A surprisingly exciting and modern take on the treasure hunting genre.
If you blend Scooby-Doo, The Goonies, The Outsiders, and National Treasure, then the result would most likely be something along the lines of Outer Banks. Outer Banks is one of Netflix’s new originals, centering on a group of teens searching for a lost treasure not seen for centuries. On the initial viewing, it may seem like you’re watching a ten-hour long Hollister commercial that’s aimed at younger audiences, but it’s unexpectedly deeper than what it shows on the surface. There’s a turning point where the series goes from decent to actually pretty riveting and you won’t want to stop binging.
One of the strengths of the show is the atmosphere and tone that it presents to us. Not too long after the show begins, we’re immediately immersed in a world full of beaches, high tides, and beautiful sunsets. The cinematography provides us with rich colors that makes us want to go back to sunnier times when life was good and everything was carefree. Aside from the occasional shaky cam and the yellowish color grade that might throw off some viewers, the guys over at the cinematography department did a solid job at transporting the audience in this island out in the coast of North Carolina.
Where the show truly shines is the cast of characters. The class structure of the Outer Banks (or OBX) is divided into three groups. The simpleminded tourists who are looking for a good time, and the main rivalry between the Pogues and the Kooks. The Pogues come from the lower income area of the island and are your everyday hardworking people. Life can get tough for them, but they roll with the punches and keep pushing on. The Kooks, on the other hand, live on the upper-class side of the OBX and are known for their nasty reputation. So naturally, we want to root for the Pogues. The writers were clever in having our main characters be part of the Pogue clan because everyone likes an underdog. Whatever facet of life you are looking at, everyone likes the story of the guy who comes from nothing and makes something out of themselves.
From the first moment we see our group of underdogs, we feel like we’re part of their ragtag group of friends. They’re misfits and troublemakers, but they’re relatable. This is a group that is entering the primetime of their youth and are searching for more out of life. They have a code and look out for one another even though they come from different backgrounds. When they stumble upon the clues of the island’s long-lost secret treasure, we want them to find it because they deserve it.
The story starts off by introducing the characters and the dynamic of the island, but once the plot begins to unfold, it’s a nonstop ride full of surprises and tension. One clue leads on to the next, and the big picture begins to be revealed little by little. It’s not a show that takes itself too seriously. It knows that the primary objective is to create twists and turns that keep you rooted to your seat, and it has fun with it. The drama and interactions keep you engaged even though there are some flirtatious moments that might not hit home for some viewers. Sometimes the characters will make decisions that might not seem plausible or even safe, and it can take away slightly from the viewing experience. However, this is still an entertaining story with some surprisingly strong character moments throughout that you wouldn’t typically expect in a teen drama.
What you have here is a promising start to what appears to be another hit for Netflix that will attract viewership as soon as season two arrives. It may be because I’m young and haven’t left the house too much since the pandemic started, but I thoroughly enjoyed being taken to sunny beaches with charismatic people.