***The following article contains spoilers***

John B and the Pogues are back for another season full of entertaining characters, refreshing romances and tricky treasure hunting. 

The first five episodes of “Outer Banks” Season 4 started streaming on Netflix on Oct. 10, and I could not be more thrilled with how this season is playing out so far. 

The first season of “Outer Banks” was released on April 15, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people were streaming new shows to fill their days at home. “Outer Banks” quickly became a fan favorite among many due to how suspenseful the scenes are, along with the engaging premise and charismatic characters. 

“Outer Banks,” directed by Jonas Pate, follows a teenager named John Booker Routledge (better known as John B), played by Chase Stokes. John B seeks the help of his three best friends, JJ, Kiara and Pope, to find his missing father who disappeared looking for the Royal Merchant treasure. 

An interesting aspect of “Outer Banks” which I feel makes the show more unique and sets it apart from the rest is the ongoing rivalry between the Kooks (the elite and wealthy members of the island) and the Pogues, (John B and his friends) who are the less well-off people on the island. Throughout the three seasons, they welcome two more into their friend group, Sarah Cameron (played by Madeline Cline) and Cleo (played by Carlacia Grant). 

Fast forward to the end of season three, and the teens return to their home on Kildare Island with the treasure. John B narrates a montage of what each person in the friend group was doing after finding the treasure and how they tried to go back to their normal lives. 

The narrative then shifts 18 months later, and they are being honored by their town for finding the treasure. After the ceremony, they are approached by Wes Genrette. Genrette is a wealthy elderly man who wants to hire the Pogues to find Blackbeard’s wife Elizabeth’s amulet. He believes his family has been cursed and that the amulet will save him from being haunted. John B and friends use the $1.1 million reward from the treasure to build “Pouguelandia 2.0,” where they all live and work at the tackle shop that they build. 

By far the best episode of Season 4 so far was Episode 1: “The Enduro.” I enjoyed the upbeat musical montage of the six friends building their new home, as well as slowly running out of money. After JJ foolishly bets a large sum of their money, the six teens realize they also have a $13,000 bill on their property. The plot seamlessly flows back into 

ending of season three and Wes Genrette’s offer. Being desperate for money, the team of treasure-hunting teens agree and are quickly swept into a dangerous treasure hunt that is much larger than they could have known. 

When I first heard the show was going to be picked up for a fourth season, I was concerned about how they would continue the plot to keep fans from season one engaged, as well as grow their fan base with the release of season 4. The Pogues had found the treasure at the end of season 3 and I was unsure of how they were planning to continue the story. I was honestly surprised when I found myself at the edge of my seat during almost every episode, screaming “Run” at the teens on screen and “He is right behind you.” I loved the suspense of this season, which seemed to be doubled compared to the rest of the seasons so far. 

Many characters from Season 3 returned for the most recent season, including Austin North as Topper Thornton and Drew Starkey as Rafe Cameron. Starkey is an impressive actor who seems to become the character of Rafe on screen. Rafe is Sarah’s older brother, who is angry and vengeful at her friends for her betrayal and her part in the treasure hunting. Sofia, Rafe’s girlfriend (played by Fiona Palomo), is returning as a regular this season, which I am super excited about. She is portrayed as a sympathetic, kind character who tries to see the best in Rafe. 

More notable new characters are Chandler Groff (played by J. Anthony Crane), Genrette’s son-in-law. From the second he comes on screen, Crane does an excellent job at creating a creepy, suspenseful atmosphere with his character by using dramatic eye movements and facial expressions. Hollis Robinson (Brianna Brown) is a realtor on the island who creates a divide within Sofia and Rafe’s relationship. Topper also has a new girlfriend named Ruthie, who stirs up arguments between the Pogues and the Kooks as everyone is trying to get over the past events that caused a divide between them. 

While the show is primarily about treasure hunting, there are refreshing scenes of the friends surfing and drinking around bonfires that showcase their friendship. While the show can be wholesome at times, I really enjoy how the narrative slowly shows how the treasure and the treasure hunt is changing each person who is involved. 

The promotion and plot of “Outer Banks” seem to be aimed at teenagers; however, I believe it is a show for all ages to enjoy. Since season one during COVID-19, I have been watching the show with my mom and we both love it. This season, we were both at the edge of our seats in anticipation as we watched the danger the Pogues got into on the screen in front of us. I went into this season with low expectations, but as soon as I started the first episode, I knew that this season was going to go above and beyond my expectations of it. 

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