#JJ Maybank character analysis

[multifandumbmeg]

Subtle JJ things I noticed that keep me up at night:

1. The way they changed the styling of his clothes from season 1 to season 2. Season one he's already pretty ripped but he mostly wears these loose-fitting tshirts and cutoffs that make him look cute, lanky, and unthreatening. Season 2 he mostly wears tight-fitting tshirts that make him look CONSIDERABLY beefier and generally is seen wearing more layers- it's technically Fall but he covers up more than other characters do and it has the effect of him seeming more closed off and isolated than the others, which he is. Season three his style is somewhere in between, not super tight but not lanky and loose either, like he's found a better balance.

2. His drinking. Season 1 he's partying a lot with beer and frankly, high most of the time. Season 2 he starts carrying around the flask- presumably liquor, not beer- and drinking non-socially. Before school. At John B's "funeral". That night they're stranded with Kie and Pope on the way to Charleston. The others aren't drinking at all, nor does he offer them some, then he seemingly (to Kie) falls asleep with the open flask in hand... Like he's been drinking himself to sleep, and this has probably become a habit. This is clearly because he's depressed, and though I think John B's "death" is the catalyst, it's clearly not the only reason as it continues through season 2, for example the aforementioned Charleston trip. I think John B's death, going no-contact with his dad, living alone at the chateau, Pope and Kie's relationship, have all led him to feel extremely isolated and he's clearly coping with substances even worse than before. Not to mention he's free of his dad for the first time, completely after he leaves OBX, which means for the first time in his life he's probably processing his trauma, which is what tends to happen once you find yourself no longer in a continually traumatizing situation. That would also account for his moodiness and increasing dependence on substances. I think it's also interesting we see him smoking weed less, but drinking more heavily. I think they did this to show a marked change in his already concerning substance use from season 1 from "bad coping mechanism, gets him through the day in relatively good spirits" to genuinely concerning and potentially volatile, over-using a substance his biological was known to be addicted to. Note this abruptly ends at the end of season 2 with being stranded on the island with all the Pogues. There are zero substances on the island, but it's clear it's the happiest he's ever been. A lot goes down after they get off the island but he seems to minimally fall back into old patterns in season 3. Apart from hanging out and partying a socially acceptable amount with his friends, the only time I remember him using is when he's drinking beers alone at his house- when he gets home and everyone's reuniting with their families and when he's fighting with Kiara because of their moment. When he feels alone and scared. I'm curious to see his development in season 4.

3. His lack of fear/loss of fear in death. Bro, nobody talks about how differently he reacts to danger between seasons 1 and 2. All throughout season 1, JJ is an anxious wreck and his response to being threatened is always submission, fear, and an instinct to run. When there's guns on him he gets the fuck down. He puts his hands up. He looks visibly terrified. Multiple times you can see him VISIBLY shaking. When the thugs are attacking Miss Lana, he's trembling with his eyes closed and trying not to make a sound. He begs John B to leave while it's happening and after when he sees her reaction. Even when Barry tries to rob them, furious though he is, he follows Barry's demands and doesn't fight back until John B starts it and makes an opportunity. As Kiara so aptly puts it, "he has the survival instincts of a cockroach." He does! But everything changes when he tries to grab the money and run from his dad. Again, he doesn't want a fight. But he gets one, and he's finally tired of it. He's been beat up and threatened and stolen from one time too many, and the threat of death is no longer a more powerful motivator than his wants. So he attacks his dad back and puts him in his place. He once again puts his hands up when Barry and Rafe come for him at the Phantom, but he doesn't look as scared. John B's "death" may be the final nail in the coffin, because starting season 2? He's not scared anymore when he should be. Despite the fact that he appears to be having panic attacks and worse anxiety than ever, every gun that's pointed at him or fight that breaks out he just rolls with. One of the only times I can see his survival instincts crop up in season 2 is when Kiara yells "murderer" at Ward seconds after he straight up killed someone with a gun, which is a normal human reaction and may have had more to do with protecting his friends. He just seems numb to most of the danger. Then again, season 3, he almost seems to find a balance. He's still doing some reckless things, and no longer cowering in the face of enemies, but he also knows who the dangerous people are, and when to wheel and deal or turn away and come fight another day.

Anyway, I'm very curious to see how he evolves in season 4, now that he's establishing his own life, financially secure, on good terms with all his friends and (hopefully) in a committed relationship. Let me know if I missed any other interesting character changes patterns for JJ or any other characters from the show! I would love to read/hear what you noticed and your own in-depth character analysis. JJ's my favorite character and a super rich text, so I tend to hyperfocus on him. Also if you want to request me to make one of these on one of the other characters let me know! I would love to zero in on them and see what I missed on my next watch-through.

#obx #outer banks #jj maybank #analysis #JJ Maybank character analysis #character analysis #Me when I read the text too deeply #Cannot consume media normally #Must psychoanalyze

[stupidthingsgoodoutcomes]

JJ Maybank has hyperactive ADHD: Part 1/?

Well, y’all wanted this and I also kinda wanted to make it so! Without further ado, I present a DSM-V based analysis of JJ Maybank and the ADHD-H he most certainly has.

Fidgeting!

Presented as “fidgetiness (hands or feet)/squirms in seat” or “often fidgets or taps with hands or feet or squirms in seat” in the DSM-V.

Rudy has said before that JJ’s lighter was key to understanding and developing his character. We see him playing with the lighter all the time - usually when he’s just lying down or sitting somewhere - he’ll be flicking it open and shut or twirling it around.

In general, though, we rarely see JJ not moving.

This scene is another example of the fidgeting - playing with the toothpick and the “it’s just nice to have something in your mouth” line. I know that I personally do things like this all the time. I don’t think I’ve ever had a lollipop without chewing the stick afterwards.

We also see him playing with his hat on numerous occasions - turning it around or twisting it in his hands.

He is plays with his hair a lot too! Running his hands through it, tugging it, etc. I personally love this one because I’m an absolute menace when it comes to my own hair, it’s my number one fidget - as a kid I pulled out way too much of it because of that whoopsie

If you look at his hands in this scene, they gave him a little visitor card and he spends the entire scene fidgeting with it instead of holding it like most non-ADHD people would.

Finally, in this scene he’s literally twirling a knife. Pretty obvious fidgeting.

Those are just a few examples of many. Feel free to reblog with your favourite JJ fidgeting moments!

#shut up stardust #stardust’s headcanons #stardust’s analysis #adhd jj maybank #jj maybank #outer banks #obx #jj obx #obx jj #jj maybank has hyperactive adhd #rudy pankow #season 2 #season 1 #2x05 #1x04

[yikesevenworse]

JJ and Pope find so much comfort in the other. Even in group hugs, JJ leans into Pope and Pope holds him tight like he never wants to let go.

#THEYRE IN LOVE #THIS IS WHAT GAY PEOPLE LOOK LIKE #jjpope #pope heyward #jj maybank #obx #jj x pope #mayward #outer banks #obx2 #character analysis

[something-pithy]

JJ Maybank is not dumb.

I’ve seen a post or two implying (or outright saying) that JJ is dumb. These posts are made with affection and in fun, but part of understanding one of the strongest facets of the writing on this show is understanding that JJ Maybank is absolutely not dumb / lacking in intelligence. Rather, based on his behavior, I’d guess that he most likely has post traumatic stress disorder. Some of the symptoms of PTSD as they manifest in children/adolescents are: * Low hippocampal volume (the hippocampus is the part of the brain related related to memory and interpreting environmental context, so if you have a low hippocampal volume, your fight/flight response gets triggered when you’re not actually in danger because the environment is misinterpreted as dangerous.) * Negative cognitive development (the ability to consider possibilities and facts; may affect decision-making.) * When emotional issues come up, they can cause problems with a child/adolescent’s ability to think in complex ways.  * Trouble concentrating in school  * Altered cognitive functioning Combine this with the fact that JJ is an adolescent, and literally the part of his brain that considers long-term outcomes is not fully developed yet, well... yeah, he’s gonna make some real questionable choices lol. People often confuse people who are acting out because of trauma as stupid, but in fact, their brains are so busy reliving the trauma because it’s not being processed that it doesn’t have time for calculating math problems or consequences.

#jj maybank #jj outer banks #outer banks netflix #pogues #character analysis #mental health #destigmatize #the more you know

[prettyboyreid]

masterlist :)

* indicates smut

no longer writing for

add yourself to my taglist! 

wattpad

ao3

Criminal Minds

Spencer Reid

visions - Mr. Scratch, expecting Aaron Hotchner, ends up face-to-face with the reader at Dr. Regan’s home.

tell me about the stars - Cat Adams had one last request of Dr. Reid before her execution.

late nights* - Spencer is a lot more tired than usual, and Morgan gets suspicious about it.

safe - Spencer experiences what is possibly the worst twenty-four hours of his life, and so does his wife.

i love you most  - After a particularly rough case, Spencer wonders if it’s time for him to step down from the Behavioral Analysis Unit.

my favorite piece of art - Spencer and the BAU comes to the reader’s pottery studio on their day off.

parle moi - Reader overhears a conversation between Spencer and Morgan, which leads to her ignoring him for a few days.

believers -  Reader can’t stand the thought of Spencer getting hurt, so she outs herself as an FBI agent when they were on an undercover mission.

poker face - The BAU has a slow day, so Spencer convinces everyone to play a few games of poker.

Matthew Gray Gubler

can you read to me? (part one) (part two) (part three) - Even after a silly fight, the reader can’t seem to go to sleep without Matthew next to her. 

not clickbait! - Matthew finally agrees to make a YouTube video with his girlfriend.

she who sings... - Matthew dates a famous singer. [h.c.]

Outer Banks

JJ Maybank

rafe doesn’t know - When the reader realizes how bad her relationship is with Rafe Cameron, she turns to JJ for a little help.

Harry Potter

The Marauders

the story (a girl and a boy) (a boy and a boy) (me and my friend) (the way the world works) -  As Harry Potter gets older, his aunt makes sure he never forgets about his parents or his uncles.

Sirius Black 

sirius black playlist <3

James Potter

coming soon

Remus Lupin

coming soon

Regulus Black

the life and death of regulus black (prologue) (part i) (part ii)- Known by many, loved by few, remembered by one.  A retelling of the short life of Regulus Arcturus Black - reminding you why he did what he did and who he did it for

Harry Potter 

the story (a girl and a boy) (a boy and a boy) (me and my friend) (the way the world works) -  As Harry Potter gets older, his aunt makes sure he never forgets about his parents or his uncles.

Other

blurbs!

currently writing fics for spencer reid, jj maybank, sirius black, james potter, remus lupin, regulus black, and harry potter

currently writing blurbs for spencer reid, matthew gray gubler, jj maybank, sirius black, james potter, remus lupin, regulus black, and harry potter

requests are open for all of the above characters/actors

request anything here!

#spencer reid #dr spencer reid #jj maybank #jj obx #sirius black #sirius orion black #padfoot #james potter #james fleamont potter #prongs #remus lupin #remus john lupin #moony #wolfstar #jily #marauders #harry potter #harry james potter #criminal minds #outer banks #outer banks netflix #regulus black #regulus arcturus black #rab

[yikesevenworse]

should I go into a complete analysis on JJ’s protective tendencies over Pope because honestly it’s the biggest pillar in their platonic and romantic relationship

#jjpope #jj maybank #pope heyward #obx #jj x pope #mayward #outer banks #obx2 #character analysis

[yikesevenworse]

jjpope season 2 breakdown!! woohoo!!

While I think season 2 really watered down the jjpope dynamic (platonic and romantic) their scenes together are largely important nonetheless- less content but still fed. a little malnourished, but still surviving

the standout scene of jjpope season 2 for me is when pope has an allergy attack and falls unresponsive after being attacked by wasps (episodes 8 & 9) and every moment leading up to this as well- pope climbing the church wall, finding the cross, falling from the beam, the cross almost falling, etc. those sequences are jam-packed full of jjpope.

but the way jj reacts to pope not waking up was honestly startling and made the scene more emotional. you could feel JJ’s panic through the screen, he looked close to tears it was so suspenseful. the other characters reactions, including kiara didn’t come close to his.

I feel like that scene is a little self explanatory, so I’ll move on to the next and most forgotten scene. when pope watches and comprehends the grave being defaced, this was easily one of the most heartbreaking scenes in the show. also as a character, pope does speak out his feelings and what he’s thinking which make it hurt even more. while both JJ and Kiara are comforting him, JJ was watching Pope and you can see that if you rewatch that entire scene (ep. 8).

in my s1 breakdown I talked about how the characters look for comfort, and it’s even more obvious in s2 that JJ looks for physical comfort as that is the love he gives. physical touch and words of affirmation are big for JJ. he is constantly watching, hugging, and telling pope to trust him or that he loves him. these are group hugs, but pope seems to gravitate toward JJ a lot as that’s who he’s physically more comfortable with. (this happens in every group hug).

Pope’s primary love language is more of acts of service I believe, but when he isn’t sober, he’s all over JJ. Pope expresses his love like he’s afraid it’s going to hurt him.

there’s also this, the scene where JJ comes up with the mock key plan and Pope is so proud of him, JJ also blushes and seems very flustered. This is main s2 proof that JJ’s crush is not unrequited as most think it is, it’s just that Pope expresses his appreciation very differently and less loud. Pope is shy and quiet with his love whereas JJ yells it for the world to hear.

And of course, we have the overly protective type beat that JJ does every single episode. I feel like these are pretty self explanatory.

another big scene is when that racist guy comes to take the real key from Pope and JJ continuously tries to put himself between the two of them. When Pope almost doesn’t give up the key and the man is threatening his life, JJ’s expression almost looks pleading (ep. 7)

Afterward when the man is gone with Pope’s key and Pope leaves the gathering in tears, the camera focuses on JJ looking hopeless like he doesn’t know what to say or how to comfort Pope. It’s an interesting cinematic choice considering that JJ and Pope canonically are not a couple, and it kind of reminds me of when Ward ‘dies’ and the camera shifts from Sarah to John B.

JJ looks like he wants to ease Pope’s hurt so badly, he just doesn’t know how this time.

Over all I think that despite the lack of scenes, these are significant to their relationship and does give more insight on the characters. I do think the writers made them bicker and yell at each other more to establish that ‘friendly’ kind of connection, but this could honestly be interpreted as the two of them butting heads because they don’t know what to do with the jealousy, the anger and the tension build up between them. I think some of the dialogue was very inconsistent (ex. Pope snapping about JJ’s abusive dad, JJ blaming Pope for dropping the camera, etc.).

Also, I do tend to mention JJ more in these posts because he’s very easy to read, he has his heart on his sleeve 24/7 and Pope does not.

+ jjpope canonically hanging out with each other at parties and bonfires again, almost death trope, jealousy trope, jj telling pope he loves him- I’d say that it’s not looking too bad depending on where the writers are going.

* I personally think it would be uncharacteristic to have jj and Kiara date now just because jj wouldn’t do that knowing pope liked her. jj wouldn’t jeopardize his friendships with either of them.

#sry for the typos #I’m so tired #jjpope #jj maybank #pope heyward #jj x pope #obx #mayward #obx2 #outer banks #character analysis #obx season 2

[yikesevenworse]

Pope canonically has trouble knowing what to say and being bad at comforting his friends when they’re having trouble.

(which also means he’s also pretty hard to comfort, but JJ manages just fine)

#jjpope #pope heyward #jj maybank #obx #jj x pope #mayward #outer banks #character analysis

[yikesevenworse]

ok but… what if pope fell first, jj fell harder. pope has loved jj his whole life and tried to ignore it but it never goes away. jj has always felt more attached to pope and once he realizes it’s romantic love oh it’s bad for him. this would also be more in character as jj is way more emotional and expressive with his feelings whereas pope is more stoic and breaking down privately.

#jjpope #jj maybank #pope heyward #obx #jj x pope #mayward #outer banks #obx2 #character analysis

[yikesevenworse]

pope x jj thinking they’ve lost each other (s1 x s2)

#jjpope #pope heyward #jj maybank #obx #jj x pope #mayward #outer banks #obx2 #character analysis

[yikesevenworse]

jjpope season 1 breakdown time!! woohoo

Since the beginning of season 1, JJ and Pope have an established as best friends- this is very obvious by the way the talk to each other and move around each other.

In one of the first episodes when the pogues are discussing the gold, JJ understand that Kiara and Pope have very different reasons for not wanting to help. To Kiara he says something like “you’re already rich” but to Pope he says “you’re the golden boy” which I think is a very interesting diction choice as he could have just said ‘you can’t lose your scholarship opportunity’ or something along those lines

I think that’s an important mention bc it really establishes what exactly he thinks about Kiara vs Pope (side note: I’m not trying to say JJ likes one more than the other, just that he thinks of them differently relationship- wise)

In my character analysis posts I talked about how both Pope and JJ are about physical touch and affection- JJ craves and seeks it out while for Pope it’s more of a gesture. Pope doesn’t seek out physical affection the way that JJ does, but in big moments he will dish it out:

I genuinely believe that this is one of the most romantic scenes in the entire show. Based on the shot choice with the blurred lights in the background, the close head shots, the word choices and the hug was filled with immense tension.

This is also the cheek kiss scene and the “for once in your life, trust someone else” implying that JJ wants Pope to know he’ll always have his back and Pope doesn’t always have to be so on-guard all the time. This scene kind of foreshadows the scene in a later episode when Kiara and Sarah are fighting and Pope mentions how comfortable he was riding on the back of JJ’s bike, to which JJ agrees and John B says “that’s cute, guys”

And JJ’s reaction almost like he didn’t know how to react to Pope’s sudden tackle-hug proves that Pope doesn’t often do large physical gestures. He could also have just realized a few feeing for Pope that he might not have noticed before. It’s also shown in the hot tub scene when JJ and Kiara are already hugging but once Pope joins, he leans his head on Pope and holds Pope’s arm instead: (a.n. I do NOT think this is a romantic scene, this is to show that JJ seeks a lot of comfort from Pope)

JJ also seems to be the only person to actually care about Pope’s scholarship. He understands that Pope may not want to help them bc of it and thinks it’s a valid reason. JJ even asks about it when Pope runs to them and tells them about Ward’s airstrip (I can’t find the screen cap but it’s closer to the end of the season).

Let’s not forget one of the most important plots of their relationship- JJ taking the fall for Pope sinking Topper’s boat. While JJ is in the cell, he smiles probably thinking about how he had just saved Pope. Later when JJ is stealing money from the drug dealers and the pogues have a small intervention, Pope tries to go after JJ so he doesn’t have to be alone but John B stops him. JJ also didn’t really care about being told off until Pope said something about it, and he looked very hurt that he did. This moment truly solidifies that JJ’s love is not unrequited, but that Pope cares about him just as much. Even after being yelled at by JJ, Pope still always tries to go after him and is upset when JJ isn’t there.

Here are a few more moments that are very important to their relationship and I think are often overlooked moments:

(Pope protecting Jj when they’re being shot at by the old lady while they’re trying to get the gold & then canonically hanging out just the two of them)

+ then doing grocery runs together, JJ being mad that Pope was beat up, Pope telling JJ not to do anything stupid, JJ always stepping in front of Pope when there’s danger, them being able to calm each other down, Pope checking on JJ while they’re trying to pawn the gold, etc.

hope you guys enjoyed!! season 2 jjpope analysis will be up tomorrow! :)

#jj x pope #mayward #pope heyward #jjpope #jj maybank #obx #outer banks #character analysis

[yikesevenworse]

not to self-inflict onto fictional characters again but I think jj might have borderline personality disorder like THINK about it- substance abuse, abandonment issues, dangerous impulsivity, unstable relationships, anger issues and it’s usually developed through withstanding traumatic events (childhood abuse). and those aren’t even digging deeper into his character. he’s definitely got something and it’s either bpd or maybe anxietyw

#jj maybank #character analysis #obx #jjpope #outer banks #obx2 #bpd

[yikesevenworse]

JJ’s very obvious character traits, the ones that define him most are his habits of impulsivity, his loyalty and being hot-headed.

Since these are given I won’t go into much detail but the loyalty part is very interesting as it technically would be considered his ‘fatal flaw.’

A fatal flaw in media, especially film, means what will eventually be the downfall or death in what could be considered a noble way. Most of JJ’s entire storyline is him sticking by his friends despite his own home issues or how angry he is at them. His hot-headed behavior may sometimes be taken out on his friends, it never overpowers his loyalty to them.

More of his under appreciated or not as thought of traits is that he is an emotional character and a very physical one. JJ seeks out comfort in physical touch in pretty much every single episode in both seasons. JJ struggles with anger but he also struggles with anxiety (chest holding, poking at his friends dangerous habits, etc.), and the inability to cope. We see him smoking and drinking quiet often in the first season and it’s most likely a mechanism to forget the abuse he endured from his father/ parents as a child. JJ seeks out the physical affection he did not receive as a child which make me able to confidently say that it’s his main love language. I’d say his secondary is maybe words of affirmation or quality time.

Despite JJ constantly seeking physical touch he flinches quite a few times when anyone approaches him. This is a conditional response which means it is assumed that JJ’s dad has abused him since childhood and the situation never mended. Since JJ does allow his father to hug him it can be interpreted that he wishes for a better relationship and although he endured Luke’s abuse he does love him (as victims often do love their abuses- especially when they are parents).

In my opinion, JJ is the glue of the group. I think John B is mistakenly put in this role as the pogues were always at his house, on his boat, etc. but when John B ‘died’ they stuck together. Now, had the time been longer it could be different but since their friendship held up I would say JJ is the glue. JJ’s brotherly love with John B, his very obvious adoration for Pope and his familial relationship with Kiara holds them together. JJ has an amazing connection with everybody in the group. Without him I’m sure they’d still be friends, but he pushes the ‘not friends, family’ narrative that solidifies that claim.

Some may say that JJ is an anti-hero but in actuality, he portrays every trait of a hero: loyalty, bravery, helpfulness, willing to sacrifice. JJ is all of these these, maybe a little morally ambiguous but he fits a hero category over anti-hero. His bravery & loyalty has overpowered his fear in every dangerous situation.

JJ & John B- the two of them have a very brotherly bond although they do throw each other around a lot. They’re both very physical when they argue with each other which is something I found strange on John B’s part since the pogues do know about JJ’s abusive father. Nonetheless, there isn’t much to say about their relationship because it’s easy to understand that they care for each other and see each other as brothers.

JJ & Kiara- In both seasons I didn’t think Kiara cared too much for JJ and thought they were more of in the same friend group than friends themselves. They do often berate each other and I had always seen this relationship as sibling banter but it can be interpreted any way the watcher wants. Season 2 did solidify them as best friends for me and I think it would be an interesting relationship to see. I do not, however, think that they are very compatible in a dating sense as Kiara can be overly nagging and it would build up a clash with JJ’s impulsive behavior.

JJ & Pope- In my opinion these two have the most interesting dynamic as JJ and Pope are opposites in almost every way. They have the most ambiguous connection I think. JJ is extremely protective of Pope and has shown this multiple times in both seasons- taking the fall for Pope, his reaction to Pope having the nearly fatal allergic reaction, being angry when Pope is hurt by the kooks, etc. I would at the least say they have the best duo bond of the pogues, since it is canon that JJ would do anything for Pope. JJ thinks very highly of Pope and even cares about his education- something the rest of the pogues don’t seem to mind overlooking. This type of protectiveness and devotion seems more of romantic coding than any of his other relationships.

If anyone wants me to go into more detail about anything, please let me know and I’d be happy to! Hope this was helpful.

(Pope’s character analysis and then a deeper dive into JJPope will come later!)

#jj maybank #obx #character analysis #obx2

[yikesevenworse]

“God, you are so worried that I’m going to sleep with a pogue like you did! Well guess what? I already did.”

* disclaimer: this post is not to demonize kiara or to openly allow misogyny against her, it’s to highlight how she wrongfully treats some of her friends and her impulsivity often is not really justifiable. I know that the other characters have flaws and will make posts about them too.

Kiara as a character always confused me quite a bit. I appreciate her resilience and she is one of the most interesting characters in the show, she has a lot of potential for character development.

However, she’s morally ambiguous to the point where it bleeds into her relationships and how she treats people. While all of the pogues actually fall into more of a vigilante hero type category, Kiara seems to be more of an anti-hero. She’s extremely impulsive and unconventional in the ways she handles grief and dangerous situations (ex. continuously shouting murder this drawing attention & creating more problems, causing scenes in public). Everyone handles trauma differently and she has obviously been through a lot. I am neither demonizing or praising her behavior, but this helps us to understand why she interacts with people the way that she does.

Kiara’s relationship with Pope is very messy. It’s very hot and cold and even one-sided a few times throughout their romantic relationship. I truly believe that had they kept this relationship platonic it could have been a very iconic best friendship in the show. There was really no indication that Pope or Kiara had any mutual romantic feelings for each other in either season but their platonic chemistry is amazing.

Kiara did not treat Pope the best. In season 1 she truly did not care about his scholarship which obviously meant a lot to him which really stands out to me. This and the quote above proves that she did use Pope. Her parents have probably been spewing anti-pogue (classism) sentiment her entire life and forcing Kiara to be great full for a life she doesn’t fit into. They’re trying to mold her into something she just isn’t. While her ignoring her fiscal privilege does strike a nerve every time, her parents have no right to look down upon her friends for being poor. But, it was also wrong of Kiara to use Pope as a weapon of rebellion to her parents. It was a very dehumanizing thing to do to someone she supposedly cares about. This is unjustifiable, as Pope is a person with complex feelings. She does let him down rather gently but it does not forgive what she’s done and said to him.

Kiara is struggling with her identity. Shes trying so hard to deem herself a pogue and even gives up her familial life in favor of her friends, but I think she is a little obsessed with being considered a pogue. Up until the moment Kiara’s parents kick her out, which they should not have done when they know their daughter is struggling, she is a kook. She lives on the wealthier side of the island, had a chance to go to the ‘Kook Academy’ and even has a membership to the rich people club. She just won’t recognize that she has more opportunities than her other friends in both seasons, then abandons her wealthy lifestyle which is slight development. This plot line would have been better if she didn’t deny her lifestyle and seems very out of touch with how classism affect her friends (ex. s1 hot tub scene, JJ is breaking down over his father’s abuse and uses the stolen money to buy the hot tub- Pope says that JJ should have payed the restitution but Kiara says he should’ve donated it to charity- shows her ignorance around pogue’s financial state).

Season 2 Kiara is a completely different person than Season 1 Kiara and that’s a writing inconsistency. I also think she is the most prominently queer-coded character in the show (maybe tied with JJ). She seems to be trying to force herself to have romantic feelings for all of her friends, John B first, then Pope and now it seems to be JJ. Her reasoning for not dating the prior two is that she values their friendship and comes to the realization after being some kind of romantically involved with them (ex. kissing John B, having sex with Pope, etc.). The only story line that would not be complete misogyny and explore a romantic relationship between Kiara and JJ would be him being her last self-actualization that she cannot force her attraction to men and that she is queer. Either that, or JJ and Kiara have an incredibly slow burn relationship and they both make the best (and worst) parts of each other come out very, very slowly. I think this approach would seriously conflict and damage both of their relationships with Pope.

Sum: Kiara is an interesting character that the writers don’t care about, and she is also gay

#kiara carrera #character analysis #outer banks #obx #jiara #pope heyward #jj maybank #popekie #lgbtq+