It is finally that time of the year. Fall, a marvelous season to enjoy the picturesque sight of brown leaves on the ground, pumpkins and warm sweaters all around. It is viewed by many as a transition from summer to winter.
Scratch that, because after two years of waiting, new episodes of our favorite TV show have been released. I guess it is time to put our swimsuits right back on and prepare for another fun adventure, but will it ever be the same?
The first part from Netflix’s “Outer Banks” latest season came out October 10, generating a big expectation from the public. I consider myself a big fanatic of the show, though I could not help but wonder if this season would be a repetition of the last ones.
The story was left off with the main characters of the series receiving a warm welcome from their community as heroes, after discovering the great, lost city of El Dorado. Then, they encounter an old man who offers them an enigmatic mystery to solve, this time related to Blackbeard, the most famous pirate of all time.
Instead of starting the first episode directly figuring out the mission, there is a great amount of background information about how the principal character’s group of friends spent the money that was recollected by them in their last trip.
It seemed unnecessary, but it was great to finally be informed about the financial aspect of the treasures that were found throughout the whole series, since we had never gotten that information before. What happened to the already solved mystery Royal Merchant’s 400 million dollars? I guess we will never know.
All episodes that were just released, except for the first one, happen at a very fast pace. They mix up with each other and involve many different occurrences at once. This includes an attempt of murder, a robbery, various threats, the protagonists being trapped underground, a fatal killing, and a brilliant plot twist.
It is so much to take in at once. Regardless, it is an amazing show. With it, it is possible to learn history, be very amused and even daydream about being a treasure hunter yourself!
However, there is something more. Lurking in the shadows of this teenage drama, there are important themes hiding. The principal one is the big economic and social difference regarding the ‘Pogues’ and the ‘Kooks’.
For those who do not know, the Pogues are like peasants in the past’s hierarchical system. They live in the part of the island where the houses are of bad quality and easy to get into . Their jobs consist of catering, cleaning and organizing things for the other breed. The Kooks, powerful and rich, but also greedy and malicious people, are always one step ahead in the game.
In the first season, the main character, John B, describes the people of the community he belongs in as “pogies, a throwaway fish, the lowest member of the food chain.” This is shown on many different occasions, going as far as the young man being framed for a murder he did not commit just because the real criminal was the king of the Kooks, convincing and bribing the authorities in his favor.
The rivalries between these two are relatable to teenagers. The powerful class makes fun of the not so wealthy one because of their economic status. They feel like nothing has repercussions, so beating up Pogues for fun, or even trying to run them over, always ends up causing a problem for John B and his friends.
Cruel and hopeless, the tension between these two groups is very similar to today’s world. There are many unfair advantages because of money, properties, opportunities, race and more between us, human beings.
Therefore, when you watch “Outer Banks” again, compare the sides of the island where both groups live. The repercussions and persecutions, which are often harder on the Pogues. Oh, yes, and the justice system. It is fictional, indeed, but doesn’t it remind you of something?
It certainly does for me.
