Summary
Netflix YA series Outer Banks is hit and miss, but it grows in strength as Season 1 develops, giving it potential for a better second season.
Netflix’s YA series Outer Banks is peculiar. It brings forth that manufactured teen-drama dynamic in the first three episodes, but it forms into something entirely different by the end of Season 1. It’s easy to be fooled by the “3-star” rating and assume the series is better off parked for a rainy day, but do not be deterred — Outer Banks has bags of potential.
Gracing the YA thumbnails and shouldering up to the successful teen-drama 13 Reasons Why and fantasy-teen CAOS, Outer Banks gives itself a fight; a relatively subdued fight in most episodes, but often an element will surface that will unduly surprise audiences.
Outer Banks follows a handsome teenager named John B, who is parentless and living a life with little accountability. The character is introduced to the audience sporting beachwear and sipping a Pabst beer, owning his presence. John B lives in Outer Banks, an island in North Carolina, and is part of a group called the Pogues; they associate themselves as the lower class of the island, and that’s where their loyalty lies. Their opposing, middle-class-rich foes are called the Kooks.
Overhanging John B’s life is that his father is presumed dead after going missing. There’s a hint that his father found some mysterious treasure. Outer Banks tries to combine a teen drama series with a treasure hunt, and it… It kind of works in its spirit.
The series attempts to capture the essence of island life through stereotypical beach parties, a love for boats, and a willingness to fish. John B has a loyal group of friends, and each predictably has their conflicted issues; for instance, Kiara should be a Kook, but due to social reasons, considers herself a Pogue.
As the Netflix series progresses, the stakes increase, and it brings forth real danger to John B. and his friends. There’s more to their teenage problems, which almost feels secondary once the underlying treasure plot transforms. It’s unbelievable where the story starts versus where it ends – the plot development feels highly expressive, growing a monster of a story to formalise a Season 2.
And there’s plenty to grab from Season 1: love triangles, childhood issues, drugs, sibling rivalry, and every other teenage issue you could muster. Again, this is a YA series that, with some writing consistency, could be considered a satisfactory success. Its convoluted quality in the first half is what lets it down.
Outer Banks is a guilty pleasure. You know it’s garbage in many ways, but fruitfully entertaining in others. It’s far from being hailed as a fantastic YA series, but perhaps with a strong second season, this could form strong sea legs.
