Drawing on the familiar dynamics of a teen friend group while incorporating the adventure of a treasure hunt, Outer Banks is an incredibly popular series. The first and second seasons aired on Netflix in 2020 and 2021 respectively. After the widespread popularity of the first two seasons, the third season was released on Feb. 24, 2023. Fans of the series have already binged the show, but is it really worth the hype?
Seasons one and two both feature a continuous showdown between the Pogues— a group of teenagers led by John B— and the Cameron family, who are both searching for hidden treasure. The second season ends with the Cameron family, once again, stealing the gold from the Pogues while they’re left stranded on an island they named Pougelandia. This is where the third season begins, resuming the story that has been building up from the beginning.
The third season of Outer Banks is a good addition to the series, and I recommend that people who enjoyed the first two seasons watch the third. This season builds on the tensions between the two main groups while expanding on Pope Heyward’s quest to find an old family heirloom.
Although they are stranded in Pouglandia as the season commences, they quickly travel to Barbados, Guadlupe, and eventually back to the Outer Banks as they begin their search for a new treasure: El Dorado, the city of gold. While still working to define their own relationships, they encounter new antagonists and partner up with old enemies.
Cleo, portrayed by Caralacia Grant, was introduced as a side character in season two but takes center stage in the newest season. Previously part of a crew planning to turn John B and Sarah into the police for ransom, Cleo earns her trust with the Pogues and becomes a vital member of their team. Cleo constantly reminds the Pogues to use common sense when creating their far-fetched plans and she supports Pope through his failed relationship with Kiara.
Another key element of this season is John B’s reunion with his father “Big John.” Although he was presumed dead after being lost at sea, John B never gives up hope that his father will return. At the same time, Big John is relentlessly searching for his son, ringing church bells to call him home, as he did when John B was younger. After an emotional reconciliation, Big John aids his son in returning to Outer Banks to search for El Dorado. Big John reveals valuable information pertaining to the location of the treasure and becomes a guiding force in their hunt.
While John B and Big John build their father son-relationship, the turmoil between Ward Cameron and his son, Rafe, increases throughout the show. Rafe, fueled by a desire to prove himself to his father, does everything in his power to earn his approval. However, everything he does seems to make tensions between the two men grow. The two grow further apart as Ward puts Rafe’s needs aside in an attempt to reconnect with his daughter.
Like the other two seasons, the plot line builds to a grand finale, complete with a city full of gold, a house fire, and dynamite (because, why not?). Just as life for the Pogues seems to finally settle down, a new quest for treasure is introduced. The shifting group dynamics and a never-ending hunt for treasure make for an entertaining show, unlike any other series.
