Outer Banks Season 4, Episode 5 ‘Albatross’ throws a grenade into the show with the revelation of JJ’s parentage and ends on quite a cliffhanger, with Pope and Sarah in danger. In other words, it’s kind of the perfect place to divide up this season, since Netflix has now chosen to torture us by doing this. Before all of that, though, the episode also gives us great insight into not just who these characters are, but who they can one day be – and who they definitely want to be.
Because for Sarah, John B., JJ, Kiara, Pope, and Cleo it’s not just about who they can become, it’s also about who they don’t want to be. And in many ways, the road to becoming the best version of themselves has to do with each other, with the fact that they have each other. That’s why Sarah and Pope will survive. That’s why JJ will make it through this revelation. They’re family, and they’ve got each other.
MORE: Here’s our review of Outer Banks Season 4, Episode 1! And our review of Outer Banks Season 3, Episode 2!
I’M NOT YOUR ENEMY
“I’m on your side,” Rafe tells Kiara in Outer Banks Season 4, Episode 5 ‘Albatross’, and those two statements are very different, but Rafe doesn’t even understand that. He thinks that not being as actively awful as Topper for 0.2 seconds makes him a good guy, but it doesn’t work that way. Especially considering the things Rafe has done – things he doesn’t seem to even see as bad, much less feel like he has to apologize for.
That’s the thing with Rafe, it’s not that there’s no path to redemption, it’s that there’s no path to redemption that doesn’t start with him actually owning up to his mistakes. There’s no path to redemption that doesn’t see him apologize to the people he hurt and try to make amends. Words are not enough. Being nice to Sofia isn’t enough. If Rafe really wants to make amends with his sister, he’s going to have to do more than just repeat he’s on the Pogue’s side. No one’s really buying that.
MORE: Here’s our review of Outer Banks Season 4, Episode 3! And our review of Outer Banks Season 3, Episode 4!
EVERYONE’S ALWAYS SORRY
“Nothing ever happens,” Cleo says after Terrance is killed, and it’s not hard to see how she got to where she is. She’s had a hard life. And sure, the last eighteen months – longer, even – since she met the Pogues, have been a better life, but you cannot erase all wounds with some good times. Because the thing Cleo fears is that people will leave her when things get rough. That no one will have her back in her worst moment.
Of course, the Pogues are notorious for supporting each other even when they almost shouldn’t, but Cleo hasn’t really had that before them. It’s hard to trust something the people around you take for granted or even come close to taking it for granted yourself when, in the back of your mind, you are still that little girl who was abandoned. That little girl who had to figure out how to make it on her own.
But Cleo isn’t that anymore. She’s got a family. And if they have to keep showing up for her, again and again and again for her to really understand that she doesn’t just have them in the good times, then that’s exactly what they’ll do. Because that’s what the Pogues do.
MORE: Did this season deliver any of the things we wanted from Outer Banks Season 4?
YOU’RE NOT BIG JOHN
We’ve seen a version of John B. in the first half of the season that is very much scared that he is going to end up like his father, and yet in Outer Banks Season 4, Episode 5 ‘Albatross’ John B. takes a concrete step to prove that he isn’t Big John. He will never be. He can go looking for treasure, but he will never compromise himself, or throw out his morals, much less become the kind of person who will put treasure over people, even if others do.
His friend never doubted it, though. Only John B. doubted himself. And isn’t that the way it always is? We are our own worst critics. And in a way, it’s easy to see why. John B. grew up idolizing his father, missing him when he was gone, and doing wild things to be reunited with him. But that doesn’t mean he is destined to become him. We are not destined to become anything. We decide what we become, and John B. has made that choice, and he will get to make it again and again.
But he has people around him, another thing Big John didn’t have. Friends who love him. A wife who will have his back, no matter what. So, what are the odds he ever comes close to Big John? Slim to none, I’d say.
MORE: How were the special effects for Outer Banks Season 3 done? We’ve got answers!
ALBATROSS
It always felt like there was more to the story of JJ Maybank, and isn’t it ironic that in the end, he would end up being the most Kook to ever Kook? The heir to Goat Island, indeed.
But we know JJ, and we know that doesn’t mean anything. What means something is the lies. And the fact that he was left to live with a Luke Maybank who abused him all his life. What means something is that he never got to experience the love of a mother – one who actually did care. And what means something is that his father is actually alive, and he may be worse than Luke Maybank.
Outer Banks has always been, not so deep down, about families. Families of blood and families of choice. If Outer Banks Season 4, Episode 5 ‘Albatross’ made anything clear is that going forward, JJ is going to need his family of choice, and especially Kiara to get through this new revelation. Because changes nothing, really, but in a way, it changes everything. And we all know JJ isn’t really good with change.
MORE: What did we think of Outer Banks Season 3? Our review!
Things I think I think:
- This show is a YA drama, I know it, you know it, but sometimes, like when they’re trying to hide the body, it’s more of a comedy than The Bear.
- Why would Shoupe believe them at this point?
- Parents and parental figures don’t have a good track record on this show, just saying.
- I’m way more drawn in by this Sofia and Rafe storyline than I want to be. I still don’t like Rafe, and I don’t think we should forget all he did – especially not if he doesn’t take accountability and asks for forgiveness, but he is a more nuanced character than Topper.
- “Biological clock? I’m literally nineteen.” TELL HIM, SARAH.
- I hate Luke Maybank. Are we going to pretend you weren’t beating your son up every second weekend now? That we didn’t see you hit him?
- I love my ships, everyone knows I love my ships, but I also adore when the show gives us different dynamics, like Pope and Sarah. At this point these kids are all friends, no, they’re all family, so yes this is exactly what would happen.
- Let’s look at it this way, JJ, it could be worse. If you were gonna be a Kook, at least you’re not related to Topper!
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Outer Banks Season 4, Episode 5 ‘Albatross’? Share with us in the comments below!
Outer Banks season 4 is now available to stream on Netflix.
Need more? Read our other reviews below:
- Outer Banks Season 4, Episode 1 Review: ‘The Enduro’
- Outer Banks Season 4, Episode 2 Review: ‘Blackbeard’
- Outer Banks Season 4, Episode 3: ‘The Lupine Corsairs’
- Outer Banks Season 4, Episode 4 Review: ‘The Swell’
- Outer Banks Season 4, Episode 5 Review: ‘Albatross’
- Outer Banks Season 4, Episode 6 Review: ‘The Town Council’
- Outer Banks Season 4, Episode 7 Review: ‘Mothers and Fathers’
- Outer Banks Season 4, Episode 8 Review: ‘Family Plot’
- Outer Banks Season 4, Episode 9 Review: ‘The Storm’
- Outer Banks Season 4, Episode 10 Review: ‘The Blue Crown’
