I’m not sure why it feels like Outer Banks has been dragging on forever — it only premiered in 2020, during Covid, and its fifth and final season premieres next week. That is a reasonable amount of time for it to exist, and yet you could have told me they started in 2016 and dropped a season every two years a la Bridgerton and I would have believed you. I think part of it is, I didn’t finish last season — it turns out three seasons of teens involved in death-defying treasure hunting, and battling actual drug lords and such, was enough of a stretch to credulity for me that I did not need to continue. Not even with a time jump. (I don’t even think it was a huge time jump?!?) And it’s been almost two years since the last episodde aired, AND they wrapped long enough ago that Chase Stokes (second from left) is now a whole grown-man’s beard. Which makes sense, as he is 33. But John B is, like, 19, so is face looks like a man who’s at a 10-year Paley Fest reunion and not that of someone getting ready to debut the end of his teen series.
Anyway, everyone in this photo, left to right: Carlacia Grant, Chase Stokes, Drew Starkey, Jonathan Daviss, and Madison Bailey. The three dudes all look fine; Starkey has been in some higher-profile stuff, like Queer with Daniel Craig, and I think it slicked up his styling, but in that way where they are OVERTHINKING the statement. Also, I keep thinking that cutout on Carlacia’s dress is a mitten-clad hand. And for some reason, Madison decided to wrap herself in a corset made of vintage footballs. It’s a mixed bag. I welcome a mixed bag. This is just a Netflix summer party; please, TV gods, give them a big premiere next week so that we can keep welcoming mixed bags.
