Outer Banks Season 4, Episode 2 “Blackbeard” cements many issues. For one, capitalism is the true enemy of this present. It’s what’s stopped our Pogues time and time once more and made it not possible for them to finish up in a greater place in life sooner. This episode additionally cements the truth that JJ and Kiara usually are not short-term. They’re the sort of nice love that stands the take a look at of time and the bends. And at last, though I hate Rafe to the moon and again, that predator realtor woman must beat it. No creeps that give us the ick allowed.
So with out additional ado let’s dive into Outer Banks Season 4, Episode 2 “Blackbeard.”
JJ and Kiara Go Deep Sea Diving
Watching JJ and Kiara put together to go deep sea diving made me pause whereas watching Outer Banks season 4 episode 2. I bear in mind these youngsters from the primary episode on the very starting of this journey in 2020. And it’s surprising to see them now, swimming into Blackbeard’s ship searching for a relic of one thing he gave his spouse that might finish a household curse. It goes to indicate how far they’ve come of their treasure searching journey. However significantly for JJ and Kiara, it goes to indicate how they’re deciding to face this world collectively. Or for them, Blackbeard’s ship and mysterious strangers that they encounter on the backside of the ocean that just about ended their lives.
I do assume that it’s a bit ridiculous that they’re treating scuba diving prefer it’s a stroll within the park, pre-dive. I’ve watched sufficient horror tales about what occurs with the smallest errors in the case of scuba diving. But when there’s something I learn about Outer Banks, it’s that I’ve to let issues go and simply assume that our youngsters have gotten higher at it for the reason that first time they did it in season 1. That disbelief apart, these two have been very a lot proper or die for one another, even on the backside of the ocean. And sure, our Pogues are household and so they select one another repeatedly. However there’s something particular about JJ, who has by no means had an intimate romantic bond on the present, having this particular reference to Kiara. And for Kiara, she is aware of that JJ can have her again so she by no means has to return to her dad and mom. There’s ease in that belief, one thing they’ve each been searching for and located with one another.
In a while when JJ and Kiara have the bends and are in that hyperbaric chamber, the couple have what I really feel is likely one of the most necessary moments of their relationship thus far. Not solely does it clue in that they’ve gone well past kissing, solidifying that they’re comfy in lots of features of the connection, however we additionally see them have this quiet second the place they verbalize what we’ve seen. We’ve seen them be journey or die for one another as pals, household, and extra. However it’s one thing completely different to have them speak about dealing with the universe collectively. As a result of for me, saying it out loud makes it actual and provides it life. There’s even one thing extra particular about JJ saying that they’re profitable. Having simply performed a season 1 rewatch, the JJ of that season was scattered and shattered inside. There’s a quiet confidence in him now that matches Kiara’s presence. And it’s grounded in love; romantic and that of a long-standing friendship.
I Nonetheless Hate You, Rafe
I don’t hate simply, I like an excellent redemption arc, and I like me a villain or two. However there’s something repeatedly twisted, malicious, and really easy to hate about Drew Starkey’s Rafe. 4 seasons in, and I hate him as a lot as I did within the very first season of this present. He repeatedly chooses to think about himself because the hero of the story when he has overwhelmed folks up for virtually nothing, killed with out provocation, and virtually drowned his sister. There aren’t any good qualities that might result in a redemption for Rafe. And in a twisted method, that makes me like his character general on Outer Banks. The writers and Starkey know what sort of younger man he’s and so they’re not seeking to save him or make you are feeling sorry for him.
The Rafe of Outer Banks Season 4, Episode 2 “Blackbeard” has settled again into his life like nothing’s occurred over the previous couple years. He’s desperately attempting to emulate his father, after which turns into completely unhinged once they converse of his dad and the crimes that Rafe really dedicated. That second when he yelled at a random social gathering goer was a testomony to Starkey’s performing. However it additionally confirmed how Rafe hasn’t modified. It doesn’t matter that he bought a girlfriend, who we barely bear in mind and don’t know her title. He hasn’t modified as an individual at his core. If something, he’s gotten higher at hiding how unhinged he’s, similar to his dearly departed dad. Ward knew find out how to disguise the twisted nature lurking beneath the floor. And Rafe has lastly began implementing that into his common on a regular basis persona, making his dad’s journey and Rafe’s come full circle on Outer Banks.
However, Rafe doesn’t need to be preyed upon by that actual property woman. The present playfully calls her a cougar of the OBX. But when the roles have been reversed and a sleazy man was buttering up a younger and mentally sick girl, folks could be singing a distinct tune. That girl is a predator who’s clearly utilizing her attract and sexuality to reel him in. It isn’t merely concerning the deal and what cash she will be able to make. There was, dare I say, rigidity between them. And it began on her aspect of issues. Rafe is a presumptuous and twisted younger man who thinks he’s in management. Wrap that up in poisonous masculinity and this perpetuating notion that males can’t be victimized, and he’s going to go for this woman and pondering there’s nothing flawed with it. However she’s the grownup right here and her perving round is giving the ick.
Penalties for JJ
I like JJ. Even when he’s used the one collective mind cell that the Pogues should trigger utter catastrophe that they’ve to repair all through season 4. However like we talked about in our Outer Banks Season 4, Episode 1 overview, he wants penalties. And we noticed a style of that on this episode with him giving up his bike. Cash doesn’t matter to JJ however that bike did. That was his freedom from his dad and giving it up damage. Now, my hope towards hope is that it acts as a lesson for him the place he realizes that it’s time to develop up. Much more so, I hope the bike serves as a reminder that regardless of all of the hijinks that they’re on, he’s now not in survival mode in the identical method he was when he was residing along with his father. That point is over.
Total, I do assume that the most important enemy of Outer Banks is capitalism. That’s why the Pogues are getting ready to shedding their residence to scummy landowners, why they agreed to assist this random outdated dude from a curse, and why the predator realtor is so adamant about making a cope with Rafe. Retaining all of that in thoughts, I additionally assume that this downside of capitalism for the Pogues is made worse by the truth that nobody stops JJ. Admittedly on this episode they tried somewhat bit. They tried to reel him in. However he made the large selections on in the event that they have been going to face this problem and the Pogues let him. They have been sort of pushed right into a nook. I can admit that. However JJ made selections concerning the cash within the first episode of season 4 and he made this massive resolution for them in “Blackbeard” as properly.
Shedding his bike was a tiny little bit of “actions have penalties.” However there’s a sense from this episode, particularly after the outdated man zoomed in on a photograph of JJ, that there’s ache coming for this character. Not simply the ache of being separated from his pals, virtually shedding Kiara when she bought separated from them with Rafe, or his dad and all that mess. Like some other TV present, Outer Banks makes use of what they should information the narrative in particular instructions to ship a narrative value watching. JJ has realized one lesson on penalties in season 4 and I really feel like he’s going to be examined once more, however in a way that shakes his total existence. Not his world. His absolute existence all the way down to his very core. And it’s a results of the a number of years of improvement that we’ve had with this character.
It’s time for JJ to evolve into one thing new outdoors of survival mode. I simply concern that it’s going to be as painful for him because it’s going to be for us due to how a lot we love him and the Pogues who love him and have as a lot to lose as he does.
Agree? Disagree? What did you consider Outer Banks Season 4, Episode 2 ‘Blackbeard’? Share with us within the feedback under!
Outer Banks Season 4, Half 1 is now accessible to stream on Netflix. Half 2 might be launched on November 7th.