Outer Banks has a huge problem — the show keeps on killing off characters just for them to come back (and then die again), and season 4, unfortunately, continued that trend. Netflix’s action-adventure mystery teen drama follows John B and his group of Pogue friends living in the Outer Banks. The TV series begins with John B dealing with his father’s disappearance and trying to avoid being sent to a foster home. This leads to him and the other Pogues finishing what Big John started when he went missing by searching for the gold from the Royal Merchant.

Netflix split Outer Banks season 4 into two parts each consisting of five episodes, with part 1 releasing on October 10, and part 2 dropping one month later, on November 7.

Following their first adventure in Outer Banks season 1, the Pogues continue finding themselves in treasure-hunting (and dangerous) situations throughout the show. As a result, many people die around them. However, whenever a major or supporting character dies, their deaths are often fake-outs. While the “back from the dead” trope was exciting at first, it has gotten tired after four seasons. I thought (and hoped) the teen drama would keep its fake-out deaths in the past after Big John’s permanent demise during Outer Banks season 3’s ending, but someone rises from the dead in season 4 anyway.

Outer Banks Season 4 Continues The Show’s Death Stakes Problem

The Netflix Series Continuously Brings Characters Back From The Dead

At the end of Outer Banks season 4, episode 3, Lightner kidnaps Cleo and takes her to a ship, where she sees Terrance. As some may recall, Terrance last appeared in season 2, episode 3, and it was implied that he died during a shootout with the police. Since he was never seen again, many assumed Terrance was dead and that was that. Instead, Terrance shows up in Outer Banks season 4 and his being alive serves as episode 3’s shocking cliffhanger. However, by the next episode, Terrance dies for real when Lightner shoots him.

Netflix’s teen drama faked the deaths of three of its characters just to kill them again, giving the series a false sense of high stakes.

Terrance’s presence in Outer Banks season 4 continues the show’s pattern of resurrecting the dead. First, many thought Ward killed Big John until it was later revealed that he had survived. John B eventually reunited with his father just for Big John to permanently die at the end of season 3.

Additionally, Ward faked his death in a boat explosion in season 2. Ward rose from the dead at the end of episode 9, but Sarah and Rafe’s father died for good in the Outer Banks season 3 finale. So, Netflix’s teen drama faked the deaths of three of its characters just to kill them again, giving the series a false sense of high stakes. Two fake-out deaths are more than enough for any TV show. Meanwhile, Outer Banks seemingly can’t let go of this trope (that should only be used once), bringing its total up to three in season 4.

Outer Banks Can’t Keep Killing Off All Of The Pogues’ Parental Figures

The Majority Of The Pogues’ Parents Are Dead Or Awful People

Sadly, most of the Pogues’ parents in Netflix’s series are either dead, horrible, or missing. The only Outer Banks character with great and present parents is Pope. Meanwhile, John B’s father died twice and his mother’s whereabouts are unknown; Sarah’s dad also died twice and her mom’s fate is also unknown; Kiara’s parents sent her to a troubled teens camp against her will; as the Outer Banks season 4, part 1 finale reveals, JJ’s abusive father isn’t his biological father and his birth father is (assumingly) evil while his mother died when he was a baby; and Cleo’s only father figure, Terrance, is dead.

Outer Banks Season 4 Cast
Role

Chase Stokes
John B. Routledge

Madelyn Cline
Sarah Cameron

Madison Bailey
Kiara “Kie” Carrera

Jonathan Daviss
Pope Heyward

Rudy Pankow
JJ Maybank

Carlacia Grant
Cleo

Drew Starkey
Rafe Cameron

Fiona Palomo
Sofia

Austin North
Topper Thornton

Cullen Moss
Deputy Shoupe

J. Anthony Crane
Chandler Groff

Rigo Sanchez
Lightner

Brianna Brown
Hollis Robinson

David Jensen
Wes Genrette

The Outer Banks writers love to give their characters as much trauma as possible, especially when it comes to their families. Although some parents are still alive, they could very easily die (like Luke) in future episodes. Ultimately, it has come to a point where it needs to stop. Outer Banks cannot keep killing the adult characters, especially if they have fake-out deaths (but that doesn’t mean any of the Pogues should die).

Outer Banks’ Big Fakeouts Have Already Made Deaths Less Meaningful

The Show’s Future Deaths Won’t Be Impactful

As a rule, each TV show should only be allowed to have one fake-out death. The first one is always shocking and thrilling, but if a series incorporates more of the “back from the dead” trope, deaths become meaningless. Whenever any character dies, it will be difficult for viewers to believe they are truly dead (even if they are) because resurrection has become a pattern in the TV series.

Character deaths are incorporated into stories to impact not only the other characters but also the audience. Shows will begin to lose that effect if they raise multiple characters from the dead, and that is what has happened with Outer Banks​​​​​. So, going forward, the Netflix teen drama must cease the fake-out deaths. However, given its history and Terrance’s rise from the dead in Outer Banks season 4’s story, the TV series will never learn.