★★★★★
The second part of Outer Banks season four hit Netflix on Nov. 7, about one month after its previous half. The new addition to the show leads fans through a whirlwind of new problems, places, and losses.
Picking right back up with the last episode of part one, a revelation shakes up JJ (Rudy Pankow) who grapples with a newfound part of his identity. The Pogues find themselves rounding up support on The Cut in light of the upcoming zoning meeting that will determine the details for the future of their newly bought property.
At the hearing, JJ takes another emotional hit when he realizes their new dilemma at hand was caused by a disappointing, but not shocking, betrayal.
The latter half of the season continues to follow JJ’s story closely as the main antagonist shifts from Lightner (Rigo Sanchez), a mercenary competing for the same treasure as the Pogues, to Chandler Groff (J. Anthony Crane), who’s revealed to be much closer to the treasure than anyone would’ve anticipated.
The socio-economic division that the show revolves around creates yet another outbreak of chaos, this time in the courtroom, split down the middle with Pogues on one side and Kooks, the island’s wealthy inhabitants, on the other. As insults and accusations are thrown from each side, the chaos only spirals out of control, leading to two more of the Pogues becoming fugitives. This further complicates their hunt but is nevertheless an obstacle they’ve learned to work around in past seasons.
Discouraged again, the crew find themselves in frustrating confrontations, particularly with the show’s recurring antagonists: Topper (Austin North) and his Kook friends.
While JJ goes off to make sense of what his reality has become, Groff plays a larger role as he manipulates his way to what he wants: the scroll and lens that will help him find Blackbeard’s blue crown.
As the Pogues find the map that leads them across the ocean to the deserts of Morocco, they are faced with even more obstacles in addition to dealing with the authorities, the mercenaries pursuing them, and Groff’s true intentions.
Not only does this season change in its new focus on JJ but also in its surprisingly pleasant portrayal of Rafe (Drew Starkey), who has played an overarching antagonist since the show began. Especially in part two, fans see a redeeming transformation in his character as he tries to find a clean beginning, evident not only in his new relationship with his girlfriend Sofia (Fiona Palomo) but also through his help getting the Pogues to Morocco.
In the 10th and final episode of season four, “The Blue Crown,” the search for Blackbeard’s treasure comes to a climax with new dynamics and relationships circling between the many treasure-hunters. The season ends with shocking developments that leave fans unsure about the future of the show.
Although the group hits new lows, the season closes with major unresolved dilemmas setting up the plot for the fifth and final season of Outer Banks. Season four delivers the familiar treasure hunt plotline viewers love, with a transformative shift of focus from John B (Chase Stokes) to JJ, ultimately elevating the storytelling.
The developments of season four shake up the plot for better or for worse, prompting fans to return in a couple of years for the close of Outer Banks.
