Ever since season three of Netflix’s original series “Outer Banks” ended, viewers have been anxiously waiting for an announcement of more episodes. Their wishes were received with five new episodes released on Oct. 10 that make up part one of season 4, a surprising choice as the previous seasons were released over the summer. After watching, I found these episodes to be extremely thrilling but thought watching them was a different experience compared to the earlier seasons.
“Outer Banks” is an action-filled TV series that follows a group of teens called the “Pogues” through their adventures finding gold. This group consists of the group leader John B, reckless JJ, a member of the wealthy class on the island, Sarah, environment-saving Kiara, smart Pope and tough Cleo.
At the end of season three, the “Pogues” had succeeded in finding the lost city of El Dorado, a city of gold linked to the treasure associated with the royal family of the long-lost shipwreck the Royal Merchant. The beginning of the season illustrates how they used their money to buy a house and start a surf and bait business, determined to leave their treasure-hunting ways behind.
However, the peacefulness of the first episode vanishes quickly when a wealthy man named Wes Genrette hires the Pogues to find an amulet that he believes will reverse the curse on his family.
Each episode of this new season had plot twists and turns, with various new characters being introduced. There is a side plot with Sarah’s brother Rafe, whose girlfriend Sofia is from a lower-class family, and struggles with discrimination from Rafe’s friends. I thought this was a great depiction of class discrimination, and it gave the ability to connect with this new character on a deeper level.
Unlike in earlier seasons, this season the Pogues face no trouble in romantic relationships. Each of them are in a relationship: John B with Sarah, JJ with Kiara and Pope with Cleo. I thought this was a refreshing dynamic, and it was a good feeling watching all of them happy.
Familial relationships continue to be a main conflict in this season. Sarah and Rafe are still not on speaking terms, and Kiara’s parents refuse to see her. At the end of season four, JJ receives shocking information about his biological parents. I felt this moment was extremely emotional, as it echoed the show’s ongoing struggle with identity and belonging.
By keeping the Pogues in the Outer Banks, they were able to focus less on the treasure and act more like teenagers. I really enjoyed this as I felt that in previous seasons the focus was entirely on the treasure.
Overall, this season felt a lot darker and more mysterious than the other seasons. There weren’t excessive amounts of other plot lines; it really only focused on the Pogues. This first installment of the season ended on a cliffhanger which was smart as it will keep viewers interested until the second part of season four, which will be released Nov. 7. I am looking forward to watching part two of this season, as I am eager to see how the conflict unfolds.
