and psychological manipulation of Homer are central to his character arc and eventual rebellion."

• OA / Nina Azarova → Elizabeth 'Betty' Broderick-Allen (Former Captor) — Betty's manipulative control and psychological abuse create enduring trauma and drive the primary conflict.

  "Betty orchestrated the experiment and maintained psychological control over both OA and Homer, creating the central antagonistic force."

• Karim Washington → Renata (Fellow Traveler) — A supportive partnership forged through shared survival and mutual understanding of the experiment's aftermath.

  "Renata and Karim bond over shared experimental trauma and provide mutual support during the movements."

• OA / Nina Azarova → Buck Vu / Michel Vu (Interrogator) — An adversarial dynamic highlighting institutional resistance to OA's narrative and the movements' existence.

  "Buck interrogates OA and investigates the movements, representing systemic suppression of her truth."

Story Analysis

A comprehensive breakdown of the two-season story, tracking character arcs, dimensional themes, and institutional conflicts.

Plot Progression

1. Season 1: The Return and the Experiment — OA's reappearance triggers Hap's investigation, revealing the shared experimental trauma and the origin of the movements. The group forms as OA prepares to rescue Homer.
2. Season 1: The Movements and the Mission — OA trains her companions in the movements while Betty's control over Homer intensifies. The group coordinates their first dimensional crossing attempt.
3. Season 2: The New Experiment and the Investigation — Hap initiates a second experiment as Buck's investigation uncovers institutional cover-ups. The group adapts the movements for new participants while facing systemic resistance.
4. Season 2: The Final Crossing and the Aftermath — OA attempts a final dimensional crossing to reunite with Homer, risking everything. The group reflects on the cost of their journey and the lingering impact of the experiment.