‘Outer Banks’ Season 4 Half 1 Assessment
So what precisely occurs after you discover the misplaced metropolis of El Dorado? The place do you go once you’ve reached the height of treasure looking? Nicely, that is simple. You’ve some severely terrible spending habits, throw in Blackbeard, and a ghoulish story to ship the Pogues out on one other journey. I had doubts about how Outer Banks would kick off Season 4. Season 3 rounded out John B’s (Chase Stokes) story so fully that the plot twist of one other treasure-hunting job appeared compelled. Nonetheless, Season 4 kicks off by taking us again via the 18-month time leap to indicate us simply how determined our ragtag group of Pogues is.
‘Outer Banks’ Season 4 Trades El Dorado for Blackbeard
With John B’s dad’s (Charles Halford) precise dying, it felt like a closing of the chapter of the story in Outer Banks. Not solely had he and his father discovered the misplaced metropolis of El Dorado, however he and Sarah (Madelyne Cline) truly set eyes on it and managed to carry again a large chunk of gold earlier than blowing all of it up. And in some ways, Season 4 does really feel like an precise new chapter within the lives of the Pogues. We head again to before the 18-month jump to observe the Pogues as they return house, reunite with household, and slowly rebuild their lives.
The chunk of gold they introduced again nets them a bit over one million {dollars}, which is certainly a big sum, but it surely’s not precisely never-work-again cash. Moderately than cut up all of it up, the group decides to pool the cash and recreate Poguelandia on the land the place JJ’s (Rudy Pankow) home is positioned. Nonetheless, after a sequence of dangerous choices — together with a scene that makes me assume nobody ought to ever belief JJ with any massive sum of cash — the group finds themselves scrambling and basically dwelling hand to mouth once more. Struggling to make ends meet regardless of beginning their very own enterprise, their story about El Dorado is lastly validated, and they’re honored by the city within the scene we saw at the end of Season 3.
By that time, though they’ve put treasure looking behind them, the mysterious Wes Genrette (David Jensen) affords them one other likelihood to earn money. He is trying to find an artifact which may assist to elevate the curse on his household. The artifact in query is an amulet that belonged to Blackbeard’s spouse, Elizabeth. It is a harmful job, however hey, our group has fought off crime lords within the Caribbean, plus their property taxes are due quickly, and it prices them mainly all the cash they’ve left. And so the gang is off once more on one other journey.
Nonetheless, for a lot of Season 4 Half 1, the treasure-hunting feels indifferent from the Pogues. Yeah, we get that they should discover the amulet to receives a commission and save Poguelandia, but it surely would not essentially have the identical sense of urgency as the previous few seasons. What was so good about Outer Banks‘ first three seasons was how interconnected the hunt was to John B’s life. It wasn’t ever concerning the cash for him. All of it was a connection to his father; greed had nothing to do with it. Whereas the seek for the amulet inevitably results in the seek for Blackbeard’s lacking treasure, the stakes do not feel as excessive as they used to, even when their beloved Poguelandia could be misplaced. However, this new arc does pose the potential of extra treasure hunts after this one is solved. What’s subsequent for them? The Treasure of Lima? The Holy Grail?
Season 4 Takes Us Again to the OBX
One of the biggest issues many had with Season 3 was the truth that it took the Pogues out of the Outer Banks. A lot of the time was spent south of the equator, and we missed a few of that distinct OBX-ness that makes the present so juicy. Season 4 is a return to that kind. The Pogues are again to dealing with off in opposition to the Kooks, Rafe (Drew Starkey) continues to be form of a douche, Topper (Austin North) has developed into an entire asshole, and Shoupe (Cullen Moss) continues to present the Pogues a tough time despite the fact that they’ve, traditionally, been the sufferer of crimes greater than the criminals.
Interlace dust bike races and surf rivalries with armed (potential) pirates and rat-infested catacombs, and you have Outer Banks Season 4. The season takes some time to swing again into the right tempo. The 18-month hole filler brings momentum to a screeching halt however shall be beloved by followers who simply need to see the Pogues out of hurt’s manner. John B. and Sarah are deeply home and fascinated with their future collectively, Kiara (Madison Bailey) resides her greatest hippie life and rising superb weed, and JJ will get to run deep-sea charters for folks on his boat. Pope (Jonathan Daviss) has the thankless job of serving to handle the funds, and Cleo (Carlacia Grant) helps out with the brand new bait store they open on their dock. It is most likely each 17-something’s dream: dwelling with your pals, no adults, doing no matter you need.
It additionally affords a distinct aspect to the characters. With out the do-or-die conditions, we are able to see the characters’ strengths and weaknesses on full show. However, whereas it’s enjoyable to see the children work together, Outer Banks is undoubtedly at its greatest when it leans into these character dynamics while also throwing wild plot twists and adventures our manner. Kooks vs. Pogues will at all times exist within the OBX, however evaluating it to discovering misplaced treasure can really feel considerably juvenile. Some plots are brewing within the background, like plans to purchase up the land of The Minimize and develop it into extra of Determine Eight, however it is just breadcrumbs at this level. Regardless of this being a return to its roots, Outer Banks struggles to search out its footing within the aftermath of the tip of its largest story arc.
Amongst ‘Outer Banks’ Characters, Rafe Will get the Greatest Improvement
Other than the Pogues, we additionally get a take a look at Rafe’s new life after the dying of his father, Ward (Charles Esten). Sarah could be therapeutic whereas dwelling with the Pogues, however Rafe is struggling along with his grief and attempting to reckon along with his father’s legacy. At his aspect is Sofia (Fiona Palomo), an erstwhile companion turned fully-fledged girlfriend. Sofia’s arrival feels considerably random — although not any greater than Cleo becoming a member of the Pogues — however she affords a distinct take a look at Ward. Regardless of Sofia being a Pogue, Ward appears to have real emotions for her even when he struggles along with her social standing. It is a pleasant change of tempo for somebody you may need referred to as the most unlikeable character on the show.
It is attention-grabbing to see Rafe discovering some form of bizarre center floor between being a Kook and a Pogue. Despite the fact that he was born wealthy, he is completely conscious that his father grew up poor and made his personal fortune. Whereas Topper and his pals seemingly stay a life with out penalties — and boy, are they annoying this season — it is not honest to rope Rafe in with that gang. Although he is a bit additional faraway from the motion, seeing him develop into something more than just a mustache-twirling villain susceptible to manic episodes and coke benders is a much more thrilling prospect.
‘Outer Banks’ Season 4 Half 1 Leaves Off on Big Plot Twists and Betrayals
Although it takes some time to achieve momentum, by the point the hunt begins chugging alongside, the present is again to firing on all cylinders. We now have near-death experiences, extremely impractical conditions, grown adults being foiled by the Scooby Gang, and extra mysteries for the children to uncover. Whereas I criticized the primary few episodes for not having sufficient to tie the hunt to the Pogues, by the tip of Episode 5, “Albatross,” a significant plot twist that is been cooking for some time is lastly revealed that brings JJ into the combination. Whereas John B. is undoubtedly the guts of the Pogues, JJ is its impulsive Id, and it will be intriguing to see how he handles this life-changing revelation. On prime of that, the present throws in character betrayals and a surprising dying that made me anxious for this season’s second half. Simply because it feels prefer it’s taking off, Half 1 is over. With the present promising extra drama in future episodes, the Pogues and Outer Banks Season 4 are on an excellent trajectory. Now let’s examine if it stays that manner.
Outer Banks Season 4 Half 1 is now out there to stream on Netflix.
Outer Banks Season 4 returns house with a brand new journey, however with out roots to attach it to the Pogues, the story would not hit fairly as onerous.
- The return to the OBX means a return to kind with acquainted character and city dynamics.
- Shocking twists and character development fill within the areas the place there’s a lull within the motion.
- With no robust private tie to the treasure hunt, the story makes much less of an influence.
- Filling within the gaps between the 2 seasons causes a lull within the pacing of the general season.
