Blending teen drama and treasure hunt adventures, Outer Banks has garnered a passionate following Netflix. Romance, danger and trips to the beach – what’s not to like about it?
Outer Banks follows teenagers and their families in a coastal North Carolina town. On one side are the local working-class pogues. On the other side are the wealthy seasonal residents called the Kooks. After a hurricane, John B (Chase Stokes) and his Pogue friends find a clue that could lead them to a huge haul of gold from a legendary shipwreck. As they hunt for the treasure, John B falls in love with the Kook princess Sarah Cameron (Madelyn Cline), whose father Ward (Charles Esten) wants the gold for himself.
While Outer banks season 4 is a work in progress, but it may take some time before these episodes are released. Meanwhile, here are seven series like Outer Banks to watch while you wait.
Riverdale
Horny teens? Check over. Misbehaving Adults? Check over. Crimes, mysteries and chaotic situations? Check, check and check. Riverdale (one of the best netflix shows) and Outer Banks are essentially twins, except for their eponymous locations: a seemingly idyllic small town and the sandy beaches of North Carolina, respectively.
Based on the classic Archie comics, Riverdale follows a group of high school students whose lives are changed after the death of one of their own. Archie (KJ Apa) discovers his love for music and falls in love with new student Veronica (Camila Mendes), while his childhood best friend Betty (Lili Reinhart) pines for him. Jughead (Cole Sprouse) begins writing a novel about recent events, but soon discovers the darker side of their community.
look further Netflix
That’s OK
Welcome to the OC, bitch! This is Orange County for the uninformed. Like “Outer Banks,” “OC” is a teenage drama set in a sunny, beachfront location full of attractive people. While treasure hunting isn’t a thing in Southern California, class struggles are a thing. Ryan Atwood (Ben McKenzie) is a troubled teenager from a broken home. After getting into trouble with the police, he is picked up by his public defender, Sandy Cohen (Peter Gallagher).
Ryan experiences a major culture shock when he moves in with the wealthy Cohens, who live in an upscale Newport Beach neighborhood. Despite his impoverished origins, he quickly befriends the Cohens’ son, Seth (Adam Brody), and begins a romance with the rich girl next door, Marissa (Mischa Barton).
elite
A soapy teen drama that blends murder, class troubles and teenage lust, Elite may be a Spanish-language teen drama but has a lot in common with Outer Banks: murder, class troubles and teenage lust.
The three worker friends Samuel (Itzan Escamilla), Nadia (Mina El Hammani) and Christian (Miguel Herrán) receive scholarships for the most exclusive private school in Madrid in their junior year. In Las Encinas, they are initially ostracized by the wealthy students, but it doesn’t take long for them to become entangled in relationships. Sparks fly between Samuel and the privileged Marina (MarÃa Pedraza) – but flashforwards reveal that she ends up dead.
look further Netflix
National Treasure: Edge of History
For treasure-hunting adventures like the ones in Outer Banks, check out this spin-off series based on the National Treasure film series. Jess Valenzuela (Lisette Olivera) is a 20-year-old DACA grantee with a learned talent for puzzle-solving.
One day, while cleaning out a storage room, she follows a path that leads her to retired FBI agent Peter Sadusky (Harvey Keitel, reprising his role from the films). She intercepts an envelope for his grandson, Liam (Jake Austin Walker), which contains a clue to the location of priceless Mesoamerican treasures. Jess, Liam and their friends Tasha (Zuri Reed), Ethan (Jordan Rodrigues) and Oren (Antonio Cipriano) embark on a checkered journey to find priceless relics before the nefarious antique dealer Billie (Catherine Zeta-Jones) does.
look further DisneyPlus
blood and water
Mystery, teenage cliques and raging hormones abound in this South African teen drama. Puleng (Ama Qamata) has lived her entire life with one ghost: the sister who was kidnapped at birth.
During a party, Puleng meets Fikile Bhele (Khosi Ngema), the star swimmer at the prestigious Parkhurst College. When a new acquaintance Wade (Dillon Windvogel) points out their resemblance, Puleng suspects Fikile could be her long-lost sister. She transfers to school to learn more, but her investigation uncovers more secrets being kept by family and friends.
look further Netflix
on my block
Like the Pogues, the On My Block teens navigate socioeconomic divides, complicated family situations and dating difficulties. There’s even a hidden treasure plot in the first season. However, there is more emphasis on racial issues on this show as the teens are all black and brown and live in South Central LA
Friends Jamal (Brett Gray), Monse (Sierra Capri), Ruby (Jason Genao) and Cesar (Diego Tinoco) begin their freshman year in high school in a neighborhood where gunfire is heard every day. Monse and Cesar sneak around their feelings for each other while Cesar tries to stay out of a gang. Meanwhile, Jamal searches for the money from a roller rink robbery in the 1980s.
look further Netflix
panic
Danger, romance and the chance for a better life make for a turbulent whole in Panic. The teen drama revolves around an underground competition in which graduates face a series of risky challenges, including crossing a freeway blindfolded and being buried alive in a coffin. The winner receives $50,000, enough money to escape his life of small town and nowhere.
Not only is the stakes high – two children died the year before – local law enforcement also want the event canceled. But the teens are determined, even if it means putting lifelong friendships to the test. Heather (Olivia Welch) refuses to participate until she learns her mother spent her tuition.
look further Prime video