Outer Banks ending explained: The meaning behind the Netflix show's dramatic finale

Warning: spoilers ahead
Courtesy of Netflix
Sophie Rainbow27 April 2020

The finale of new Netflix teen thriller Outer Banks was full of twists and turns, and the whirlwind pace of action has left many viewers with unanswered questions.

Although many of the show's major mysteries have now been resolved - the treasure found, and Big John's attempted killer pinpointed - it seems that writers were keen to open up some new plot possibilities for a potential season two.

The second series hasn't yet been confirmed by Netflix, but co-creator Jonas Pate has explained that writing for the show is already well underway.

So where is the treasure now? What will happen to John B, Sarah, and Ward? Is Big John really dead? Let's take a closer look at the details...

Outer Banks arrived on Netflix earlier this month
Courtesy of Netflix

What does the Outer Banks ending mean?

The plot of Outer Banks revolved around two key mysteries - firstly, the location of the missing treasure that John B (Chase Stokes) and his "Pogues" hope to find, and secondly, whether or not John B's father is really dead after being lost at sea.

Both of these questions end up being resolved in the character of Ward Cameron (Charles Esten) - who unfortunately also happens to be the father of John B's girlfriend, Sarah.

20 classic films available to watch on Netflix right now

1/20

After he offers to become John B's legal guardian to save him from being put into foster care, Ward takes John B on a fishing trip. Instead of paternal bonding, it suddenly transpires that Ward has more sinister intentions in mind, and attempts to attack John B after he refuses his offer to help find the treasure together. John B escapes, but learns that Ward also attacked Big John, John B's father.

It turns out that Big John and Ward had originally planned to retrieve the treasure together, but Big John wanted a higher share of the money. The two men fought, Big John was thrown overboard, and Ward left him for dead in the water.

John B. and Ward Cameron (Courtesy of Netflix )
Courtesy of Netflix

This could mean two things - either Big John is dead, which would mean that Ward is responsible for his death, or it could open up the possibility of him having survived and reappearing in season two.

After leaving John B, Ward then manages to retrieve the treasure, which he attempts to transport to the Bahamas via private plane.

John B tries to stop him, and Sheriff Peterkin (Adina Porter) turns up to do the same. She is shot dead by Ward's son (and Sarah's brother) - Rafe Cameron.

Sarah
Courtesy of Netflix

Ward tries to frame John B for the murder, despite Sarah doing her best to reveal the true situation. When John B and Sarah realise that he is going to be tracked down by the police, they decide to escape together on a speedboat.

Unfortunately, a large storm has been brewing overhead throughout the episode, and the two young lovers now head straight into the middle of it. They are thrown overboard in the rough waters, but are miraculously picked up by a large boat on the way to none other than - you guessed it - the Bahamas.

This points to two important factors for a potential second season - the first is that John B and Sarah are headed towards the same destination as the treasure, which might mean that they are able to get to it before Ward.

It also implies, however, that Big John might too have survived being thrown overboard by Ward. If John B and Sarah are able to survive their ordeal and travel elsewhere, we might not have seen the end of Big John just yet.

Here's hoping that Netflix will answer all of our questions soon.

Outer Banks is streaming now on Netflix.