The Outer Banks Season 3 Ending, Explained
*Spoilers for Outer Banks season 3 below!*
In true Outer Banks fashion, the third season of the beloved Netflix YA series was wild from start to finish. If you thought the season 2 ending was crazy, buckle up for the adventure that comes with the third season's finale. At the top of OBX3, the Pogues give up on finding the valuable treasure that they've been chasing throughout the series — but that doesn't last long. While they're back on the hunt, they still face obstacles in the form of Ward Cameron and the high-class Kooks, who will ruthlessly do anything to stop them from moving up in the world, as well as a new terrifying villain, Carlos Singh.
Trying to process the intense plot twists and cliffhangers that unfolded in Outer Banks season 3 finale? Read ahead for the Outer Banks season 3 ending, explained.
The Pogues head to South America to save Big John and capture the El Dorado gold
It seems like the Pogues have been globetrotting these days thanks to their explosive treasure hunt. While it originally started in the OBX, it eventually led them to the Bahamas in season 2 and South America in season 3. John B, Sarah, Pope, and Cleo hitched a ride on Ward's private jet, but this doesn't mean that John necessarily trusts Ward (who's also on the plane, BTW 😬). They're headed to Tres Rocas, South America to save John B's dad, Big John, and snag the El Dorado gold before this season's main villain, Carlos Singh, and his minions get to it.
As for Kie, JJ bails her out of the camp that her parents forced her to go to and they head on a flight to Tres Rocas with the help of druglord Barracuda Mike. He's only helping them so he can get a huge cut of the El Dorado treasure.
Meanwhile, Big John is at Carlos Singh's place trying to buy some time but is threatened as he's on a timeline to translate the Gnomon of Solana, which projects a shadow to indicate a secret message.
As everyone touches down in Tres Rocas, they're ready to save Big John and find El Dorado. Ward decides to stay with the group despite promising Sarah that he'd stay away from them. John B, Pope, Sarah, and Cleo divide and conquer to look for Jose, the guide that is supposed to help lead them to the treasure.
Big John then attempts to escape Singh's place by jumping through the window, which doesn't work out the way he thought it would. John B notices, and he ultimately helps break him out. As this goes down, JJ and Kie stumble upon Pope and Cleo while going through town, but Singh's minions find them.
The Pogues get the gold — but it takes a battle
For once, something goes right for these guys — but it's not a simple journey. John B, Sarah, and Big John safely make it to Jose's boat on the river while John B uses the rosetta stone to help them translate the glyphs they need to get to the treasure. Ward follows suit, which starts a fight between him, Sarah, and Big John. And, if that wasn't enough, Singh's minions find them and they're forced to jump ship. The crew camps out on the other side of the river for the night, where Ward attempts to make things right with Sarah and tells her that he's not after the treasure, but her. Later that night, he suspiciously sends his location to an unknown person.
The next morning, they leave to Solana to translate the gnomon in time for the solstice. Sarah, John B, and Big John manage to make it before they ran out of time and correctly make out the translation. If only it were that easy to get the gold — Ward shows up with Singh and his men, who were sent their location in exchange for Sarah's safety.
Big John is on thin ice with Singh, who tells him he can be safe if he tells him the directions to El Dorado. Of course, Big John doesn't go down without a fight — he refuses to give him the directions and knows Singh won't kill him since he is the only person who knows how to get there. A fight breaks out, which results in Big John getting shot, but he muscles through it and continues on his journey with the Pogues.
As for Pope, Cleo, JJ, and Kie, they spot Singh's men on boats and use fireworks to distract them so they can reunite with Sarah, John B, and Big John in time to capture the El Dorado gold.
John B, Big John, and Sarah eventually figure out what one of the first translations means and make their way to a cave, which features the same hand symbol they had been looking for during their hunt.
Big John and Ward die, along with other characters
When they make it to the cave, Big John's injury gets worse and he stays behind, encouraging John B and Sarah to go through and find the treasure. They end up finding a massive pile of El Dorado gold and fill their bags with some of it, only to find Singh at the front of the cave.
He tries to steal the gold off their backs while holding them at gunpoint, but Big John lights up a firecracker and says he'll blow up the opening to El Dorado if he tries to harm anyone. Singh doesn't believe him, but Big John blows up the cave in an explosion.
Ward and the other Pogues notice the explosion and head in that direction, with Ward getting there first. John B and Sarah are held at gunpoint again, but JJ, Kie, Pope, and Cleo are ready to fight for their friends. One of Singh's men, Ryan, also shows up and attempts to take the gold from Sarah and threatens to shoot her. In a twist of events, Ward jumps on Ryan to protect his daughter and gets shot. He and Ryan end up in a scuffle, where they end up being pushed off the cliff and dying.
Pope then realizes that Big John's injury has gotten pretty bad and the Pogues make it back to their boat on the river. Big John ultimately bleeds out and dies during the journey.
The Pogues get honored
After an 18-month time jump from the time they return to the OBX, the Pogues are honored in a special ceremony for finding the treasure. As they take in the moment, a man with a manuscript proposes a new quest for the Pogues that surrounds Edward Teach (a.k.a Blackbeard).
That brings us to the next adventure that may unfold in Outer Banks season 4.
WATCH OUTER BANKS SEASON 3 NOW
Outer Banks season three is available to stream on Netflix with subscription plans starting at $9.99 per month.
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