If there is one thing that the past four years have taught us, then it is “Pogues are 4 Life”. Ever since the release of the hit Netflix series Outer Banks in April 2020, the landscape of cinephiles has changed. Before Outer Banks, it was easier to jump from one series to the next, but then came John B, JJ, Pope, and Kiara, and well, times are different now. The love for the series has been ever-present, and with three seasons in the bag, there is a great number of episodes to indulge in again and again.

Now that Outer Banks Season 4 is ready and waiting to finally be released on Netflix this fall, the overall hype is coming back to the surface in full force. What has been clear from the moment the first season of Outer Banks dropped is that these characters are equipped to move beyond the frame of a screen and connect with fans on a deeper level. The lifestyle of John B’s crew has brought an entire social media movement to life, spreading the energy of freedom and joy on different levels. Real life and the adventures of the Pogues are intertwined, as fans all around the world long for one and the same thing: the OBX Lifestyle.

Young People Long for the OBX Lifestyle of Outer Banks

After the entire world came to a standstill, people had to face the consequences of travel restrictions and young people especially were forced to miss out on pivotal life experiences, but the release of Outer Banks at the beginning of the pandemic came as a lifeline to many. John B, JJ, Pope, Kiara, and Sarah offered an escape many greatly appreciated. The characters radiate such a captivating energy that they effortlessly draw viewers right into the world of adventure, surfing, and profound connections. People want to enjoy the OBX lifestyle.

This raises the question of what classifies as the OBX lifestyle. In Outer Banks Season 1, John B explains that Kildare Island is the main location in Outer Banks, and it is split into two separate parts: figure 8 and the Cut. The former is where the Kooks, the rich and wealthy, enjoy a life full of materialism and the importance of social status. The latter is home to the Pogues, the lower working class, and while getting by comes with great difficulties on that side, it has so much more to offer, making Outer Banks fans increasingly curious.

The OBX lifestyle is all about what happens on the Pogue side of things. The Netflix series conveys the message that life is there to go on adventures and, if something doesn’t go as planned, just wing it. John B and his friends certainly are pros when it comes to going with the flow. This approach oozes a sense of freedom, and fans of the series long for the same feeling.

The Outer Banks Social Media Movement

The desire to be a part of the Outer Banks community, or, in more detail, a member of the Pogues, has led to the creation of an entire social media movement. Social media content referring to the view that Outer Banks is the best Netflix series and spreading its message is a steady part of online platforms. While some post about their 9-5 work-life (nothing wrong with that, though), others use Outer Banks as an inspiration and try to connect with the characters or the setting in their own way.

For example, Content Creator Nick Wilkins, who was already posting videos online even before the first season of Outer Banks was released, stands out from the crowd regarding his OBX references. Once the Netflix series hit the screen, fans of the series and Wilkins alike couldn’t help but notice similarities between him and JJ actor Rudy Pankrow. People started to leave comments on his videos, stating the obvious, leading Nick to start a series of impersonating JJ and creating something he called “Inner Banks.”

For “Inner Banks,” lookalikes of the main characters in Outer Banks, despite being in different places and restricted due to lockdown, came together online and created short videos with Outer Banks references. The lines between the series and reality continued to be blurred, and his videos conveyed the feeling that anyone out there could be a Pogue.

Another Content Creator who has recently picked up the Outer Banks vibes again and inspires others to step out of their comfort zone is Sophia Chiara. Originally from Germany, Sophia decided to sell or give away most of her possessions and found herself in Australia, where she fully lives out the OBX lifestyle. Her reasoning is that she felt drowned by materialistic things and longed for freedom in nature to fill her life with meaningful experiences. She posted a YouTube short titled “Outer Banks life,” which shows how she took key points of Outer Banks and implemented them in her own life. Whether it is bonfire nights with friends, surfing all day long, going on road trips, or dancing in the summer rain, Sophia’s videos add to the Outer Banks social media movement and instill a desire in her fans to share a similar experience.

Outer Banks Started an OBX Online Community

Let’s ignore all the chaos and murder in Outer Banks for a second and look at a more realistic approach. In particular, young people are drawn to the idea of living the OBX lifestyle, especially after the hardships of the past few years. With Outer Banks Season 4 coming soon, the desire and excitement to embrace its freeing lifestyle is growing stronger again. There really isn’t much that sounds better than cold drinks, a loving group of friends, great waves, and boat rides along the river. While there is the predominant perception that what happens in movies and series is unrealistic and simply based on imagination, people on social media went ahead and challenged this idea.

Fans support each other in the sense that they share and indulge in numerous TikTok videos or YouTube shorts to find a way for themselves to either find comfort in someone else living the OBX lifestyle and experience it vicariously through them or implement this way of living in a feasible way. It seems as though there is an endless amount of videos circulating online, which either offer guidance on how to achieve the Outer Banks lifestyle or actual footage of people who already enjoy similar freedom.

The OBX social media movement not only involves fans gushing over lookalikes and blurring the lines between fictional and reality because of it, but it also, and more importantly so, highlights an entire community that has the same dream of shifting their lifestyle away from a more materialism-based to a more experience or adventure-based life. In this quest, the support and praise for the fandom is the foundation for everything, and the inspiration found in videos by, for example, Nick Wilkins or Sophia Chiara, has arguably changed the lives of fans, guiding them to embrace their very own OBX lifestyle. Ultimately, while there are different restrictions for different people, everyone can be a part of the Outer Banks community in one way or another and use the content of the series as an inspiration for themselves to maybe look at life a little differently sometimes.

If you are already excited about the release of Outer Banks Season 4, check out the Pogues’ Kildare Surf Shop Commercial below and get a first idea of what John B’s crew will be up to in the near future. Outer Banks is streaming on Netflix.