Outer Banks Season 3 Finale Explained: How the Pogues Discovered the Long-Lost Treasure — and Why a New Adventure Is Just Beginning

 Warning: Spoilers Ahead for Outer Banks Season 3!

While the Pogues may have finally uncovered the treasure they’ve been chasing, Outer Banks wouldn’t be the adrenaline-packed adventure it is if the teenage treasure hunters didn’t have yet another quest on the horizon.

The highly anticipated fourth season of the Netflix show will be released in two parts: the first five episodes drop on Oct. 10, with the remaining five coming on Nov. 7. In Season 3, the Pogues — John B (Chase Stokes), JJ (Rudy Pankow), Kiara (Madison Bailey), Pope (Jonathan Daviss), Sarah (Madelyn Cline), and Cleo (Carlacia Grant) — succeeded in finding the long-lost treasure that John B's father, Big John, had been seeking for years.

Everything to Know About Outer Banks Season 4

However, their success came with heartbreaking losses, including the deaths of Big John (once again) and Sarah’s father, Ward Cameron. Yet, a bigger mystery looms on the horizon: the hunt for Blackbeard’s fabled gold.

With the Pogues now wealthy, the upcoming season will explore what comes next after their big payday and lead them into an even more dangerous adventure.

How Did Outer Banks Season 3 End?

In the Season 3 finale, the Pogues uncover the truth behind the legendary city of El Dorado. John B, Sarah, and Big John follow clues leading them to a cave where the treasure is hidden. While Big John is too injured to enter, John B and Sarah venture into the cave, discovering a trove of gold.

Outside, Big John is confronted by the season's main antagonist, Singh, who had tracked him by following his trail of blood. A tense standoff ensues when John B and Sarah emerge with the treasure, ending with John B throwing dynamite at Singh to kill him, allowing the group to escape.

What Happened to Big John and Ward Cameron?

Though the Pogues secured the treasure, they faced devastating losses. After the treasure hunt, John B, Sarah, and Big John try to rest, but Ward soon catches up to them. In a jealous rage, Ward appears ready to kill Big John. When Sarah confronts her father, one of Singh’s henchmen arrives and aims for Big John, but Ward sacrifices himself to save Sarah, dying in the process.

Although they try to help Big John, he succumbs to his injuries. In his final moments, he urges John B to hold on to Sarah and apologizes for the hardships he caused as a father.

What Is the Status of the Pogues’ Relationships?

By the end of Season 3, John B and Sarah have reconciled, rekindling their romance after a rough patch earlier in the season. Meanwhile, two other couples have officially come together: Kiara and JJ, whose long-simmering connection finally blossoms when JJ rescues her from a wilderness camp, and Pope and Cleo, who share their first kiss during their journey to El Dorado.

Where Are the Pogues Now?

When the Pogues return to Kildare, they are celebrated as heroes for solving the mystery of El Dorado. The show flashes forward 18 months, revealing what each Pogue has been up to. Kiara is saving turtles, Pope has returned to school, JJ has bought a charter boat, and John B and Sarah are running a surf shop. Notably absent is Sarah’s troubled brother, Rafe.

At the very end, a mysterious man approaches the group with a new request: help him investigate a manuscript linked to Blackbeard, setting the stage for Season 4.

What’s Next in Outer Banks Season 4?

According to the trailer, the Pogues initially enjoy their newfound wealth, even building a "Poguelandia 2.0" in Kildare. But their money runs out quickly, and they soon find themselves thrown into yet another perilous adventure.

As John B narrates, "We were going to live the good life, the simple life. Treasure hunting was in the past. But what we didn’t know is that nothing ever stays still."

In an interview with PEOPLE in April 2024, Chase Stokes (John B) hinted that Season 4 is one of his favorite seasons, emphasizing that it dives deeper into the characters’ personal struggles and the aftermath of their previous losses.

He shared, “Anytime you experience loss, it impacts you in unexpected ways. John B and Sarah will have to re-evaluate everything—their purpose, their intentions, and whether the journey was truly worth it."