Class conflict dominates Outer Banks. The Pogues and the Kooks are in an intense rivalry, which frames much of the tension in the Netflix show and fuels its adventurous plot. The Pogues represent the working class living in the Outer Banks' rundown "Cut" area, while the Kooks represent the wealthy seasonal residents.
The tension between the two camps grows as John B., the main protagonist and a Pogue, continues his treasure hunt with his friends. The issue between the two camps is not money but a social divide on the island stretching far beyond. The show reflects on inequality and how wealth influences every component of life in Outer Banks.
In the words of John B.:
“You either have two jobs or two houses.”
For the fans, class struggle is as built into the show's DNA as its treasure-hunting adventures. The show explores the cultural prejudices influencing the lives of John B., Pope, and JJ as they face the treacherous world of the treasure hunt and their social setup.
As Screen Rant explains:
"Pogues are typically those doing the dirty work for the wealthy Kooks."
This makes the quest for gold in Outer Banks with the Pogues quite the adventure and act of rebellion against the status quo. This exploration, overall, provides a gritty but very relatable take on the issues surrounding wealth divides, surf culture, and local tensions that many viewers find intriguing.
The Pogues are the working class in Outer Banks
The Pogues are the band in the series from a working-class background; their name is taken from "pogies," which are small fish within the ocean food chain. So, it is a rather apt lower-order appellation for them. Being a Pogue means, to John B. and his friends, that they are from the lower economic rung. But it also speaks to their sense of identity and belonging.
Characters like Pope and JJ come from families with parents who usually work at service jobs to feed the wealthier Kook residents.
"Pogues are expected to be poor and always fighting their way out," says Chase Stokes, who plays John B.
Outside the series, that difference is probably not that intense in real life in the area of Outer Banks. Brent Nultemeier, surfer (and year-round Outer Banks resident), told Esquire in 2020 that "seasonal employees and low-income housing issues" are present but that the area doesn't have as steep a divide as presented in the show.
But in Outer Banks, the show, the line between Pogues and Kooks is unmistakable, and Pogues can't get any kind of security or recognition in a system that was built to keep them subjugated to Kooks.
Kooks are privileged and powerful figures in Outer Banks
On the contrary, the Kooks are the wealthy elites of Outer Banks. They reside in grand mansions in Figure Eight and often exhibit entitlement. Wealth and privilege give them freedoms that are not available to the Pogues, economically or legally. This privilege is also embodied in the two main Kook characters, Rafe and Topper.
Rafe's violence against the Pogues happens so often that he faces no consequences for his actions. It further solidifies the notion that he can accomplish anything without repercussions. Topper, at first an empathetic ear to the Pogues, evolves to becoming like true Kook himself.
This privilege is expensive, however, since Kooks are obliged to the expectations of their class status. The treatment of Kooks in the show borrows from old slang in surfing culture. In surfing terminology, a "kook" refers to someone who doesn't understand the surf culture and often interferes with the experience of others.
In Outer Banks, this has been redefined as an embodied privilege.
“To us, Kooks are those who just don’t get it,” John B explains in the show.
This proves how disconnected the wealthy are.
Which Kooks chose the Pogue life on Outer Banks?
Another feature of Outer Banks is the overlap of these worlds, where some Kook-born people embrace Pogue values. Kiara and Sarah Cameron are the epitome of this resistance against the ideology of wealth. Kiara's parents want her to remain a Kook, but Kiara feels more connected to Pogues and their freedom lifestyle.
Therefore, the transformation of Sarah from a Kook princess to a Pogue partner alongside John B. is a plotline that busts the social hierarchy of the island.
As Madelyn Cline, who plays Sarah, says:
“Sarah’s love for John B pushes her to redefine her values and ultimately choose a life beyond wealth and privilege.”
The gap between the Pogues and Kooks in the series seems impossible to bridge. However, the fierce defiance of characters like Kiara and Sarah shows that bonding and loyalty can be there beyond financial divides.
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All four seasons of Outer Banks are available on Netflix.
Next: Here's how you can become a Pogue through Netflix's new AI offering
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