With solely the opening line delivered by the central character, “Here’s a fun fact: Everyone you know will die.”, Outer Banks hits off its second season with a thrill. It enhances the atmosphere of the plot as well as establishes the effects that will later arise.
It’s safe to say the second season is as full of wonders and plot twists as the first one, or maybe even more. Once again, John B and the rest of his group are off to recover the gold lost from the Royal Merchant. Only this time do they keep confronting more restrictions, as well as characters who, in the end, aid them in the process.
As always, it’s like there never seems to be enough opposition going around. As John B and his friends are off trying to find the gold, they fight setbacks of their own. Problems with their cars, damaged and wasted evidence, and even some animal-run-ins are all just a few. But then again, there would be unquestionably no plot and no show without these, sometimes unrealistic, delays.
For example, at the beginning of the season, we see Kiara Carrera getting in the way of some potential evidence that could prove John B was innocent in the murder of Sheriff Peterkin. Naturally, this caused many in the audience to be filled with momentary annoyance towards Kiara. Still, without her getting in the way of the proof, season two would probably end there and simply have that one episode be aired.
On a more solemn note, many by far relished the second season more than the first. A proactive series of adventures elicited an even longer chain of consequences, and this is what makes the show the hit that it is today. Still, the series’ most prominent asset is the Pogues, following John B and his friends.
They tend to produce a contrast to all the high-speed and anxiety-provoking scenes. They do this by embracing the easiness of living in the Pogue mindset and the Pogue lifestyle.
After any activity that may be portrayed as a life-or-death situation, and we know we see many of these come to show in the second season, they take a step back and acknowledge their surroundings. This will be further discussed at the end, seeing as the finale ends this way before a considerable plot twist exposes itself.
Going back to the discussion, the only aspect that might throw the show off is its unbelievable facets.
(Warning: Spoilers in the following paragraph)
For example, in the third episode of the season, John B immediately rushes Sarah Cameron to a doctor known by the person they were working with, Captain Terrance. In this scene, the surgeon examines Sarah’s gunshot to her lower stomach, which could be much more fatal in real life. After doing the best he can, he prepares to deliver the bad news to John B. The doctor tells him she’s sooner or later bound to bleed out, so, as a reasonable boyfriend, John B attempts his best to prevent this from happening.
He tries cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), but we see Sarah’s oxygen levels start to fall. Soon enough, she flat lines for about two minutes. In real life, asystole is irreversible, and less than 2% survive such cardiac arrest.
But considering that this is a fictional show, Sarah still lives. Not only this, but she also tries to get killed twice, and an alligator bites John B, and they keep leading flawlessly fine as if nothing ever happened. Of course, this has led some fans to believe a non-confirmed theory: John B’s bandana heals everything. He used it with Sarah, he used it for his gator attack, and the only time he didn’t have it on him, well, everything didn’t end according to plan.
(End of Spoilers)
Even though, just like in the first season, a lot of unreasonable and thoughtless operations take place, there’s just so much going on you can’t seem to meditate on the trivial things unless you’ve already finished the season. And this, on the part of the directors, writers, and producers, is a phenomenal filming strategy.
The angles in which each scene is executed, the short zoom-ins that remind us of reality TV shows, the humorous one-liners, characters like JJ seem to crack even though disturbing circumstances surround them. These are all part of what makes The Outer Banks a grand show, and the second season is even sharper than the first.
Despite all this, the show always ends with the most important message the producers care to show: a sense of authenticity and existence.
Sure, 90% of the show is made up of entirely fictional surroundings and events. But deep down, the Kooks and the Pogues are just the same as we are. Rafe and JJ both cope with parental abuse verbally, physically, and emotionally.
Kie’s parents hated who she loved, her group of best friends. Sarah was always caught in the middle of being part of an incorrect family while wanting to do the correct thing. Pope struggled with academic perfection in order to keep being the expectations his father set him up to be. Everyone has dilemmas of their own, just like you and me.
But at the resolution of everything, they clung together because that’s all they had. The ending scene in season two portrays just this: the unconditional love bestowed by a non-blood-related family. They were each other’s comfort in the times of their tempers, whether these were actual tangible storms or intimate battles muffled by their inner screams. The Pogues never challenged loyalty in this friendship, and if trouble had to be provoked to save one another, it was never thought of twice.
So, did this season reach its expectations? In my subjective view, it surpassed them. Now come to think of it, who in your life would you consider your Pogues? Who in your life will dare to put their allegiance on the table despite all external risks?
