Betty The Teacher Is The Best Goddamn Character In "The OA"

Don't read this post until you've at least finished the SEVENTH episode.

Betty (Phyllis Smith) is a fucking awesome character in The OA and we need to give her more credit.

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In a thoroughly confusing and off-beat show, she kept me going. Why?

1. She can be mightily sassy when she wants to be.

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2. She certainly knows how to make an entrance.

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Note to self: I'm going to arrive like this at parties, with a torch.

3. She developed so much as a character in The OA, starting with this scene (one of the best ones IMHO).

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4. The fact that she tried to believe Steve, despite him being so much of a dick, is really quite admirable.

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5. You can tell that she gives a shit about the pupils she teaches, just like a teacher that you had.

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We all know a teacher who tries but never seemed to have got the damn credit.

6. But she doesn't always stick to the rules.

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Those teachers who didn't always stick to the rules are never forgotten.

7. And she will always be a teacher at heart.

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8. She had the best excuse to end a phone call.

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I guess texting "BRB SANDWICH" would also work wonders.

9. Out of everyone in The OA who had a backstory, I cared about hers an awful lot.

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The snapshots of her relationship with Theo was heartbreaking.

10. And then she made the ultimate sacrifice to save Steve, when he was on his way to military school.

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Her plan spectacularly backfired, but then her second one worked perfectly.

And the fact that she knew that $50,000 would change her life circumstances but was completely not fussed to give it all away.

11. Betty, you're pretty damn awesome.

Plan B / Netflix

You kept us watching during this thoroughly confusing show.