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The Worst Episodes of Outer Banks

Every episode of Outer Banks ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Outer Banks!

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On a North Carolina island of haves and have-nots, John B and his tight-knit crew of friends find mystery and adventure while hunting for lost treasure.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    Outer Banks Season 5 Episode 3 - The Square Grouper
    4.0/10(5 votes)

    #1 - The Square Grouper

    S5:E3

    The crew hits rock bottom with a hostile homecoming to the OBX, but the tide begins to turn when John B snags a lucrative catch.

    Director:Jonas Pate
    Writers:Josh Pate, Shannon Burke

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  2. Outer Banks Season 5 Episode 2 - The Crown
    4.7/10(7 votes)

    #2 - The Crown

    S5:E2

    With her quest for vengeance hanging in the balance, Kiara strikes an uneasy deal with a rival. Groff's scheme to get rich goes sideways in Dubrovnik.

    Director:Jonas Pate
    Writers:Josh Pate, Shannon Burke

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  3. Outer Banks Season 5 Episode 8 - The Runway (2)
    5.3/10(6 votes)

    #3 - The Runway (2)

    S5:E8

    The friends get crafty to decode the scytale's secrets. Rafe becomes a wanted man when a violent mistake catches up to him. Cleo makes an explosive move.

    Director:Darren Genet
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Outer Banks Season 4 Episode 8 - Family Plot
    5.5/10(8 votes)

    #4 - Family Plot

    S4:E8

    While JJ heads out on a grim mission with Groff, Sarah reveals her big news, Pope faces a moment of truth, and Rafe helps the sheriff connect the dots.

    Director:Erica Dunton
    Writers:Josh Pate, Shannon Burke

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  5. Outer Banks Season 5 Episode 6 - The Big Easy
    5.5/10(6 votes)

    #5 - The Big Easy

    S5:E6

    Sarah and John B hit the road to pursue a fresh lead in New Orleans, where Sarah comes face-to-face with a figure from her past.

    Director:Lukas Ettlin
    Writers:Josh Pate, Shannon Burke

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  6. Outer Banks Season 5 Episode 7 - Bal des Sauvages
    5.5/10(6 votes)

    #6 - Bal des Sauvages

    S5:E7

    The Pogues infiltrate a glitzy masquerade party, where Kiara angles for access to the scytale drawings — and crosses paths with a murderous enemy.

    Director:Darren Genet
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. Outer Banks Season 5 Episode 4 - Inside Job
    5.7/10(6 votes)

    #7 - Inside Job

    S5:E4

    With Sarah's life at stake, Rafe runs interference at a Kook golf tournament while John B attempts a brazen heist in the heart of Figure 8.

    Director:Jonas Pate
    Writers:Josh Pate, Shannon Burke

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  8. Outer Banks Season 5 Episode 9 - Arise, Arise
    5.7/10(6 votes)

    #8 - Arise, Arise

    S5:E9

    A mission to Azerbaijan gets rocky when Pope engineers a daring ambush. Kiara rushes to outpace the Corsairs and test the Crown's powers of resurrection.

    Director:Jonas Pate
    Writers:Josh Pate, Shannon Burke

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  9. Outer Banks Season 4 Episode 9 - The Storm
    5.8/10(8 votes)

    #9 - The Storm

    S4:E9

    Pursued by police, the Pogues embark on the next stage of their mission with help from an unexpected source. Tensions flare when John B confides in JJ.

    Director:Jonas Pate
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Outer Banks Season 5 Episode 5 - The Scytale
    6.0/10(7 votes)

    #10 - The Scytale

    S5:E5

    Kiara and Pope search for a mysterious artifact that could unlock the Blue Crown's powers. Rafe faces mounting pressure to sell Tannyhill to developers.

    Director:Lukas Ettlin
    Writers:Josh Pate, Shannon Burke

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  11. Outer Banks Season 5 Episode 10 - The Storm and What Came After
    6.0/10(7 votes)

    #11 - The Storm and What Came After

    S5:E10

    As a raging hurricane lashes Kildare, the Pogues race to save their loved ones and settle the score before a life-changing treasure slips away — again.

    Director:Jonas Pate
    Writers:Josh Pate, Shannon Burke, Brad Caleb Kane

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  12. Outer Banks Season 4 Episode 7 - Mothers and Fathers
    6.2/10(11 votes)

    #12 - Mothers and Fathers

    S4:E7

    As a confrontation on Goat Island turns perilous, Sarah confirms a suspicion while searching for JJ, Pope's future falters, and Topper taunts John B.

    Director:Erica Dunton
    Writers:Josh Pate, Shannon Burke

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  13. Outer Banks Season 4 Episode 4 - The Swell
    6.9/10(11 votes)

    #13 - The Swell

    S4:E4

    Tensions rise along with the waves when the Pogues and the Kooks hit the beach for the year's best swell. As Pope digs for info, Cleo faces down danger.

    Director:Gonzalo Amat
    Writers:Josh Pate, Shannon Burke

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  14. Outer Banks Season 4 Episode 6 - The Town Council
    6.9/10(28 votes)

    #14 - The Town Council

    S4:E6

    JJ learns about his past. The Pogues rally support for a zoning meeting that will decide their fate. Sarah and John B suss out a theory about the scroll.

    Director:Jonas Pate
    Writers:Josh Pate, Shannon Burke

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  15. Outer Banks Season 4 Episode 10 - The Blue Crown
    7.0/10(11 votes)

    #15 - The Blue Crown

    S4:E10

    The hunt for Groff heats up in Morocco. In a deadly race to claim the crown, loyalties are tested — and a moment of treachery changes everything.

    Director:Jonas Pate
    Writers:Josh Pate, Shannon Burke

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  16. Outer Banks Season 3 Episode 8 - Tapping the Rudder
    7.2/10(12 votes)

    #16 - Tapping the Rudder

    S3:E8

    Rafe lays his cards on the table and Sarah calls in two favors. JJ's unorthodox plan to get to South America lands John B in hot water.

    Director:Valerie Weiss
    Writers:Josh Pate, Shannon Burke

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  17. Outer Banks Season 2 Episode 4 - Homecoming
    7.3/10(19 votes)

    #17 - Homecoming

    S2:E4

    Low on gas and strapped for cash, John B and Sarah run into trouble. Pope's appointment in Charleston takes an ominous turn over a proposed trade.

    Director:Jonas Pate
    Writer:Shannon Burke

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  18. Outer Banks Season 4 Episode 5 - Albatross
    7.3/10(17 votes)

    #18 - Albatross

    S4:E5

    The Pogues scramble when the sheriff turns up at the worst possible time. JJ receives a mysterious letter. The amulet's clues point to Charleston.

    Director:Jonas Pate
    Writers:Josh Pate, Shannon Burke

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  19. Outer Banks Season 2 Episode 2 - The Heist
    7.4/10(18 votes)

    #19 - The Heist

    S2:E2

    With time running out, John B and Sarah strike an uneasy bargain, while Kiara, JJ and Pope search for evidence that could implicate Ward and Rafe.

    Director:Jonas Pate
    Writer:Josh Pate

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  20. Outer Banks Season 4 Episode 3 - The Lupine Corsairs
    7.4/10(14 votes)

    #20 - The Lupine Corsairs

    S4:E3

    The sheriff grills the Pogues about their dealings with Wes Genrette. JJ and Kiara have another close call. Pope gets wind of a mysterious artifact.

    Director:Gonzalo Amat
    Writers:Josh Pate, Shannon Burke

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  21. Outer Banks Season 2 Episode 9 - Trapped
    7.5/10(13 votes)

    #21 - Trapped

    S2:E9

    The Pogues deal with a slew of setbacks — a medical emergency, a nosy neighbor, parental ultimatums — as they attempt to save Pope's family legacy.

    Director:Jonas Pate
    Writers:Josh Pate, Shannon Burke

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  22. Outer Banks Season 4 Episode 2 - Blackbeard
    7.5/10(19 votes)

    #22 - Blackbeard

    S4:E2

    A strange tale of a family curse makes the Pogues think twice about accepting a lucrative offer to search for an amulet linked to Blackbeard.

    Director:Jonas Pate
    Writers:Josh Pate, Shannon Burke

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  23. Outer Banks Season 2 Episode 3 - Prayers
    7.6/10(17 votes)

    #23 - Prayers

    S2:E3

    A desperate scramble for help lands John B and Sarah in questionable surroundings. Pope receives a mysterious summons to an out-of-town meeting.

    Director:Jonas Pate
    Writers:Jonas Pate, Josh Pate, Shannon Burke

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  24. Outer Banks Season 2 Episode 8 - The Cross
    7.6/10(14 votes)

    #24 - The Cross

    S2:E8

    Armed with new clues, the group braves perilous roads and swampland as they race to keep part of Pope's history from falling into the wrong hands.

    Director:Darnell Martin
    Writers:Josh Pate, Shannon Burke

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  25. Outer Banks Season 3 Episode 4 - The Diary
    7.6/10(20 votes)

    #25 - The Diary

    S3:E4

    An emotional homecoming is easier for some than others. Big John searches for the diary. Ward's plans for a prized possession don't sit well with Rafe.

    Director:Darnell Martin
    Writers:Josh Pate, Shannon Burke

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Worst Episodes Summary

"The Square Grouper" is the worst rated episode of "Outer Banks". It scored 4/10 based on 5 votes. Directed by Jonas Pate and written by Josh Pate, Shannon Burke, it aired on 8/20/2026. This episode scored 0.7 points lower than the second lowest rated, "The Crown".