Outer Banks season 3 came out on Feb. 23, and the hype for the show continued on. 

The popular Netflix original show Outer Banks, first released during quarantine in 2020, became an instant hit and one of the most popular shows on Netflix. The show flourished under the conditions it was released due to the fact that the use of streaming services had reached an all-time high during the pandemic. 

The show was initially released around the same time as the wildly popular Tiger King, which had held the #1 show spot on Netflix for weeks. But once the hype for the show died down, watchers turned their attention toward Outer Banks, and many found themselves in love with the show that held so much drama, action, and overall excitement. 

At first, the show’s plot seemed to outline a high school boy living on the island of the Outer Banks, John B, and his friends-the Pogues. The Pogues live on the poorer side of the island, and throughout the show, they struggle to make ends meet. John B’s father, Big John, had gone missing nine months prior to the time that the show begins after setting off on a hunt for a legendary treasure. After a hurricane that caused extensive damage to the island, however, John B and his friends find something that may explain the disappearance of his father. As the show progresses, the plot evolves into a hunt for treasure, mystery, and revenge, as well as a love aspect. The season ended with insane drama, paving the way for a wild second season. 

Although production was slowed due to the pandemic, Season 2 of the beloved show was released in the summer of 2021, and it was just as successful as the last- eventually ending on a cliffhanger that ensured every single watcher’s commitment to come back for the 3rd season of the show. The season continued the treasure-hunting aspect, while also further exploring themes of love, loss, and betrayal, themes which likely resonated with many of the show’s watchers. 

Season 3 started where Season 2 left off and took the treasure-hunting plot to a whole new level. The adored cast, with a few new additions, continued the cycle of fantastic acting, thus elevating the show to a high pedestal. The season ended with an event that suggested another hunt for coveted treasure for the fan-favorite Pogues, setting the stage for a fourth season, which the show’s writers have confirmed. 

The season was action-packed and exciting but frankly lacked the Outer Banks “vibes”, as a majority of the season took place outside of the home island. Even during their time on the island, most of the Pogue friend group was off on personal endeavors, leaving the general theme of togetherness out of much of the season, which is what many watchers fell in love with the show for. However, towards the end of the season, the Pogues rediscovered their friendship and relationships with each other after going through yet another crucible together, strengthening their bond even further than before. 

Overall, this season was mostly more dramatic and emotional than the others, with a much bigger picture in terms of the hunt for gold. There were many unexpected and dramatic moments throughout the season which kept viewers interested. The season proved itself very successful, still sitting at #1 on the Netflix show list for March 2, over a week since its initial release. It remained unwavering at the number one spot since its release on the 23rd.

Some watchers found this season slightly less riveting than they had hoped. “The season started off kinda boring, I had no motivation to watch it,” Junior Dany Sticlaru said. “As the season went on, though, it got much better. It was a really good season, but I think I liked the first two better.”

Others had no complaints about the season. “It was a long wait for the season, but I think it was worth it,” Freshman Elyan Jamal said. “It was really good. I finished it in just a few days.”

Altogether, Outer Banks Season 3 seemed to be a success in terms of numbers and fan enjoyment. Fans eagerly await the fourth season, which is rumored to be the show’s last.