Source
r/TheOA•
OneFishTwoFish42

Planted Box of Books Theory

I'm not convinced that the books were planted.

If the FBI or some other agency wanted to make it look like she had created the story then:

Why put them in an Amazon box that might have a shipping label which would indicate shipping date?

How did she pay for them?

Why not make the books look like they've been read? We can assume that the FBI is not stupid.

Why leave the books all in one place?

Why not plant other evidence beyond books?

Posted Dec 22, 2016, 5:33 PM UTC

319
1387831•

What doesn't make sense to me. If her story is based on the books, why was she talking about Homer before she ordered the Iliad? Why did she find him online? There's NO way she could have had these books first, she wasn't allowed on the internet.

5
OneFishTwoFish42OP•

Yeah. It's squishy huh?

The detail level doesn't match up with the rest of the show...so maybe it's something else that we haven't considered yet.

Maybe dad ordered them as research.

Maybe she ordered them as research.

Maybe it was just product placement by Amazon (we'll certainly it was...but if just that then poorly done...which again doesn't sync)

3
1387831•

I think it's intentionally squishy. They wanted to leave it open for season two.

2
OneFishTwoFish42OP•

I'm not convinced there will be or ever was supposed to be a season two. (Kind of hope there is not)

But...doesn't that seem odd? Nothing else in the show is squishy is it? Everything else seems to be thought out so much better.

0
astro_hanso•

It's Netflix. They need subs. They always want at least a second season. The executive producers, director and writers have all said the second season is planned for if it gets approved.

2
1387831•

Brit Marling said if they address this it will be in the second season

1
Thy_Lord_Castiel•

Why was the damn agent in the house?

2
stardust9200•

I'm bothered by the obvious timing of it: Alfonso finds the books then BAM the FBI agent is there in the middle of the night (for what reason nobody knows). It seems too obvious for a show with such complexity and multiple layers. But sadly I haven't read about any solid, thought-out clues as to where the books came from. It's all speculation. Argh!!

2
Tahngo•

FBI agent found out about the studies being paid for by the government, so he is investigating it. OA will take mercy on the man that has kept her captive all these years. This is my thought.

It seems abit of an easy conclusion that the government is paying for this study to be done. The doctor seems to have unlimited resources.

1
stardust9200•

Also if it was the FBI agent who planted the books, how did he know to plant THOSE books? Did she really go into that much detail with him? Out of left field but maybe there was a mole who would know which topic books to plant (Rachel or one of the 5) :(

2
OneFishTwoFish42OP•

Dunno.

It's too squishy.

1
stardust9200•

What if OA's story is (mostly) true and SHE ordered the books and SHE planted them? Maybe as a test to see if any of the 5 would find the books and end up still believing her and continue their work together, and stay together as the new "family" they formed.

1
OneFishTwoFish42OP•

Maybe she knows Homer is named after the Illiad's Homer but the reason for his parents naming him that is significant and she has to read the book to better understand him.

Because at least two options are obvious.

  1. she remembers the name Homer from school and so would surely have talked about it with him at some point in the seven years.
  2. she never read it while growing up, but he told her about it and is now curious.
2
OneFishTwoFish42OP•

Hmmm. I don't know about her planting them as a test. But i do like the idea about her ordering them and her season 2 plans involve 'em. So far that seems to make the most sense.

Or...hey...maybe the FBI guy did plant them, but only in the hopes that she would read them. That of course requires that we know what she told the counselor. Ugh...that theory has holes.

Since the writer seems to be hitting on current issues (school shootings and trans)....maybe we should be looking for some current issue in our real world for clues.

Or...

Or...

Or...

So much fun

1
JulyTLK•

Hi, New user here, so apologies for any repetitions or atypical posting MO. My theory about the items in the box is linked to the comment the OA made in an earlier episode — when Betty explains she is still holding onto her dead brother's check — about how objects have significance and remind us of people, and how it's hard to let go. What if she ordered these items as talismans of sorts, to feel connected to her friends and her father? I also think the box is used as a huge red herring for the viewer (and the characters) to get us (and them) thinking "Oh no, it's all a fake!" So that when the shooting happens, we're whiplashed in the other direction of "Oh, wait, it's real." Thoughts?

1