Outer Banks is a teen drama that shows two different groups in the Outer Banks of North Carolina: the Pogues and the Kooks. The Pogues are the working-class people living on the island. They include John B Routledge (played by Chase Stokes), Pope (played by Jonathan Daviss), JJ (played by Rudy Pankow), and Kiara (played by Madison Bailey).
The Kooks are the wealthy people on the island. They include Sarah Cameron (played by Madelyn Cline), her older brother Rafe (played by Drew Starkey), their father Ward (played by Charles Esten), and Sarah’s boyfriend Topper (played by Austin North).
The two groups do not usually get along, but everything changes when John B starts to like Sarah, the Kook princess. This leads to many clashes between the two worlds.
In Season 1, John B’s father goes missing. John B and his friends begin to search for the treasure that his father was obsessed with. However, the Pogues are not the only ones looking for the treasure.
They soon realize they are up against powerful enemies, and the odds are often not in their favor. With high stakes involved, every episode is filled with drama about the treasure hunt and typical teenage problems, leaving viewers guessing what will happen next.
Top 10 Moments from Outer Banks
10. The Pogues Don’t Get the Cross from the Train (Season 3, Episode 5)
In this episode, Sarah, JJ, Pope, Cleo (played by Carlacia Grant), and Kiara convince Topper to help them steal back the Cross of Santo Domingo from the Camerons.
They drive to Wilmington with Topper’s truck to stop the train carrying the Cross, find it, and bring it back to the Outer Banks. Luckily, JJ stops the train using jumper cables. Pope and Cleo manage to find the Cross after talking to a railway worker.
They load the Cross into the truck, and Sarah, Topper, Pope, and Cleo drive away while Kiara and JJ follow on JJ’s bike. However, things go wrong when the police arrive after the railway worker sees Cleo and Pope breaking into the train. A police chase begins.
Still from Outer Banks (Credit: Netflix)
They discover that the crate they took is full of trash, and they never had the Cross at all. Rafe and Barry (played by Nicholas Cirillo) end up with the Cross and are melting it down. Fans found this twist tough to handle, realizing that the Pogues want the treasures for a better life while the Camerons only care about having them.
9. Barry Turns Rafe in to the Police (Season 2, Episode 6)
After a wild night where John B and Sarah nearly die, John B gets out of prison. Rafe Cameron is charged with murdering Sheriff Peterkin (played by Adina Porter). Meanwhile, Sarah is with her ex-boyfriend Topper, who saved her from drowning.
Ward and Rose (played by Caroline Arapoglou) are debating what to do while the police search their house. Rafe wants to escape the Outer Banks before the police find him.
Rafe learns from a text that the police are looking for him while he is at Barry’s house. Barry has often helped Rafe with the Pogues because he has his own reasons to seek revenge on them.
But Rafe starts to act strangely, and Barry decides to turn him in to the police instead of helping him escape. This surprise twist shocked fans, as Barry has usually done whatever Rafe wanted.
8. Carla Limbrey Shoots Her Own Brother (Season 2, Episode 9)
The Pogues think they have found some luck by discovering the Cross of Santo Domingo in a small church. However, before they can figure out how to move it, Pope gets stung by wasps and has an allergic reaction.
The Pogues leave to help Pope, leaving the Cross behind. Rafe and Carla Limbrey’s (played by Elizabeth Mitchell) half-brother, Renfield (played by Jesse C. Boyd), find the Cross.
Rafe takes the Cross to Carla to find the Garment of the Savior, which she desperately wants. When they don’t find the Garment in the Cross, Renfield mocks her. He no longer needs to obey Carla since he has the Cross.
Still from Outer Banks (Credit: Netflix)
In anger, Carla shoots him. Although Carla is the villain, she usually has others do her dirty work. Fans were shocked when she finally took matters into her own hands.
7. Ward Sacrifices Himself to Save Sarah (Season 3, Episode 10)
When the Pogues reach South America to continue their search for El Dorado, the city of gold, Ward shows up and says he wants to help. The Pogues, including Sarah, are unsure if they can trust him, but they keep going on their quest with Big John (played by Charles Halford).
They soon encounter Ward again, along with Carlos Singh (played by Andy McQueen), who has been causing trouble for the Pogues.
While John B and Sarah find El Dorado, Singh dies in a dynamite explosion. Later, when the Pogues celebrate their treasure hunt, they get cornered by Ward, who wants the gold. Sarah talks him down, but Singh’s men show up and threaten them.
To protect his daughter one last time, Ward throws one of the men off a cliff, sacrificing himself. This moment surprised viewers because Ward, who often put himself first, finally puts his daughter before him and shows her that he loves her.
6. Pope is Related to Denmark Tanny (Season 2, Episode 6)
When Carla Limbrey has her brother attack Heyward (played by E. Roger Mitchell) to get information about the key to the Cross of Santo Domingo, he does not give away any secrets. However, he tells Pope that his great-grandmother might have something to do with the situation.
Pope talks to his great-grandmother, who reveals that Denmark and Cecilia Tanny are his great-grandparents. Denmark Tanny was an enslaved man and the only survivor of the Royal Merchant shipwreck, which is the focus of the treasure hunt in Season 1. This means that the gold the Pogues have been searching for actually belongs to Pope’s family.
This shocking news makes the gold hunt very personal for Pope and his friends. They are no longer searching for treasure to become rich. Now they are trying to find what belongs to Pope’s family. When the Camerons take it or the Limbreys claim it, they are stealing from his family.
Denmark Tanny used the gold to buy freedom for himself and others and also to purchase Tannyhill plantation. He hid the rest of the gold and left clues for his son to find it. It is now Pope’s destiny to follow the clues and find the treasure that belongs to him.
5. Ward Killed Big John (Season 1, Episode 8)
After John B narrowly escapes from Ward’s boat, he quickly goes to Lana Grubbs (played by CC Castillo) to learn the truth about his father’s disappearance. Lana’s husband, Scooter (played by David Ury), told Lana that Big John found the treasure.
Still from Outer Banks (Credit: Netflix)
He had a fight with Ward over how to split the fortune. Big John believed he did most of the work, while Ward thought Big John needed his resources. Their fight turned physical when Ward pushed Big John, causing him to hit his head. Instead of calling for help, Ward pushed him overboard and left him to die.
When fans first meet John B, he is waiting for his father to come home. He knows his father has been searching for treasure but has not heard from him in a long time.
He decides to search for the Royal Merchant with his friends to find what his father devoted his life to discovering. The shocking revelation that Ward killed Big John raises the stakes for John B, the Pogues, and the fans.
4. Ward Steals the Gold (Season 1, Episode 8)
The Pogues find the gold hidden in a well tunnel under a house on the Outer Banks. They plan how to get it out, thinking they are the only ones who know about it. However, Ward overhears John B and Sarah talking about the gold and decides to get involved.
When Ward confronts John B, John B pretends he does not know what Ward is talking about. When John B returns to the tunnel to get the gold, he finds it empty.
Ward cannot convince John B to let him help extract the gold, so he finds another way to win. Rose, a real estate agent, tells him that the Crain Estate is for sale after some kids broke in. Ward realizes that the house was broken into because it holds the gold.
He moves quickly, takes the gold, and arranges for it to be sent to the Bahamas for safekeeping. This moment is heartbreaking for fans as John B realizes that his chance to find the treasure has been ruined by someone with more resources.
3. Ward Fakes His Own Death (Season 2, Episode 6)
The Camerons face the consequences of their crimes when the police arrive with a search warrant and second-degree murder charges for Rafe. John B, who was charged with Sheriff Peterkin’s murder, is now free because the police have evidence against Rafe.
Sarah is with Topper, who saved her from Rafe’s attempt to drown her the night before. Although Sarah knows her father is a criminal, he is still her dad.
Still from Outer Banks (Credit: Netflix)
When Rafe is turned in to the police by Barry, Ward decides he must protect his family. He lets the police surround him on his boat. He confesses to his crimes in front of them. But when Sarah arrives, he looks regretful and tells her she should not be there.
Just then, the boat explodes, and everyone thinks Ward is dead. Fans are shocked by the twist, especially because Ward usually puts himself before his family. This scene keeps viewers guessing about Ward’s real motives.
2. John B and Sarah Almost Drown (Season 2, Episode 4)
When John B and Sarah finally decide to be together, they also realize that they need to focus on their goals and search for the treasure.
The two face danger when they try to escape from a boat with the gold, which is in a trunk. They jump into the water to swim to safety. As they swim, they are caught in a storm. They fight the waves, but they almost drown.
Fans hold their breath as they watch the couple fight for their lives and their love. In the end, they reach the shore, and it looks like they might be safe. The intense moment leaves viewers wondering if John B and Sarah will make it out alive.
1. John B and Sarah’s First Kiss (Season 1, Episode 7)
The first kiss between John B and Sarah happens while they are hiding from Topper. They are in the car together, and the romantic tension builds as they get closer. Fans are on the edge of their seats. Just when they think nothing will happen, John B kisses Sarah.
Still from Outer Banks (Credit: Netflix)
This moment is crucial because it marks the start of their relationship, which becomes a major focus in the show. Fans love their chemistry and cannot help but root for their love. This kiss is the beginning of a wild adventure filled with drama and obstacles for the couple.
The Season 2 finale of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power told a grand story that captured viewers’ attention. This episode featured a dramatic battle between Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) and Sauron (Charlie Vickers), revealed the true identity of the Stranger (Daniel Weyman), and wrapped up the plot surrounding Khazad-dûm.
As the finale unfolded, the fiery beast that had been sleeping deep within the mines finally awoke. While the series has hinted at this moment, most fans are already aware of the fate that awaits the Dwarven city due to the Fellowship’s experiences in the Mines of Moria many years later.
The Balrog is an important creature in J.R.R. Tolkien’s stories, especially regarding Khazad-dûm’s history. However, the changes made in The Rings of Power create a significant plot hole for the series.
The Rise of Khazad-dûm
In the series, Khazad-dûm is shown at its peak. This is the time when mithril is discovered, promising great wealth for the Dwarves living there.
The series chooses to introduce Khazad-dûm during this golden period rather than stick to the established timeline in Tolkien’s writings. Instead of following the timeline that Tolkien created, The Rings of Power rushed to depict the fall of this great city.
The story escalates too quickly. Durin III (Peter Mullan), influenced by the greed brought on by his ring, begins to dig deeper into the mines. This digging disturbs the monster that resides below, known as Durin’s Bane, ultimately forcing the Dwarves to abandon their home.
Still from The Rings of Power (Credit: Prime Video)
While the fast pace of the story may explain some of these changes, it does not provide the Dwarves with enough time to fully exploit their mithril and earn the wealth that they are meant to gain. This lack of time to establish their fortune before facing challenges with the Balrog ultimately harms Khazad-dûm’s reputation.
The Finale: A Fight for Survival
In the Season 2 finale titled “Shadow and Flame,” the plot takes a serious turn. After obtaining one of the Seven Dwarven Rings, Durin III becomes increasingly greedy. He pushes the Dwarves to exploit the mines of Khazad-dûm beyond safe limits.
When he learns about the war between Sauron and the Elves, he sees an opportunity to mine mithril to create unbeatable armor. This armor would supposedly bring immense wealth to Khazad-dûm.
As Prince Durin (Owain Arthur) observes his father’s descent into greed, he fights back to stop Durin III from bringing destruction to their city. Gradually, other Dwarves begin to understand the seriousness of the situation. They join Prince Durin and his wife, Disa (Sophia Nomvete), in opposing the King. However, the tensions escalate in the Season 2 finale.
When Prince Durin nearly leads the army away from Khazad-dûm, the King retaliates by ordering his guards to confront the rebels. He clears a path to the mine they are trying to protect so he can continue digging despite the warnings from his son. In a critical moment, Durin III breaks down the final barrier, revealing a shaft full of mithril. However, this action wakes the Balrog, and it soon launches an attack.
In a moment of bravery, Durin III decides to give up the Rings that have caused so many problems. He sacrifices himself in an attempt to confront the Balrog. During this chaos, a partial cave-in saves Prince Durin. However, this will not keep the Balrog contained for long.
With the creature now fully awake, it poses a severe threat to the Dwarves’ underground home. The danger is too significant to ignore, leading to the near-imminent fall of Khazad-dûm, especially as external threats continue to grow.
Tolkien’s Timeline vs. The Rings of Power
While The Rings of Power is rooted in Tolkien’s original version, there are key differences regarding the timeline of Khazad-dûm. In Tolkien’s writings, the fall of Khazad-dûm occurs after many generations.
The Dwarves’ greed for mithril leads them to dig too deep, awakening the Balrog, but this takes place in the Third Age of Middle-earth. However, The Rings of Power is still in the Second Age during its events.
According to Tolkien, after the discovery of mithril in the Second Age, Khazad-dûm thrived for thousands of years. The ancient Balrog remained undisturbed until 1980 years into the Third Age. The Dwarves experienced prosperity and built a strong reputation during this time.
Still from The Rings of Power (Credit: Prime Video)
In Tolkien’s account, the Balrog earned the name Durin’s Bane after killing Durin VI, not Durin III as shown in The Rings of Power. A year later, the next King, Náin I, also dies. The people of Khazad-dûm are forced to flee their ancestral home, even though it had been one of Middle-earth’s richest cities for millennia.
The threat posed by the Balrog is relentless, and after being awakened, it will not lie in wait. This means that The Rings of Power has committed to the fall of Khazad-dûm generations earlier than Tolkien intended.
The Impact of Timeline Changes
The changes to the timeline not only release the Balrog too early but also do not adjust the rest of Khazad-dûm’s history to compensate for this.
In the series, Prince Durin and his father have just discovered mithril. In Season 1, they kept this mineral a closely guarded secret, and few knew of its potential. Only a limited number of items have been crafted from mithril, including the Rings of Power and the Doors of Durin.
Although Durin III dreams of crafting more mithril items and bringing wealth to the city, these dreams remain plans that Prince Durin does not support. In this new timeline, before news of the resource spreads throughout Middle-earth, the Dwarves find themselves in crisis. The rapid release of the Balrog robs Khazad-dûm of its status and importance.
Khazad-dûm is impressive upon its introduction, and perhaps in The Rings of Power, that will be its only claim to fame. However, the city needs mithril to achieve the legendary status seen in Tolkien’s tales. The series has not allowed this to happen, resulting in a loss of the city’s rich history and significance.
Over thousands of years, the Dwarves used mithril to build wealth, as the ore is highly sought after throughout Middle-earth. By moving up the Balrog’s involvement by roughly 10,000 years, Khazad-dûm falls long before it can earn the legendary reputation it is meant to have.
The Rings of Power Season 2 is now available for streaming on Prime Video in the U.S. As the series continues, fans will be eager to see how these changes impact the unfolding story and what they mean for the future of Khazad-dûm and its inhabitants.
Still from The Rings of Power (Credit: Prime Video)
The Season 2 finale of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power features an epic battle between Galadriel and Sauron, alongside the awakening of the Balrog in Khazad-dûm. As Durin III succumbs to greed after acquiring one of the Seven Dwarven Rings, he disturbs the Balrog while searching for mithril.
Despite Prince Durin’s efforts to stop his father, the situation escalates, leading to a dangerous confrontation. The series diverges from Tolkien’s timeline, depicting the fall of Khazad-dûm much earlier than intended, which raises questions about the city’s significance and legacy in Middle-earth’s history.
