The Outer Banks writers just proved they’re willing to take bigger risks than the Stranger Things writers

As a seasoned gamer and binge-watcher of countless series, I can confidently say that the final episode of Outer Banks Season 4 Part 2 has left me utterly speechless – and not just because I was holding my breath for the last few minutes! The audacity of the writers to off one of the original Pogues, JJ Maybank, is a move that most shows shy away from, even the bigwigs on Netflix like Stranger Things.

After watching Part 2 of season 4 of “Outer Banks” on Netflix, a single idea keeps resurfacing in my thoughts: Wow, they truly took it to another level!

If you’ve seen the finale, you know exactly what I’m referring to already, but for those who haven’t yet finished their binge-watch of the latest season 4 episodes, allow me to politely drop this spoiler warning as I’m about to dive into some pretty major spoilers connected to the season 4 finale as I take a look at how Outer Banks just managed to pull off a twist that Stranger Things seems afraid to tackle. 

After addressing any necessary disclaimers, let’s dive right into the main topic. To start, I want to send a wave of virtual affection to my dear family in the Outer Banks. The current situation calls for it more than ever before.

As we approach the last five episodes of season 4, I was braced for a whirlwind of chaos and treasure hunting, aka the ‘Outer Banks’ special. But what I wasn’t prepared for was the writers venturing into uncharted territories, taking risks that very few shows dare to take these days – even giants like Netflix’s Stranger Things. After watching the finale, it’s easy to see why I felt compelled to mention Stranger Things specifically, so let’s delve deeper.

In the final episode of season 4, the writers of ‘Outer Banks’ shocked everyone by ending the life of a fundamental character, JJ Maybank, who was one of the original and key figures in the series. It’s true, ‘Outer Banks’ took the life of one of its core characters, the Pogues, which left me feeling deflated and shedding tears like raindrops.

Near the conclusion, it was Chandler Groff, JJ’s biological father, who ended up taking JJ’s life in a shocking act of retribution. This happened after JJ had walked away from his father earlier in the episode. The event was particularly startling, possibly due to the unexpected nature of the show choosing to eliminate one of its main characters – especially before the final season began.

Outer Banks proves it’s not afraid to kill off major characters

Following the unexpected and emotional scene where JJ died in the embrace of his lifelong companion, Kiara, I found myself compelled to admire the ingenuity of the creative team. Despite my own sadness – and ongoing sorrow – over the choice to end JJ’s character, it was a bold move that underscored the writers’ willingness to take risks and make significant sacrifices for the narrative’s authenticity, demonstrating the high-stakes nature of the story being presented.

Since its inception, “Outer Banks” has primarily revolved around treasure hunting escapades that frequently lead the main characters into perilous predicaments. However, it’s worth noting that significant character deaths throughout the series have predominantly involved secondary characters not belonging to the primary group of six, comprising John B, Sarah, JJ, Kiara, Pope, and Cleo.

In season 4, the writers had the chance to escalate the danger and increase the number of casualties without affecting the Pogues in any way. However, they opted for a daring narrative approach which left viewers utterly stunned and deeply affected. Such unexpected twists are crucial for a show, demonstrating that during life-threatening scenarios, not all characters will emerge unscathed, and no one is truly invulnerable.

As a devoted fan of “Stranger Things”, I’ve often voiced my discontent over the show’s creative team not honoring the deaths of significant characters, instead choosing to sacrifice minor ones, frequently characters introduced just an episode or two before their untimely end. While these character deaths are impactful, it tends to become repetitive as each season escalates the danger level yet the main characters remain miraculously safe, with secondary characters serving as the seasons’ sacrificial victims.

It’s natural for us not to want our cherished TV characters to meet their end, yet some shows consistently present perilous situations each season, only to offer false death scenes or brush with mortality. Over time, this pattern becomes predictable and diminishes the emotional resonance.

By eliminating JJ before the last season, the writers of Outer Banks demonstrated they aren’t shy about stirring things up and making daring narrative choices to underscore the true peril the characters face. Kudos to them for their bold storytelling!

I, too, am in awe of how they’re leveraging this death to fundamentally transform the series’ essence and guide the path of its final chapter. This event isn’t merely for shock effect but serves to mold the storyline of the last season and prepare us for some of the most poignant character journeys we’ve witnessed as the show reaches its conclusion.

The Duffer Brothers could stand to take a page from the Outer Banks team’s playbook.

Outer Banks season 4 is streaming now on Netflix.

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2024-11-07 20:07