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Season 1 – Outer Banks

Play trailer 2:28 Poster for Season 1 – Outer Banks Apr 2020 Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
76% Tomatometer 21 Reviews 85% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
A teenager enlists his three best friends to hunt for a legendary treasure linked to his father's disappearance.
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Outer Banks — Season 1

Outer Banks — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

Outer Banks' over-the-top melodrama is balanced out by a strong sense of adventure that's bound to hook those looking to capture that summer feeling.

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Critics Reviews

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John Anderson Wall Street Journal Apr 22, 2020
Any dramatic shortcomings will be overlooked by those attracted to the show's basic premise: young people living unsupervised, on the margins of society, but who still get to behave like they have a team of lawyers on retainer. Go to Full Review
Steve Greene IndieWire Apr 16, 2020
B-
Some of those later confrontations buckle under the weight of their plot connecting, but when "Outer Banks" dials its melodrama to its own sweet spot, there's enough fun to keep a story-hungry audience following along the trail. Go to Full Review
Allison Keene Paste Magazine Apr 15, 2020
8/10
Outer Banks isn't exactly wholesome, but there is something about its sun-soaked adventure that feels emotionally authentic to the teen experience. Go to Full Review
William Tucker But Why Tho? Jan 22, 2023
7/10
Outer Banks Season 1 is a gripping young adult series that seems to combine National Treasure and Stranger Things. Netflix excels at placing their series within regions of the world that are underrepresented within the media. Go to Full Review
Sarah Knight Adamson Sarah's Backstage Pass Jun 7, 2020
3/4
The sun-soaked scenery of the Outer Banks is a guilty pleasure. The teens are engaging and fun in this preposterous script. Go to Full Review
Tania Lamb Lola Lambchops May 8, 2020
2.5/5
Perhaps not the best show on TV, Outer Banks does enough to satisfy its intended audience. Though this one's not for kids. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Frank G @RT88466911 Aug 29, 2026 Fun, action packed, great array of young actors and props to Chase Stokes for the unreal dedication to the character which affected his health! See more Marco L @decatur555 Aug 21, 2026 Outer Banks begins with a genuinely interesting social divide between poor Pogues and privileged Kooks, then spends most of its five seasons ignoring it in favor of increasingly implausible treasure hunts, endless fights and teenage melodrama. The result feels like The Goonies crossed with Beverly Hills, 90210, but stretched far beyond the point where its characters’ childish behavior remains charming. Logic is routinely sacrificed to keep the next adventure moving, and much of the acting ranges from forced to genuinely embarrassing. Madelyn Cline is the clear exception: she steadily gives Sarah more depth, vulnerability and presence than the writing alone provides. The series is visually attractive and occasionally entertaining, but when it finally returns to its class conflict, it only proves how much more interesting it could have been all along. See more diogo13 T @Tua_mera Jul 14, 2026 Um "prazer secreto" de verão perfeito, cheio de sol, mistério e drama juvenil na dose certa. O argumento tem os seus furos e as novelas românticas às vezes cansam, mas o carisma dos Pogues e o ritmo viciante da caça ao tesouro compensam qualquer falha. Ótimo entretenimento descomprometido. See more Eden H @RT72375257 Jul 9, 2026 So after watching some of season 5 i went back to this first season and it made me truly appreciate how good it is (and how much better it is than season 5), because holy crap i love this show. the first two seasons are hilarious, have o much heart, and good plot. See more Dustin L @Batmanunderpants Feb 5, 2026 The show is entertaining however it is very repetitive, giving you a new character to hate and then making them seem not so bad after all, the crew finding a new treasure or key to the treasure and then making careless decisions leading to someone else taking it from them after doing all the work. Multiple times someone, either a cop or bad guy looking for them literally has them in their line of sight but acts like they don't see them. This show could have been much better. Season 1 was definitely best and then the writing got lazier each season See more Inacio R @RT54371263 Jun 6, 2025 Trama induzida ao espectador de forma extremamente forçada, talvez seja o melhor exemplo, mas, basicamente, seria tipo o Gandalf falando "Tá afim de uma aventura?" pro Bilbo Bolseiro, só que de um jeito que não faz sentido. Porém, incialmente, os protagonistas apresentam uma persona que tinha muito potencial para ser explorada e isso me animou pra continuar vendo. See more Read all reviews
Outer Banks — Season 1

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Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Apr 15, 2020 Pilot After a hurricane, John B, JJ, Pope, and Kiara find a sunken wreak and plunge headlong into danger and adventure. Details Episode 2 Aired Apr 15, 2020 The Lucky Compass John B is convinced that the clue found onboard the boat connects to his missing father and leads his friends on an increasingly frantic search for answers. Details Episode 3 Aired Apr 15, 2020 The Forbidden Zone As the gang hatches a clandestine plan to get to the bottom of the deep sea mystery, John B confronts Sarah while Pope jumps at the chance for revenge. Details Episode 4 Aired Apr 15, 2020 Spy Games John B's supervision-free home life catches up to him, and he receives well-timed assistance from an unlikely person. Details Episode 5 Aired Apr 15, 2020 Midsummers John B believes he's made a breakthrough in the hunt for the gold, but he wants to include Sarah in the quest, causing friction among his friends. Details Episode 6 Aired Apr 15, 2020 Parcel 9 A spooky legend, a broken friendship and John B's new living situation keep the crew on their toes as they search for the treasure. Details Episode 7 Aired Apr 15, 2020 Dead Calm JJ's reckless behavior ramps up as the friends try to score some quick money; John B grows closer to Sarah and makes her father suspicious. Details Episode 8 Aired Apr 15, 2020 The Runway John B finally learns the truth about his father and sets off a chain of events that threatens everything the friends have strived to accomplish. Details Episode 9 Aired Apr 15, 2020 The Bell Tower With his options dwindling and enemies closing in, John B hunts for an exit plan; Sarah feels pressured to pick a side; Pope lets his emotions out. Details Episode 10 Aired Apr 15, 2020 The Phantom An island crawling with law enforcement and an approaching tropical storm are just two of the obstacles facing John B as he tries to make his escape. Details
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Season Info

Director
Valerie Weiss
Creator
Shannon Burke, Jonas Pate, Josh Pate
Network
Netflix
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
Apr 15, 2020
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