Outer Banks Netflix Series Season 1 Review

Outer Banks (2020-)
Season 1 - 10 episodes (2020 April 15)

Watch Outer Banks on Netflix
Created by: Shannon Burke, Jonas Pate, Josh Pate
Starring: Chase Stokes, Madelyn Cline, Madison Bailey, Jonathan Daviss, Rudy Pankow, Austin North, Charles Esten
Rated: TV-MA
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Plot
A group of teenagers from the wrong side of the tracks stumble upon a treasure map that unearths a long buried secret.

Verdict
This is a fun treasure hunt, though a bit over dramatic. Everyone is after treasure that supposedly sunk on an old ship. Somehow a group of beach bum surfer teens find it when no one else could. There's murder and intrigue, but the conclusion goes for style over substance. It's already out of control and with it ending on a cliffhanger, the last impression is annoyance.
It depends.

Review
I had read this is The Goonies and The O.C. It's definitely that, and it has some intrigue though it is predictable. The Pogues are permanent residents at the Outer Banks while the Kooks are upper income families that stay the summer. This provides the foundation for the teen drama while guys in black are out in the open shooting at the Pogues who are on the track of treasure.

It's a mystery where nothing is quite what it seems, but it feels manufactured. The leader of the Pogues, John B, which he is called that every time of course falls for a Kook and his friends don't approve. The other Kooks don't approve and fights ensure.

JJ, one of John B's friends, is a good character. With the turmoil at home with his dad he acts out, looking for love and attention. While he's always the one in the plot to do something crazy, it at least felt earned.

 

I like the adventure aspect of this, but aside from living vicariously through these characters on a beach there isn't a lot here. The ending doesn't help much. Instead of wrapping up this story, it ends on a cliffhanger that's completely unnecessary. Few decisions make sense in this. The cops are completely ineffective.

 This show is a great way to fill time, but the ending really brings this down.