Netflix's the Cross of Santo Domingo in Outer Banks season 2.
Since its original debut in 2020, Outer Banks has been likened to a modern-day version of The Goonies. Between the characters fitting similar molds, the villains equally ranging from murderous criminals to simply rich bullies, and puzzle-solving quests, it was easy to see why. As befitting modern teen dramas, the only difference was Outer Banks' increase in sex, drugs, and action. In of the latter, the Netflix series often skewed more towards the Indiana Jones movies. Equally, the treasures had amassed near-mythical status and were rooted in real-world history and mythology. Rather than merely coast on these similarities, however, the writers of Outer Banks season 2 openly leaned into them with knowing references.
In Outer Banks season 2, episode 8, "The Cross," the Pogues tracked the Cross of Santo Domingo to an old church. As they searched for fresh clues as to its hiding place, JJ headed straight to the church organ. Out loud, he wondered whether the key was to play specific chords in order to unlock the treasure's location or open the way to a set of catacombs beneath their feet. The moment directly played on one of The Goonies' most famous scenes. As Mikey (Sean Astin) and the others were trapped between the Fratellis and a sealed entrance, they were forced to play specific chords on an ominous organ in order to escape. As well as potentially opening the entrance to the treasure, the organ playing also ran the risk of opening the ground beneath them — tying JJ's Outer Banks season 2 theory to the classic movie.
The referential Easter eggs didn't stop there, however. Having uncovered the Cross of Santo Domingo, an early part of Outer Banks season 2, episode 9, "Trapped" saw the Pogues debate what to do with it. Rebuffing one of JJ's suggestions, John B argued that, "it belongs in a museum." Such declarations were famously uttered by Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford and River Phoenix) in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Funnily enough, the artifact Indy was referring to was the similarly gold and jewel-encrusted Cross of Coronado. Though the sizes of the respective cross-shaped treasures greatly differed, it meant that the use of the aforementioned statement paralleled each other all the more.
If that wasn't enough, Outer Banks season 2 revealed that Big John was still alive. Even more of a historian and treasure hunter than John B, father and son look set for a reunion in Outer Banks season 3. Therefore, the parallels between the Netflix series and The Last Crusade will run even deeper — since it'll occur similarly amid a quest and while beset by enemies. All in all, the nods were a shrewd move on the parts of Outer Banks' writers. Not only did it add a fresh level of tongue-in-cheek humor to proceedings but it also added to the show's rewatch factor with such things to look out for on another go-around. Furthermore, they will no doubt have left fans even more eager to see what references Outer Banks season 3 has in store.