Tag: 2020s

When Outer Banks first premiered on Netflix in April 2020, it was the perfect COVID binge. While everyone was locked inside their houses, viewers found solace in watching a rag-tag group of teens embark on an action-packed treasure hunt, set against the warm-toned backdrop of the Outer Banks. But, beyond that, this adventure series has cemented itself as one of the sexiest shows of the 2020s, and it doesn’t even need to show any nudity to achieve that!

Chase Stokes, who plays John Booker Routledge (better known as John B), became every girl’s dream guy, and Madelyn Cline, who plays Sarah Cameron, filled every man’s fantasy after their characters, despite being from different social castes (John B, a Pogue, and Sarah, a Kook), struck up an unlikely, but steamy romance in Season 1, making for their own modern-day Romeo & Juliet story.

As the seasons went on, the world learned to fall in love with each Pogue for different reasons. Pope Heyward (played by Jonathan “JD” Daviss) is smart and awkward, but relentless in protecting his family’s legacy. JJ Maybank (played by Rudy Pankow) was the bad boy who made rash decisions that were oftentimes detrimental to the Pogues, yet he was broken, tortured, and sensitive underneath his tough exterior. Kiara Carrera (played by Madison Bailey), while raised a Kook, is a free-spirited Pogue who would do anything for her friends. And Cleo (played by Carlacia Grant), well, she’s just an all-around badass!

Heck, even the show’s villain Rafe Cameron (played by the dreamy Drew Starkey) has layers to him that would be interesting to explore.

While each character is different from the next in terms of personality, they each have one thing in common: they’re all hot as hell!

Do they shower? Rarely. Are they wearing clothes? Barely. Somehow, it never seems to get cold in the Outer Banks as these scantily clad gals are always dressed in bikinis or crop tops and Daisy Dukes, which, more often than not, end up covered in dirt. And it’s always a good day when we get a shirtless scene from the three leading men, who typically opt for a day of surfing when they’re not fending off treasure-hungry bad guys or searching for gold in every corner of the planet.

But unlike most teen dramas — and other steamy Netflix staples like Bridgerton — Outer Banks strays away from explicit sex scenes (where would they even find the time?!). At this point in the series, there are three main couples: John B and Sarah, Pope and Cleo, and Kie and JJ, though it should be noted that JJ was fatally stabbed at the end of Season 4. I’m still mad about that one, but I digress.

While passion is certainly in the air and spicy makeout sessions are prevalent among the young love birds, sex has only ever been implied. Whether it’s John B and Sarah sneakily putting a seashell warning on their bedroom doorknob over at Poguelandia, or JJ and Kie covering up the window to the hyperbolic chamber they’re being held in after a diving incident gone wrong, there’s no doubt these young adults are getting it on. After all, we learn that Sarah is pregnant in Season 4 — and that Poguelette had to come from somewhere!

Despite the lack of sex scenes, Outer Banks is still one of the hottest shows to come out of this decade — which, might I remind you, has reached its halfway point. The actors are gorgeous, their wardrobe leaves little to the imagination, and, if we’re getting on a deeper level, there’s nothing more attractive than undying loyalty to one’s friends. Moreover, each couple has successfully held a chokehold on viewers who have watched their journeys from day one, which makes it all the more gut-wrenching when something bad happens to them.

Here’s hoping that the fifth and final season of Outer Banks features more swoon-worthy scenes, skimpy outfits, and some well-deserved revenge for JJ’s heartbreaking death.

The first four seasons of Outer Banks are currently streaming Netflix.