Outer Banks has cemented itself as one of Netflix’s most popular hits, capturing viewers with its exhilarating blend of adventure, youthful camaraderie, and high-stakes treasure hunts.
The first season introduced a harrowing journey of best friends trying to make their way in the small town of Outer Banks amidst the waters of class divisions—Pogues vs. Kooks. The second season deepened this connection, solidifying the Pogues’ unbreakable bond as they faced familial betrayals and life-threatening adventures, ultimately becoming a chosen family. The third season refined this dynamic beautifully, with the ending finally giving them a win to hang on their belts. Few shows earn the privilege of captivating so many hearts, with viewers attentively inserting themselves into the lifestyle of the Pogues— friendship trumps all. However, some argue that the newest season failed to create that same rapture of another adventure.
Overall, the new season felt like a half-wrapped gift to address the anticipation around the new season’s release rather than advance the storyline meaningfully. The season has a rather repetitive feel to it, as it keeps returning to the storyline where the Pogues find treasure and it gets stolen from them. This makes for an expected plot that fails to convince anyone about the story’s legitimacy because it never progresses beyond the pursuit of lost treasure that will inevitably fall out of their reach. Furthermore, the storyline of the money-hungry father choosing the material world over their child, with the case of JJ’s father leaving him for dead, left a sour taste throughout the show. The stakes feel less compelling, and the once-thrilling pursuit of treasure loses allure when it becomes clear that the outcome will follow the same pattern as before.
What made the earlier seasons so captivating was the growth and evolution; not in the characters, but in the narrative itself. The Pogues’ adventures felt fresh, their triumphs hard-earned, and their setbacks deeply personal. This season, however, lacks that forward momentum. The characters seem stuck in a loop, and the promise of new adventures feels more like a rehash of old ones. Hence, they tried to force characters like JJ, who is the irrational and hotheaded archetype, into a tragic arc to reignite the emotional stakes. JJ’s actions and the jarring end to the season feels like a desperate attempt to shock viewers rather than an organic progression of the story. While his impulsive nature has always made him seem like a wildcard, his demise doesn’t feel earned; it feels like a misstep meant to add weight to an otherwise repetitive and lackluster season.
*Opinions expressed in this article represent the views of the editorial staff and not necessarily those of the school population or administration.
