The third season of the Netflix series, Outer Banks, starring Madelyn Cline, Chase Stokes, Rudy Pankow, and Madison Bailey follows the teenage group of “pogues” and “kooks” as they continue to search for their treasure one adventure after another. Season three premiered on Netflix on February 3, 2023, debuting at #1 on Netflix’s list of top 10 TV shows.

The show begins with the teens stranded on an island they call “Pougelandia.” After weeks of surviving off of fishing, coconuts, and campfire games, they are rescued by a plane. Little do they know at the time, the man didn’t find them by accident. They quickly realize they are up against much more than they first thought.

After running from authorities in Barbados, the crew ends up back in OBX with John B’s (Chase Stokes) presumably dead father, Big John (Charles Halford). The group of friends and Big John are racing to find El Dorado, a city of gold before the show’s newest villain Carlos Singh (Andy McQueen) beats them to it.

Following the framework of the last two seasons, the show starts out with an epic bang, slowly follows the crew in the middle, and goes absolutely wild in the end. The last two episodes are by far the most thrilling. 

Season 3 continues with the fun and believable chemistry between the core characters. The Pogues have adopted Cleo (Carlacia Grant) into their group, which is an exciting addition. Aside from the treasure hunting, the friends are teenagers after all, and that comes through in their complicated and climactic relationships. Between Kiara and JJ’s brewing chemistry, and Sarah and John B’s ongoing relationship, the drama is there and worth watching.

Outer Banks, season 3, keeps up its thrills and twists that made viewers fall in love with the series in the first place. As a bonus, it dives deeper into the complex relationship between John B and his father, as well as Sarah and her father, Ward (Charles Esten). The show contains difficult conversations among the friends and provides a more personal feel than the first two seasons.

Each episode is more thrilling than the last. The show contains a number of twists and turns that had me on the edge of my seat, eager to watch the next episode. Netflix has officially announced that the Pouges will be back for a 4th season, and it’s expected to be just as thrilling as the last.

9/10