Bibliographic Information:
- Title: Outer Banks
- Director: Josh and Jonah Pate
- Publisher: Netflix
- Copyright Date: 2020
Genre: Teen, romance, drama adventure
Awards or Honors: It has been nominated for several People’s Choice Awards.
Watching Level: TV MA
Plot Summary: The show follows John B and his friends who live in a small town in the Outer Banks, a popular beach town in North Carolina. John B and his friends live in the town all year round and are called Pogues. The rich kids who come during the summer are called Kooks, and they have a rivalry with the Pogues. John B’s father is missing, and he is doing his best to avoid CPS and being taken to a group home. While diving underwater, he finds an underwater wreck and a key. The key leads to a hotel, where he finds lots of money. He shares it with his friends and discusses if it might be related to the buried treasure supposedly buried on the Outer Banks. John B and his friends get in a fight during a beach party with the rich Kooks. He lies to the police to avoid foster care. The series then follows John B and his friends as they look for buried treasure and try to avoid police, treasure hunters, and criminals.
Author Background: The show creators are Josh and Jonas Pate, both from Winston- Salem, North Carolina. The brothers have been in the entertainment business for over 20 years. They also spent time in Charleston, South Carolina, and scenes like the fight at the beach are based on real life events from the 1980s. They also spent time riding around in RVs. They got the show’s idea from hearing about a storm near the Outer Banks and built on it from there. Part of the show was inspired by The Outsiders and The Goonies (Clodfelter, 2020).
Netflix has picked up Outer Banks for a second season. Jonas now lives in North Carolina, while Josh Lives in Idaho. They originally wanted to film the show in North Carolina but did not because of the discriminatory HB2 Bathroom bill. They are hopeful that with repeal efforts almost done, they will soon be able to start filming in North Carolina (Clodfelter, 2020).
Critical Evaluation: The show is set in North Carolina and filmed in Charleston, South Carolina. The scenes are beautiful, and viewers will love the coastal beaches and the southern coastal lifestyle. The show has a great plot and will keep viewers guessing until the very end. Several characters are not what they seem. Several mysteries are threaded into the plot. Things continue to intensify as the series goes on and culminates in a wild police search. Most of the actors are older teens, which helped lead them to more fame and notoriety. Lots of scenes are set on the water with boat chases and fishing scenes. The filming crew did a great job of having high-intensity chase scenes and drama. The equipment, filming, and scenes all feel modern and sleek. Everything was produced well, and there are no glaring errors or scenes that feel wrong.
Creative Use Library Program: I would have a summer film program at the library, which would take place every Friday. Snacks and a private room will be able for the teens. If COVID-19 restrictions are still in place, we can have the program outside. An optional scavenger hunt will be available for younger teens who want to participate. Teens who win the scavenger hunt will get prizes.
Book Talk: John B lives in the Outer Banks in North Carolina, where nothing much happens, and the locals live how they want. His biggest secret is his father is missing at sea, and his uncle has skipped town. When he finds information about local buried treasure, his life turns upside down. He and his friends must find the treasure and avoid sinister forces who will do whatever it takes to find the treasure.
Potential Challenge Issues: Potential challenge issues would be for violence through fights and murders. I would make sure the library only allows older teens to watch the show. If it is challenged, I would argue older teens have the maturity and awareness to watch the show.
Reason for Inclusion: I included this show because it was hugely popular on Netflix, and people talked about it on social media. It is a fun teen show with adventure, drama, and mystery. There are twists people will like, and the teenagers are the protagonists, while adults are often evil people or those who make bad decisions.
Clodfelter, T. (2020, April 25). Brothers born in Winston-Salem have a hit with ‘Outer Banks’. Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved from https://journalnow.com/entertainment/brothers-born-in-winston-salem-have-a-hit-with-outer-banks/article_5480fa10-b39b-5d7e-b71d-3b8dc2615760.html
Outer Banks. (2020). Retrieved November 15, 2020, from
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