Episode Guide
Episode 1 – | Review Score – 3.5/5 Episode 2 – | Review Score – 3.5/5 Episode 3 – | Review Score – 3/5 Episode 4 – | Review Score – 3.5/5 Episode 5 – | Review Score – 3.5/5 Episode 6 – | Review Score – 3.5/5 Episode 7 – | Review Score – 3.5/5 Episode 8 – | Review Score – 2.5/5 Episode 9 – | Review Score – 3.5/5 Episode 10 – | Review Score – 2.5/5 When Outer Banks released last year, I mentioned how it was one of those shows that just seemed to work. This curious teen drama ended up becoming a real guilty pleasure. A good treasure hunt, endearing characters and a pacey, lively 10 episode run-time made this a real joy to watch. So could lightning strike twice? After the events of the first season, expectations were understandably high and in its efforts to be bigger and better than before, Outer Banks does lose sight of what made the first season so good at times. The opening 6 episodes in particular are mainly tied around a relentless game of cat and mouse. Last season, John B and Sarah found themselves on the run. Having hitched a ride on a freighter bound for the Bahamas, John B and Sarah are now fugitives and wanted by the authorities. They’re inevitably found out by their ship’s captain and forced to flee. So across the Bahamas they go, evading authorities and random bystanders alike. All the while, JJ, Kiara and Pope try to make sense of what’s happening. Two members short, they engage in their own treasure hunt and try to piece together Denmark Tanny’s history. For the opening stretch of the series, this subplot meanders on with little rhythm other than to offer up a break from the relentless action back on the Bahamas. It’s certainly not bad per-se, but the pacing does feel a little off given the uneven team dynamic. However, by the end of episode 6 the show feels much more consistent with what we’ve come to love from this show. The humour is better. The dialogue flows a lot more consistently and there’s a solid treasure hunt too. A lot of this good work comes from the comradeship between the Pogues. This was easily one of the highlights of season 1 and it’s perhaps a little disappointing that we had to wait so long for it to be rekindled here. While Ward and Rafe return as the antagonistic threat of the season, new faces join the hunt too. Early on we’re graced with the ship captain Terrance and his crew. As the season progresses, this soon fizzles out to be replaced with Limbrey, who has her own mission. As you may have guessed by now, this coincides with both Ward and the Pogues’ plans. The teen drama is still here though, with intense focus this time on Kiara and Pope. This has been in the pot for a while and season 2 finally sees the pair grow closer together. By season’s end, there are clear dynamics between the characters, and fans will be anxious to see what happens next. Yes, there’s another dreaded cliffhanger at the end of this season too. However, the shock reveal is a genuine gasp-inducing moment and changes the game completely. No spoilers of course, but suffice to say I’ll be enjoying writing up our ending explained article to dive into this in more detail! Overall, if you were a fan of season 1 then you’ll undoubtedly find a lot to like here. While the second season doesn’t quite match up to the first, it is a much bigger, badder and bombastic effort than before. At times, that cacophony of noise does tend to drown out some of the more subtle character dynamics. However, Outer Banks season 2 is a sun-soaked, adrenaline-fueled drama nonetheless and doesn’t look like stopping any time soon. So can we please get season 3 now, guys?
