The twists and turns of “Outer Banks” engages audiences

The new Netflix show, Outer Banks, is a must-watch.

Netflix, Outer Banks Cover Photo, Fair Use

“Outer Banks” isn’t very hard to understand, but it also isn’t a show to just have playing in the background while you’re doing something else.

Netflix - Official Trailer

Grace Cochrane, Staff Writer

A new show has just been released on Netflix called Outer Banks. It has been very popular and has been on the Netflix trending list for the past few weeks. The show follows a group of friends who try to solve the mysterious disappearance of lead protagonist John B’s dad. This show is amazing, to say the least, and it has many twists and turns that keep the audience engaged at all times.

I remember when I saw the trailer for the show, it didn’t really look like a show I would watch. It looked like a dumb murder mystery show, honestly. I refused; until about two weeks after it was released. Then, one night, because I was seeing so many posts about it on TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram, I decided to watch the first episode, and let’s just say, I finished the whole season within the next 24 hours.

I immediately fell in love with the cast. You could tell they weren’t just pretending to have chemistry. You could see that they had chemistry outside of the show which I thought was very special. Most of these actors and actresses have had cameos in shows like Stranger Things, but none of them have really had their big break. However, Charles Esten (Ward Cameron) and Austin North (Topper Thornton) have both appeared on Disney Channel and Charles Esten starred in a hit show, “Nashville.” Charles Esten played the dad on Disney Channel’s “Jessie,” and Austin North played a character in a two season long show called “I Didn’t Do It.” While it was weird seeing them in a murder mystery type show, they were great.  

You’re probably wondering how I managed to finish the season in 24 hours. Each episode ends on a cliff-hanger, and I just could not stop watching. Right as I thought the whole season could end, something else came up. 

Also, it was so easy to get invested in the story. Although the show is one of my favorites, it was also anxiety-provoking to watch for the first time. I was stressed out for the characters, which speaks to both the quality of the acting and how the story was told. It wasn’t very hard to follow like some TV shows, but it also isn’t a show to just have playing in the background while you’re doing something else. You have to pick up on little details to be able to try to piece together the mystery. 

When I watched it for the second time, I watched it with my mom because I could not stop talking about it. (My mom wanted to watch it together because a celebrity she likes, Charles Esten, plays a character in the show.) It was funny seeing our opinions and theories going against each other. My dad would come pop in and watch a few minutes of it, and he even started to make his own opinions and theories. And I’ll admit: It was nice to talk about theories with someone in person since I have not been able to see my friends. Besides the fact that there is some questionable language, it’s a good show to watch with family.

Overall, I would definitely recommend watching Outer Banks. It is so good and you can become so invested in it. It’s a good mysterious, action-packed, romantic, and comedic TV show. I am now on my third time watching it, and I keep picking up on things I never picked up on before.