Outer Banks season 2 Review
When Outer Banks was released last year, I mentioned that it was one of those shows. This exciting teen drama has become a real guilty pleasure. A good treasure hunt, likable characters and a fast, lively 10 episodes made this a real pleasure to watch. So can lightning strike twice?
Expectations were understandably high after the events of the first season, and in its efforts to be bigger and better than before, Outer Banks sometimes loses sight of what made the first season so good. The opening 6 episodes in particular revolve around a ruthless game of cat and mouse.
Last season, John B and Sarah found themselves on the run. Boarding a cargo ship bound for the Bahamas, John B and Sarah are now fugitives and wanted by the authorities.
They are inevitably discovered by the ship’s captain and forced to flee. So they make their way across the Bahamas, avoiding both the authorities and casual onlookers.
All the while, JJ, Kiara and Papa try to figure out what happened. The two members are short, they go on their own treasure hunt and try to piece together the history of Danish Tanni.
For a series opener, this subplot moves with little rhythm other than to offer a break from the relentless action in the Bahamas. It’s certainly not bad, but given the uneven team dynamics, the pacing feels a little slow.
However, by the end of episode 6, the show is more in line with what we love about this show. Humor is better. The dialogue flows more coherently and there’s a solid treasure hunt as well.
Much of this good work comes from the camaraderie between the Pogues. It 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 reignite here.
While Ward and Rafe return as the season’s antagonistic threat, new faces join the hunt. First, we were delighted by the ship’s captain, Terrance, and his crew. As the season progresses, this will soon be replaced by Limbrey, which has its own mission.
The teen drama is still here, this time focusing on Kiara and Papa. It’s been in the pot for a while, and season 2 finally sees the pair grow closer together. By the end of the season, there is a clear dynamic between the characters and fans will be anxious to see what happens next.
Yes, there is another scary cliffhanger at the end of this season. However, the shock reveal is a real breath-taking moment and completely game-changing. No spoilers of course, but suffice it to say I’d enjoy writing our wrap-up walkthrough to find out more!
Overall
Overall, if you were a fan of season 1, you’ll definitely find a lot to like here. While the second season doesn’t quite live up to the first, it’s a bigger, badder, and raunchier effort than before.
Sometimes this cacophony of noise tends to drown out more subtle character dynamics. However, Season 2 of Outer Banks is a sun-soaked, adrenaline-pumping drama that doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon. So can we get season 3 now please guys?