‘Outer Banks’ Stars Chase Stokes, Drew Starkey and More Unpack Season 4’s Explosive Part 1 Ending
[This article contains significant spoilers from the first part of season four of Outer Banks.]
Outer Banks always manages to surprise its main characters with unexpected twists, and the first part of season four is no exception.
The closing scenes of episode five, titled "Albatross," struck hard for Rudy Pankow's character JJ, Jonathan Davis' Pope, Madelyn Cline's Sarah, Chase Stokes' John B, and the rest of the gang in various ways.
The first part began with a summary of the Pogues' adventures during the 18 months after they came back from finding the City of El Dorado in season three. It then showed how Wes Genrette (played by David Jensen) approaches them with Blackbeard’s captain’s log, hinting at the possibility of a new treasure hunt.
During the first part of the series, the Pogues established a fishing supply shop along with a charter service for visitors, offering diving and surfing lessons as well. However, the funds they acquired from the gold they retrieved from El Dorado didn’t last forever. A significant portion was spent by JJ at an auction to reclaim his family's house.
This was just the first of several occasions when JJ's rash decisions landed him and his friends in a tricky situation. Another instance was when they participated in a dirt bike race against the Kooks, which ended up draining their last bit of savings from their gold earnings.
“I believe he takes responsibility for a lot of things, and to some extent, that's accurate," Pankow shared with The Hollywood Reporter when discussing why JJ doesn't seem to learn from his impulsive behavior. "There are definitely situations that are his doing. However, does he handle that well? Not really. He struggles to deal with it and attempts to make amends, but I think he goes too far in trying to fix things.”
Even though he sometimes makes questionable choices, Madison Bailey's character Kiara is always there for him as both his girlfriend and his closest friend.
"She looks at him in a way that he might not fully recognize. He seems to have some defenses up, but Kiara approaches him without those barriers. She has a special affection for him and recognizes the struggles he's faced, choosing not to blame him for them. It wouldn't be just to do so. Ultimately, I believe she genuinely loves him."
At the same time, John B and Pope are on a quest to uncover the truth behind the enigmatic blue crown associated with Blackbeard, one of the legendary pirate's hidden treasures. However, the crew from the Outer Banks always seems to face unexpected challenges.
They aren't the only ones in search of the treasure — naturally, that's not the case.
In the beginning of Part One, the Pogues encounter a mysterious and threatening character known as Lightner (Rigo Sanchez). He is a mercenary on a quest for Blackbeard’s treasure. Throughout the season, the friends have multiple confrontations with him, one of which nearly led to Kiara and JJ losing their lives, and later, Cleo also finds herself in danger.
In the fifth episode, the majority of the team travels to Charleston in search of Blackbeard's treasure. Lightner, along with his enigmatic leader Dalia (played by Pollyanna McIntosh), manages to access the treasure map hidden in a crypt beneath an ancient church before the Pogues arrive. As Lightner and Dalia make their escape, they leave Pope and Sarah behind, trapped in the rising waters of the crypt as it starts to flood from the rain.
Just as the mercenaries are about to escape, John B is ready to take a shot at Lightner. However, he's suddenly halted by a vivid memory of Big John (Charles Halford) shooting several of Singh’s men (Andy McQueen) in front of him during season three.
Stokes explains to THR that his character struggles to take action because he has witnessed his father commit violent acts. "John B experiences a genuinely human moment where he recognizes the journey he's beginning to embark on," he says. "The first part of the story focuses on his transformation from being uncertain about getting involved to making a commitment, and then ultimately realizing that he might be becoming the very person he swore he wouldn't turn into, mirroring his father."
In the underground chamber, Pope and Sarah find themselves in a dire situation, stuck with no apparent escape. Davis and Cline shared that while shooting this scene, they experienced emotions similar to those of their characters; Pope remained mostly composed and unruffled, whereas Sarah was in a state of panic.
"It was just as it appears. Maddie was present, and she was not pleased. The water, even when you jump in, feels icy cold as it drips all around," the Do Revenge actor explains. "It was enjoyable because it truly felt like I was shooting an Indiana Jones film or something similar. I thought, 'This is what it must be like to work on those kinds of movie sets.'"
In contrast, the actress from The Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery was experiencing a tough moment.
"I think I've made it obvious that I easily feel claustrophobic. Then I arrive on set and see the tight spaces we have to navigate, and I'm thinking, 'Come on, we discussed this before,'” she explains. “It definitely felt like some kind of social experiment. … I didn't do amazingly; I managed, but just barely. JD was fantastic to work with during that shoot. He kept things steady while I was feeling anything but calm. I’m really thankful for him."
Returning to Figure Eight, Rafe (Drew Starkey) seems to be contemplating a fresh start and hopes to reconcile with his sister, Sarah, after years of hostility between them. However, the journey to healing won’t be simple for the Cameron siblings, as it's tough to forget the time your brother nearly caused your death.
Although Sarah is optimistic about the possibility of mending their relationship, they share a complex past that has been filled with many difficult and painful experiences for both of them, especially in recent times.
“I really believe that Rafe holds her responsible for their father's death, and I think she’s aware of it,” Cline explains. “She probably carries a lot of guilt, as I sense that many people believe she’s to blame for his passing. It’s a really complex issue, far too intense for just a quick chat. It’s something that needs to be worked through gradually.”
In regards to Rafe, the Kooks' beloved troublemaker, fans have probably been hoping to see him make some positive changes and not continue his previous terrible behavior. The actor, Starkey, shares that these changes take time and personal growth.
"He's growing up. I believe that the loss of his father has played a significant role in this," the Queer star shares with THR. "He's starting to take on some responsibilities and becoming aware of his loneliness. He wants to repair relationships and reconnect with people. So, while he has struggled to express himself fully in the past, that challenge still remains for him."
Although many aspects took a turn for the worse for the Pogues in the season's first half (because it is a drama series), there was a bright spot — romance. Each of the six friends is involved in a relationship, but one couple, in particular, captured attention: Pope and Cleo.
Over the past two seasons, the two have built a strong foundation for their relationship, and they officially took the next step in the final episode of season three. In that moment, Cleo informs Pope that she's leaving the "No-Love Club" they had established earlier in the season.
Davis expresses that it has been “incredible” to bring the love story of Pope and Cleo to life in Part One, and he also enjoys collaborating with Carlacia Grant, who has turned into a “very close friend.”
"We really had the chance to dive deeper into our characters this season and share more meaningful moments together, which we didn’t see much of in season three. It feels like we had a great opportunity to develop the relationships between the characters and bring that to life on screen," he explains. "It seemed like a natural progression from where we ended in the third season, and they appeared to be in a good place. It was truly a pleasure to explore that."
Even though Grant joined Outer Banks in its second season, she received a warm welcome and strong support from everyone. They assisted her in developing the best possible version of her character.
"This cast was truly fantastic, as we all genuinely get along, and I believe that comes through in our performances," she comments on their off-screen chemistry. "Having a supportive group of people I see as friends really enhanced the whole experience. While the excitement of the journey is enjoyable, it's even better when you have your friends by your side."
The first part of Outer Banks season four is now available for streaming on Netflix. The second part will be released on November 7.
