OUTERBANKS

• Season 4 of Outer Banks must keep the Pogues in North Carolina to stay true to the show’s roots.
• The upcoming episodes shouldn’t revive dead characters like Ward and Big John to maintain the series’ shocking impact.
• Outer Banks season 4 should introduce a compelling new villain to replace Ward.

Outer Banks is undeniably one of Netflix’s most-watched original series, but season 3 w as met with mixed reviews from critics and viewers alike, so season 4 must embrace a few changes to get the show back on track. The action-adventure teen drama series, created by Josh Pate, Jonas Pate, and Shannon Burke, premiered in 2020 and became an instant hit, resulting in a season 2 renewal just a few months following its release. The second season performed just as well as the first, so a third one was in order. However, the show partly fell off during the 2023 episodes.

Once viewers finished season 3, some were upset. They believed that the latest batch of episodes’ quality was lacking compared to the previous seasons, and they weren’t fans of the Outer Banks season 3 ending. However, the teen drama was still one of the most streamed shows in 2023, and Netflix renewed it for season 4 ahead of the season 3 premiere. So, even though critics gave season 3 mixed reviews and it was divisive among fans, the show would go on. Nevertheless, Outer Banks season 4 must address the complaints and return to what made the series great.

8Keep The Pogues In The Outer Banks (& Together)

Season 3 didn’t include enough time in North Carolina

One of the biggest complaints about season 3 was that it frequently took the Pogues — John B, Kiara, JJ, Pope, Sarah, and Cleo — away from the Outer Banks. The show is called Outer Banks, after all, and its setting is significant to its central story, so it would make sense if most of it took place in North Carolina. However, the characters traveled to Barbados, South America, and other locations throughout the ten episodes. Season 4 must return to the show’s heart, which is the Outer Banks, by keeping the Pogues there for most of, if not all, the episodes.

Outer Banks season 4 is coming to Netflix, but the upcoming episodes of the mystery teen drama series must redeem one season 3 failure.

7No More Reviving The Dead

Outer Banks has had one too many fake-out deaths

Outer Banks has had its fair share of fake-out deaths, including Ward and Big John, so it’s time for them to remain dead. If a television show revives characters believed to be deceased more than two times, the audience will stop being surprised when dead characters return. Numerous fake-out deaths take away from the permanent ones since viewers expect them to be alive. So, Outer Banks season 4 can’t revive Ward or Big John, who both perished during the season 3 finale, to maintain the teen drama’s power to shock the audience.

6A Complex Villain That Can Replace Ward

Antagonists are critical to the show’s success

If (and hopefully) Ward is gone, Outer Banks needs to find a new villain to replace him, and unlike past antagonists, they must live up to Charles Esten’s character’s legacy. Of course, Rafe is an adequate choice to take over his father’s villainous role, but it might be more interesting to bring in a new Big Bad. Singh was a dud, and Carla has been severely underused, so her potential as a villain has not been proven. Ward set the bar high, and if season 4 is to return to season 1’s greatness, it needs a great and complex antagonist.

5No Love Triangles

The John B/Sarah/Topper drama needs to end

When Outer Banks season 4 comes around, it shouldn’t feature any exhausting love triangles — especially between John B, Sarah, and Topper. As fans recall, Sarah and Topper dated in season 1 before Sarah and John B fell in love, and she dumped Topper. However, Sarah cheated on John B with Topper in season 3, which was undoubtedly one of the season’s worst storylines. Of course, the finale ended with John B and Sarah in a seemingly happy relationship, and that’s the way it should remain in the upcoming episodes.