Millions of viewers sit at the edge of their seats as John B, played by Chase Stokes, introduces the third season of treasure hunting, complicated romance and questionable last-minute rescue missions. As Netflix’s most watched show at the moment, Outer Banks has kept its popularity from its first season released during the peak of COVID in 2020. 

The first season was largely filmed in the beach town of Charleston, S.C. where viewers were introduced to five of the six main characters, John B, JJ, Kiara, Pope and Sarah. Then, in season two, Cleo joined their treasure-obsessed group and considered herself one of them, a “Pogue.”   

During a time of isolation, the reckless abandon in which the Pogues jumped into every new adventure appealed to my generation. We obsessed over their lifestyle, down to the clothes they wore or how they would style their hair. 

Our love for these characters continued into season three as they escaped the island, which coined the name “Poguelandia,” where they had been deserted and hitched a ride with a random man. Unbeknownst to the Pogues, this man had been secretly hired by the antagonist of the season, Carlos, setting off the whirlwind of betrayal, romance and cliffhangers. 

One of the most awaited moments of the season was the culmination of characters’, JJ and Kiara’s, budding tension from the beginning of the show. Although Kiara and fellow pogue Pope had a relationship between season one and two, viewers shipped Kiara and JJ from the very beginning. This season, when Kiara was forced into a rehabilitation center by her parents, JJ left the others to rescue her. Their heartfelt reunion was celebrated by viewers and was arguably more iconic than the Notebook-esque moment between Sarah and John B in season one. 

While I was one of the many followers of this show, the allure of putting myself in the characters’ shoes and living their life became more and more distant as the plot line became too unrealistic, even for a fictional show. In the previous seasons, every near death experience made my palms sweat and my heart race, but, after this season, I was disappointed with how a character could ride a motorcycle off a bridge then stand up with a little cut across their cheek and walk it off. 

As for the end of the season, I feel like the introduction of a new mystery along with the large jump in time felt very forced, since the show has been renewed for a fourth season. Personally, I would’ve enjoyed a smaller jump in time, maybe a month or two, instead of over a year. Also, the idea of the Pogues “settling down” after a year seems very unlikely, as viewers have watched their obsession with adventure only grow, even in this past season. 

To summarize, I think the first season was amazing, but each following season has only gotten worse, so viewers stick around to see the end of the plotline rather than follow the rollercoaster of emotions that the first season provoked. Therefore, I would only recommend watching season one, but if you get hooked on the life of the Pogues, continue watching as their lives are in a constant gamble of life or death.