Outer Banks EPs: How That Gigantic Finale Twist Will ‘Excavate’ the Show’s Mythology in a Potential Season 3
Warning: This post contains a major spoiler from Outer Banks‘ Season 2 finale.
Just when it seemed like Outer Banks‘ third season was going to end on a visual of the Pogues living their best — if stranded — lives on a deserted Caribbean beach, the Netflix series’ action moved to Barbados to reveal something many fans had predicted since the show’s start: John B’s dad, Big John, is alive.
Executive producers Jonas Pate and Josh Pate tell TVLine that Big John’s resurrection wasn’t always a sure thing — even as recently as when they were plotting out the season.
“We knew we had that card. We didn’t know that we would play it for sure, but around the sixth or seventh episode, when we were writing this year, we started to realize maybe we could do that,” Jonas Pate says.
He adds that the chaos of Episode 10 — in which John B, Sarah, Kiara, Pope, JJ and Cleo attempt to take over a cargo ship and barely escape with their lives — was the best kind of distraction, one that would leave audiences “really on the wrong foot.”
Josh Pate adds: “We started to get excited about what we could do in a potential Season 3 if he were back.”
Viewers learn about Big John’s existence when Carla Limbrey, the series’ new villain played by Lost alum Elizabeth Mitchell, arrives in Barbados with a letter bearing the Royal Merchant insignia. She goes to a home where a man informs her that “he” isn’t doing well. And when we find out who the “he” in question is, it’s John B’s presumed-dead father, played by Constantine‘s Charles Halford. (Read a full recap here.)
Their conversation is about the shroud that she hoped to find in the Cross of Santo Domingo, the ancient cloth that allegedly has healing powers. (Maybe that’s how Big John survived his injuries from Ward’s attack?) “I can help you,” he tells her. “But you have to help my son.”
So is Limbrey and Routledge Sr.’s interaction leading to a potential enemy-of-my-gold-hungry-enemy-is-my-friend situation? The pair have worked together before, Jonas Pate points out. And they both clearly hate Ward Cameron. “It’s laid in there. There are a few mentions throughout the season about Limbrey. Like, Limbrey has been aligned with Big John in the past, so it’s definitely a likely way we will go,” he says, quickly adding that he and the other EPs don’t have a detailed “master plan” for Season 3 yet.
However, “The treasure-hunt aspect of the show is something that we see as important and integral to the show,” Josh Pate explains. And bringing him back, we realized maybe there was a way to [combine] these different treasures that they’re going after into a larger mythology.”
He adds: “We thought that Big John’s return would be a way we could excavate some of that.”
What did you think of Big John’s revival? And how do you think it will play out in a potential Season 3? Hit the comments and let us know!
OMG!!!! When is Season 3 coming out????
The show needs to get renewed first… depending on when it does, s3 can come out in summer of 2022 at the earliest
Is there going to be a season 3 and when does it air?
So excited that John B’s dad is back. Was very curious about the “how’s he doing?” when Carla Limbrey came in, but then right before we saw his face I was like No is it! Love the cliffhanger and love the show. The Outer Banks cast is literally one of the hottest and most enjoyable to watch. Do us fans a favor and don’t let us wait to long. Get the party started and Season 3 a go👍❤👍
Awesome ending to series 2. Cant wait for season 3!
Is it next summer yet?
The very second Elizabeth Mitchell appeared on the screen I literally yelled out loud “Don’t trust her.” Great addition to the cast. Hope we see her again in season 3. Yes, I know hasn’t been renewed yet, but I have hope. 😀
i’m gonna be disappointed if every season they all start treasure hunting a new item or relic. I really like the whole premise of chasing the gold bars but now having them discover other treasures is distracting to me.
But its billed as a TREASURE hunting show though. But they keeping losing the treasures, unfair.
When does season 3 come out?
Well they can alway make it a Netflix series
It’s already a Netflix series.
Just finished season 2. Cannot wait for season 3 I am all for finding out about John b dad and having a story around him
We want more! Come on Netflix renew for season 3 so they can get busy making plans!
Gigantic twist? This literally happens on a half of the shows that has a father/parent (who helped drive a mystery) die.
Exactly. I wasn’t the least bit surprised.
Awesome season awesome ending! When Ward “blew” him self up I actually thought he was really gone it was a great plot twist and unexpected for me as such when Sarah was shot by her brother Rafe and was than literally dead for a time. I really hope that we get a season 3 even if it takes a long time for it to come I hope that we get one
I thought he was alive..aw some would like to see big john find kids on Island by mistake and they go home all six kids run a popular hang out eat n drink kinda place call it goldy’s…makes u wonder?? But everybody is happy..
Found OBX on accident. After S1E1, I was hooked!! Had to pace myself while watching.. Awesome cast as well.. And watching JJ talk himself out of sticky situations, epic! When I saw Elizabeth Mitchell, I knew this was going to be Good!! And Raif, what a villian!! Cudos to the Cast and producers.. Thanks for all the entertainment, and cliffhangers!! Patiently awaiting for S3
Big John coming back from the dead (where did he find a random corpse for that skeleton hand shot?) makes as much sense as Ward somehow being able to put on scuba gear and jump off a boat (without being seen?) with the whole 5 seconds he had between ducking into the cabin and the boat exploding.
Also, 15 crew members with guns…no one shoots the air outta their lifeboat. And Cleo just happens to be on the cargo ship? Please.
Oh, and let’s just let cop killer Rafe out of jail simply because his dad (who is a known liar) says he “did it all”. Ummmm did we forget about the witnesses??? Or Rafe’s fingerprints on the casing??? OMG.
I like the show, but it’s pretty freaking stupid sometimes.
Is there going to be a season three? I sure hope so we just finished season two. We enjoyed the show. I loved the ending of season two with the reappearance of Big John.
I think in the end john B and his dad end up with the gold as well as John B’s crew. They each receive the reward money for returning the gold to the authorities. John and Sarah get married!