First airing on Netflix in 2020, “Outer Banks” attracted many teen fans with its action-adventure and mystery-filled plot.
Starring well-known cast members such as Madelyn Cline, Chase Stokes, Rudy Pankow, Madison Bailey and Jonathan Daviss brings even more appeal to the show. After almost two years of waiting, producers Josh Pate, Jonas Pate and Shannon Burke were excited to announce the release of Season 4, Part 1 on Oct. 10.
Recap of earlier seasons
“Outer Banks” revolves around a group of teenagers who live on an island, divided between the so-called Pogues and Kooks. The Pogues are the working class and live in the Cut, the poorer side of the island. Meanwhile, the elite and wealthy members of the island are referred to as Kooks and mainly reside on the north side.
The tension between the two groups creates a storyline that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. John B, played by Stokes, is the main leader of the Pogues and is accompanied by JJ, Sarah Cameron, Kiara, Pope and Cleo. While on the island, the teens come across the potential prospect of treasure, and their dire financial situation prompts them to start hunting.
The central quest for treasure drives the plot in all the seasons. Each season features high-stakes adventures, including confrontations with enemies and near-death experiences.
The treasure hunt begins with the search for the Royal Merchant, a ship that sank with a fortune of gold and valuables. In the next season, they embark on a journey to find the Cross of Santo Domingo, which is linked to Pope’s family. Their final quest involves finding El Dorado, a cave full of gold.
Different from any other show, “Outer Banks” puts an orange hue over every episode to make it look more pleasing to the audience. The soft shades of orange and red gives it an adventurous feel and makes it seem as if they are actually on a treasure hunt. The yellowish tint gives the show a dusty aesthetic and mysterious effect. But, the original blue tint makes the show more gloomy and sad, unlike the exhilarating feel that a treasure hunt should exude.
It looks too real without the filter because the hue makes the scene more dreamy, giving off a summer-vibe.
The past three seasons have all made the top 10 weekly list on Netflix. Season 1 earned 34 million hours, 27.7 million for Season 2 and the most views for Season 3, garnering 99 million hours. Currently, “Outer Banks” is a Netflix exclusive show that is streaming all four seasons.
Season 4 review:
After finding the gold in Season 3, the group of teens decide to sell it and build a new place in Part 1 of Season 4. The Pogues return to Outer Banks to try and live a normal life; however, it is impossible for them. They embark on a new journey and begin exploring the legend of an infamous pirate by the name of Edward Teach. Once again, they face dangerous enemies who are racing them to find the treasure. New information and jaw-dropping cliffhangers have been announced, leaving many fans desperately waiting for Part 2 to release.
Season 4 received a total of 15.5 million views, despite having only one part released. What makes Season 4 different from the previous three is its split into two different parts. This gives an advantage for a streaming service like Netflix because it keeps fans engaged for long periods of time. Because of the gap between the two parts, people will continue to speak about it, creating two big boosts in viewership. Less than a month after Part 1 released, Part 2 will be free to stream Nov. 7.
Unlike many other series that have lost the original plot, Outer Banks Season 4 continues the same storyline without getting too repetitive. It introduces new plot twists and character developments in order to maintain the same level of excitement and tension.
Season 4 is better than Season 3 because Season 3 was a continuation of the same plot without any new elements. There were no surprising plot twists and it seemed like a wrap up of the previous two seasons. In comparison, Season 4 develops a new adventure and goal leaving viewers in anticipation for the unexpected.
Still, as captivating as Season 4 has been so far, it is unable to match the quality of the storyline Season 1 had. Season 1 introduced viewers to a different concept and a creative storyline that set them apart from other shows. The idea of treasure hunting is usually depicted with pirates and a darker theme, not a group of teenagers, which is what makes “Outer Banks” unique and compelling.
