Outer Banks Season 2 is all about searching for the gold (just like all those Olympic athletes in Tokyo) and embarking on a new and deadly treasure hunt.

The season is packed with action right out of the gate as it picks up with John B and Sarah’s adventure in the Bahamas. 

Throughout the season, it becomes clear that the Pogues can never catch a break. And though they don’t come out on top in the end, they never lose their sense of self or their purpose. 

They are Pogues through and through — the Pogue life might not be easy, but it is eventful. 

There are lots of jaw-dropping moments that it’s hard to narrow down to just a topline few, but we’ll do our best.

Sarah and John B Get Married

Their relationship was a little touch and go for a bit after they got home from the Bahamas, but as Sarah learned the ugly truth about her family and her father, she grew closer and closer to John B. It’s a little out of the ordinary for 16-year-old’s to get married (and yes, it’s sometimes easy to forget that they are only 16!), but it was more of a “promise ring” situation than an actual marriage. However, the feelings they have for each other are real and strong. They’ve been through hell and back together, and they understand each other in a way that others don’t. Sarah is officially a “P4L.”

OUTER BANKS (L to R) RUDY PANKOW as JJ, CHASE STOKES as JOHN B, MADELYN CLINE as SARAH CAMERON, and MADISON BAILEY as KIARA in episode 208 of OUTER BANKS Cr. JACKSON LEE DAVIS/NETFLIX © 2021

Rafe Tries to Kill Sarah

Rafe was not in the right headspace throughout the season, which he himself admitted. Mental health is important, but it was completely brushed off by his father who constantly told him to “man up.” As a result, Rafe had trouble navigating his thoughts and turned into a monster that was all too comfortable with killing and was ready to do absolutely anything to protect his family. When it became obvious that Sarah was going to become an issue since she planned to testify that he murdered Sheriff Peterkin, Rafe tried to reason with her. When that failed, he dunked her head underwater and attempted to drown her. If it wasn’t for Topper, who just happened to be around (why was he around?), Sarah might not be alive today. 

Injuries Galore

Since the action didn’t stop for a minute, there were a lot of injuries amongst the Pogues. Sarah was shot by Rafe while trying to steal the gold in Nassau, Kiara almost drowned while scouring the sewers for the gun that killed Sheriff Peterkin (also because of Rafe), John B almost became an alligator’s snack (one of the more random moments of the season), Pope was stung by a handful of wasps while trying to find the Cross of Santo Domingo (poor guy swoll up like a balloon), and JJ almost drowned after being knocked out by the blunt end of a machete and going overboard (he survived thanks to Kiara who kept him afloat until the Pogues could pull him to safety!). It’s safe to say, it was an intense and dangerous season for everyone involved in this elaborate and high-stakes treasure hunt.

OUTER BANKS (L to R) RUDY PANKOW as JJ, JONATHAN DAVISS as POPE, and MADISON BAILEY as KIARA in episode 204 of OUTER BANKS Cr. JACKSON LEE DAVIS/NETFLIX © 2021

John B Is Arrested for Murder

And he was facing the death penalty. It’s not surprising for someone accused of murdering a Sheriff in cold blood, but it was surprising considering we know that John B is innocent and being framed. The Pogues made several attempts to clear his name, and though it seemed like Shoupe was turning a blind eye to the truth because he was on Ward’s payroll, he eventually pieced it all together secretly and the charges against John B were dropped. Of course, it was almost a little too late as Ward put a hit out on John B in prison that almost killed him. 

Ward Kills Himself… Well, Almost

There’s a Polish idiom that basically translates to “no disaster can befall an evil person,” and that couldn’t be truer for Ward. No one is able to bring him down no matter how hard they try because he’s always one step ahead of everyone. He manipulates people and pays them off, which allows him to get away with everything.

When it seemed like the walls were caving in on him and justice would finally be served, he killed himself on his boat. My mother (who did not watch season 1 and got sucked into season 2 by accident) immediately stated that he faked his death and likely snorkeled out through the bottom. Surprisingly, she was 100% correct. Of course, Ward planned his escape in a way that would clear Rafe of all charges and allow his family to escape without being held accountable for anything. Ward never showed any remorse for all the murders he committed; he only ever thought about himself and what he wanted. 

John B almost had him again on the ship headed to Guadalupe. After he saw Ward choking Sarah out (he realized she was a Pogue and not a Kook, which meant she posed a threat to the family and had to be “taken care of”), John B knocked him out and was so close to throwing him overboard. However, John B couldn’t bring himself to do it. While it would’ve been the perfect revenge for his father as Ward killed him and threw him overboard, it’s a good thing he didn’t cross that line because he would’ve never been able to come back from it. John B is not a killer. 

While most people would naturally die from such injuries, Ward held on and was recovering in the infirmary on the ship. 

OUTER BANKS (L to R) DREW STARKEY as RAFE and CHARLES ESTEN as WARD CAMERON in episode 206 of OUTER BANKS Cr. JACKSON LEE DAVIS/NETFLIX © 2021

The Key, Denmark Tanny, and the Cross of Monte Cristo

There was a lot happening with this B-plot, which later took over as the main storyline after Ward stole back the gold in the Bahamas. A woman named Carla Limbrey reached out to Pope looking for a key that led to the Cross of Santo Domingo. Pope wasn’t sure what she was talking about initially, but once he found the key in his MeeMaw’s old apartment, he did some digging and found out he was the descendant of Denmark Tanny, a slave who was involved with the sinking of the Royal Merchant. He was the one who hid the gold and the cross, which now belonged to Pope. The cross allegedly held a healing shroud inside, which is why Carla wanted it. However, when she got her hands on it, she was disappointed to learn that the shroud was not inside. 

Upon learning how valuable it was, Rafe and Reid, Carla’s step-brother, stole the cross from Pope and the Pogues. Pope was so fed up with having everything taken from him that he fought back. The cross ended up on the ship, and the Pogues snuck on by hiding in a shipping container. They were so close to stealing the cross back (which honestly, was probably too heavy for them to steal to begin with), but when the plan went sideways, Pope decided that he’d rather dump it in the ocean than let Rafe and the Cameron’s have it. Unfortunately, Rafe and the men on board were able to pull the cross back onto the ship as the Pogues sped off in a lifeboat.

Poguelandia

The Pogues docked on an uninhabited island somewhere in the Caribbean where I imagine they will likely recoup and re-strategize. My guess is that when Netflix renews the show for a third season, the fight for the treasure will continue. Pope declared that “it wasn’t over,” and with their motto being “nothing to lose,” I can’t imagine they’ll let this go so easily. The Cameron’s have taken way too much from them already. 

John B’s Father Is Alive

In one last shocking twist, Carla Limbrey arrived in Barbados on official Royal Merchant business and confronted John B’s father… who is very much alive. It seems as though he allowed everyone to believe he was dead and hid out on an island plotting his revenge. Like father, like son, right?

The two of them talk about the Cross of Santo Domingo and the cloth with healing powers…. but why? Why is he in cahoots with Carla, a woman who was so willing to screw over his son? Why does he want the cloth?

What did you think of the season? What was the most shocking moment in your opinion?