Warning: This is a no spoiler article for season three only, there may be spoilers from previous seasons to give context for season three. 

The Netflix original series, “Outer Banks”, came out in the spring of 2020, in the beginning of quarantine. The show revolves around a group of teenagers that are best friends bonded through hardships and being looked down upon by a higher social class. These best friends, John B, JJ, Kie, Pope, Sarah and Cleo, the newest addition to their group, have named themselves the Pogues. There is an apparent divide between the Kooks, the higher end half of the island, and the “cut”, where the Pogues live. When the best friends discover there is a possibility of them discovering gold from an old local legend, they embark on a dangerous yet thrilling treasure hunt. 

Season three was released by Netflix on Feb. 23. Following the trends of the last two seasons, in season three the Pogues go after the “motherload” of treasures, El Dorado where the gold of season one and coveted cross of season two originated from. Season three, similar to other seasons, has become the talk of the month. In my opinion, this is a justified response considering how enjoyable and entertaining I found this season to be. My favorite part of the season was the script between Cleo’s snappy comebacks and JJ’s comedic lines. Even if the situation was intense, screenwriters Josh Pate, Jonas Pate and Shannon Burke did a fantastic job keeping the mood light and the shenanigans rolling. 

However, there were aspects of this season I didn’t enjoy compared to past seasons. “Pogues for life” is the motto of the show. But for the majority of the season, the Pogues were separated from each other. Personally, this bothered me because I wanted to see the daring teens facing plot twists together, coming up with clever plans to get out of tight situations. Whether they were pulled away because of external forces or by choice, deciding to split off into sections, there were breaks formed between the supposedly inseparable group. 

Despite this personal letdown, the separation of the group allowed for many character developments. Complexities and nuances with familial and romantic relationships starred this season. At the end of season two, we found out that John B’s father, Big John, was alive. This became a big part of the season, developing a theme of morality, and bringing into question, to what extent is the goal worth the consequences. One of the best character developments this season came with a brand new buzz cut; Rafe battled with how to make his own decisions and deal with the repercussions. He also struggled with his relationship with his father and how to be independent from him. 

In terms of romantic relationships, this season was exhilarating: the friends to lovers trope, the betrayals, the slow burn. One criticism I have heard and felt myself is that I wish there was more build-up and resolution of each of these situations. I feel like the season could have been longer, with more episodes to slow the quick pace which would make the show more coherent and allow for clearer plot transitions. For example, at the end of the show there was an 18-month time gap and seemingly all conflict had vanished and left watchers with many lingering questions.

Nevertheless, between the positives and negatives of this season, personally, I would definitely recommend “Outer Banks” to a friend. I would give it a nine out of ten rating. The show is thrilling and exciting, and although none of us are treasure hunting, it’s relatable to our age group as teenagers that struggle with some of the same problems as the characters in the show. Season four was announced for renewal right before the release of season three and you will be sure to catch me watching upon release.

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