Outer Banks has been one of Netflix’s most popular young adult shows, dissecting life in the North Carolina keys. It’s focused on John B, his crew of trusted friends and his beloved Sarah as they evade Sarah’s dad, Ward. They did so to find a treasure before Ward did, which revealed dark secrets, including Ward betraying John B’s father, Big John, and leaving him for dead on their hunt.

In the process, the series made big statements on race, class warfare and elitism, with Ward believing John B and his “Pogues” are beneath his family. Thankfully, John B has stayed on top of this Romeo and Juliet saga, although Ward’s son, Rafe, has taken up the mantle. However, as the third season preps to kick off on Feb. 23, it’s worth noting that some plot holes were never addressed.

How Did Ward Know About the Compass?

The MacGuffin that started it all in Season 1 was something John B located on Scooter’s sunken boat. He found his dad’s compass inside, which contained info on finding the treasure he and Ward teamed up for, only for Ward to knock him out and throw him overboard. Scooter took it off John B’s body on a deserted island, but he was caught and drowned in a storm after his boat capsized. Wanting the compass, Ward and his thugs would then come after John B. The problem is, Scooter never made it back to the mainland, nor did he even radio Ward — unless Season 3’s keeping this for a flashback.

How Did Lana Know About the Compass?

Scooter’s wife, Lana revealed the truth about Big John and the compass to John B in Season 1, letting him know how Ward turned on his dad, then hired Scooter for a salvage mission. Again, the show never had Scooter making contact with Lana, which is why she was desperately seeking him out the morning after the storm and asking people if they knew where he was. Had he spoken to her, she’d have clarity and an idea of where rescue boats should search. The fact the show had Ward’s thugs coming to intimidate Lana about the compass further compounds how leaky this arc was because whatever she knew, they’d know too as Scooter was Ward’s new partner.

 

Why Does Lana Leave John B To Hang?

Season 2 had a full-scale war occurring at John B’s locale, with Ward trying to frame the teen for the sheriff’s murder. It’s never explained, though, why Lana let John B’s crew take the fall, knowing the sheriff was on his side. Sure, Lana might have been scared of Ward’s goons, but the FBI was in town. Thus, Lana could have gone to the Feds or the press to ensure nothing would happen to her. Instead, she stayed in the shadows and failed to clear the Pogues’ name, which resulted in the authorities almost killing the Pogues. Lana knows they’re good kids too, so it felt like she didn’t care about getting justice for Scooter and Big John.

Why Don’t the Cops Track Rafe’s Ballistics?

Rafe’s the one who shot the sheriff, but Ward took the blame. Weirdly enough, the Feds just dropped the case against Rafe, even though there was evidence he was engaged in illicit activities as well. Had Lana come forward, it would have landed both father and son in jail. But more so, if Rafe was an initial suspect, the ballistics on the bullet and fingerprints on the gun or at the scene would actually prove Rafe’s the shooter. It’s weird that the authorities dropped the Rafe link totally, without corroborating elements from the scene to ascertain the truth and if the rich dad would cover for his kid.