Fan favorite returns stars

By Elizabeth Truelove | Staff Writer

Millions of viewers sit at the edge of their seats as John B, played by Chase Stokes, introduces the third season of treasure hunting, complicated romance and questionable last-minute rescue missions. As Netflix’s most watched show at the moment, Outer Banks has kept its popularity from their first season released during the peak of COVID in 2020.

The first season was largely filmed in the beach town of Charleston, S.C. where viewers were introduced to five of the six main characters, John B, JJ, Kiara, Pope and Sarah. Then, in season two, Cleo joined their treasureobsessed group and considered herself one of them, a “Pogue.”

During a time of isolation, the reckless abandon in which the Pogues jumped into every new adventure appealed to my generation. We obsessed over their lifestyle, down to the clothes they wore or how they would style their hair.

Our love for these characters continued into season three as they escaped the island, which coined the name “Poguelandia,” where they had been deserted, and hitched a ride with a random man. Unbeknownst to the Pogues, this man had been secretly hired by the antagonist of the season, Carlos, setting off the whirlwind of betrayal, romance and cliffhangers.

One of the most awaited moments of the season was the culmination of characters’, JJ and Kiara’s, budding tension from the beginning of the show. Although Kiara and fellow pogue Pope had a relationship between season one and two, viewers shipped Kiara and JJ from the very beginning. This season, when Kiara was forced into a rehabilitation center by her parents, JJ left the others to rescue her. Their heartfelt reunion was celebrated by viewers and is arguably more iconic than the Notebook-esque moment between Sarah and John B in season one.

While I was one of the many followers of this show, the allure of putting myself in the characters’ shoes and living their life became more and more distant as the plot line became too unrealistic, even for a fictional show. In the previous seasons, every near death experience made my palms sweat and my heart race, but, after this season, I was disappointed with how a character could ride a motorcycle off a bridge then stand up with a little cut across their cheek and walk it off.

As for the end of the season, I feel like the introduction of a new mystery along with the large jump in time felt very forced, since the show has been renewed for a fourth season. Personally, I would’ve enjoyed a smaller jump in time, maybe a month or two, instead of over a year. Also, the idea of the Pogues “settling down” after a year seems very unlikely, as viewers have watched their obsession with adventure only grow, even in this past season.

To summarize, the first season was amazing, but each season that followed has only gotten worse, so viewers stick around to see the end of the plotline rather than follow the rollercoaster of emotions the first season provoked. Therefore, I would recommend watching only season one, but if you get hooked on the life of the Pogues, continue watching as their lives are in a constant gamble of life or death.

Features editor Harper Harris is a pop culture fanatic, and she’s here to address what’s trending.

The long-standing drama between Hailey Bieber and Selena Gomez recently hit a tipping point.

Gomez and pop star Justin Bieber dated for eight years on and off, starting in 2010. Almost immediately after they broke up for the last time, Justin started dating Hailey, and the pair married later that year in 2018. Since then, the internet has found ways to pit the two girls against each other, while both claim there is no drama or jealousy between them. Last October, they took a photo together, trying to prove they are on good terms. However, a series of recent events have reignited the idea that there is drama between them. The first event that led fans to speculate was when Gomez posted a picture on her Instagram of her eyebrows, explaining that she “accidentally laminated [her] brows too much.”

Shortly after, Kylie Jenner, one of Bieber’s friends, posted a photo to her story with the caption, “Was it an accident????” and then posted a screenshot of her on Facetime with Hailey, zoomed in on their brows.

Fans connected the dots and condemned both Jenner and Hailey’s actions, claiming it was “not a coincidence” and there was “no way to explain why they would post that.” Users on TikTok commented, calling Jenner and Hailey “mean girls.”

Jenner claims she meant no harm to Gomez when she commented on a TikTok. “This is reaching,” Jenner said. “No shade towards Selena ever and I didn’t see her eyebrow posts! You guys are making something out of nothing. This is silly.” Gomez replied to Jenner, saying she agrees and is a fan of Jenner.

Gomez then commented on TikToks that were explaining the drama and were on Gomez’s side, but she has since deleted these comments. Some people have now criticized Gomez for fueling the fire, but others have continued to support her.

Since this drama started, Gomez has gained lots of supporters on her social media accounts. Gomez has surpassed Jenner in Instagram followers and is now the most followed woman on Instagram. While this drama between Gomez and Hailey has been brewing for years, I think it is time for each girl to move on, especially Hailey. Some of the things she does are directed at Gomez. While I think some fans like to grasp at straws, some of the claims are legitimate and Hailey deserves to be under fire, at least a little bit, for the obvious shade she has thrown at Gomez.