Netflix’s chart-topping Outer Banks ends after 6 years with one of its best seasons

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video One month into 2020’s first lockdown, Netflix gave us a much-needed escape in the form of Outer Banks, a show that whisked us away into a world of treasure-hunting and endless ocean sunsets. The series struck a chord as we watched John B. (Chase Stokes) and the other Pogues long for an escape of their own too, searching for a life where they no longer had to struggle for money or happiness. But struggle they did. Even as season one soared to the top of the Netflix charts, the Pogues themselves fought tooth and nail for success in their own lives. This fight, a unique mix of The Goonies and The OC with a little Point Break thrown in too, continued to pull viewers in for a second equally successful season. But then the clouds began to roll in when a third outing became bogged down by this constant need to one-up what came before. Season four picked things up in the right direction again, ramping up the stakes while also hitting fans in the feels with the surprise death of a core member. In the aftermath, our faves were left more broken than ever, pushing us into a fifth, final season where the Pogues are now ready to pick up the pieces. And boy are there a lot of pieces to pick up. Season five of Outer Banks doesn’t just juggle the renewed hunt for revenge and the Blue Crown that JJ’s (Rudy Pankow) father stole. It also needs to wrap up every arc for each individual cast member, giving them a happy ending that will satisfy fans of what surprisingly became one of Netflix’s longest-standing shows to date. Hurtling towards the end like this can lead to rushed storytelling or the unfortunate sidelining of key moments, but Outer Banks actually benefits a great deal from this pressure. In these final 10 episodes, the writers find a much-needed balance between big stakes and intimate character moments, ending up with a fulfilling climax to pretty much every key storyline. It’s been six years since Outer Banks premiered and became a Netflix phenomenon (Picture: Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix) Fans have called the release of the final season an ‘end of an era’ (Picture: Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix) Key details on Outer Banks season 5 Creator Josh Pate, Jonas Pate and Shannon Burke Cast Chase Stokes, Madelyn Cline, Madison Bailey, Jonathan Daviss, Drew Starkey, Carlacia Grant, Austin North, Fiona Palomo, Tony Crane and Cullen Moss. Season 5 synopsis Season five of Outer Banks finds the Pogues ‘at their absolute breaking point following the tragic loss of JJ in Morocco’. The synopsis continues: ‘Stranded far from home and mourning the heart of their crew, they’ve lost the Blue Crown and continue to face a gauntlet of familiar threats. ‘The Pogues are in a desperate race to reclaim their future and finally win the freedom they’ve always been chasing. It’s the Pogues against the world as they seek to avenge their best friend and bring it on home … one final time.’ Where to watch Netflix How many episodes There are 10 episodes in the final season, all of which have been released in one go. Release date August 20, 2026 Much of this comes down to the ramifications of what happened to JJ and how his death hit Kie (Madison Bailey) in particular. A lesser show might have been tempted to gloss over that loss in favour of wrapping things up, but grief is central to Outer Banks in this final season. As such, it reflects to some degree the sadness that longtime fans might also be feeling when the show comes to an end. As Kie says goodbye to JJ, so too must we say goodbye to these characters. Thankfully, such melancholy becomes fuel for revenge, adding a personal twist to the usual hunt for gold. The Lupine Corsairs still pose a threat in their own hunt for the Blue Crown, but it’s Groff’s (J. Anthony Crane) involvement that gets your heart racing. Because who would ever kill their own son just for riches? It’s easy to hate Groff because of this, making him the perfect villain to cap the show off with. This ongoing quest, which spans multiple locations worldwide beyond the Outer Banks, also brings with it an intriguing question of its own, one that’s been threaded throughout the show but never explored fully until now. Namely, is there a supernatural element to the power that some of these treasures and artefacts supposedly hold? All 10 episodes have been released in one go, so be wary of spoilers (Picture: Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix) The streaming platform is working on an Outer Banks prequel (Picture: Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix) The Blue Crown is said to ‘open a portal to the underworld’, bringing the dead back to life, which is why everyone involved in this hunt is so desperate to find it. Without spoiling anything, the potential power this crown contains adds a new element to the show, which is heartening to see so late in the game. Rather than rest on their laurels, the writers continue to expand the potential of what Outer Banks can be, which is no small feat given just how many influences the show already draws on. That’s not to say the final season is perfect. Characters like Pope (Jonathan Daviss) and, to some degree, even John B, could have used a little more focus. The element of fun that first drew fans to this locale isn’t quite as strong as it used to be either. Yet season five remains the best season in quite some time, perhaps bettered only by that first run in 2020 which got us to fall for Outer Banks in the first place. Verdict on Outer Banks season 5 Outer Banks finally ends with an almost-perfect final season that you’ll watch just as fast as you did the first season in lockdown. WIll you be watching? Yes I can't wait to see how it endsCheck No, I dropped off the surf awhile agoCheck Want to get bespoke updates on the TV shows you love? Sign up to Metro's TV newsletters and tell us which ones you can't get enough of Beyond Kie’s journey with grief and the show’s handling of Groff, series standout Madelyn Cline shines as Sarah revisits surprising chapters from her past while Drew Starkey reminds us why he became the breakout star playing her brother, Rafe. The way his story, and every story for that matter, comes to an end is handled with genuine care. There’s a sense that something special has been made here, something worthy of an ending that befits each character and the fans alike. To extend it for a sixth season would have been one step too far, reminding us that saying goodbye is never easy, even if it is the right decision. And with that, it’s time to watch The Pogues sail off into the sunset one last time. By the stars and the skies and the sea, this is the ending that Outer Banks deserves. Deals of the Day Parents can save up to 30% on Kickers school shoes ahead of the new term The back-to-school hack that's helping parents avoid queues and sold-out sizes Could your hair be wavy rather than straight? This brand thinks so Could your star sign improve your skincare routine? This new beauty launch thinks so Best skincare for menopausal skin? This dermatologist-created treatment is tailored to you All five seasons of Outer Banks are available to stream on Netflix. 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