Jonathan Daviss on Outer Banks season 2, Pope, Denmark Tanny and more in new interview

Good news, Pogues! You can stream Outer Banks season 2 on Netflix right now. And, after you do, you need to check out our new interview with Outer Banks star Jonathan Daviss.

Daviss stars as Pope in the Netflix original series. Pope takes on a much bigger role in the story in Outer Banks season 2 with a new hunt for treasure that is very personal to Pope and his family. Unfortunately, new treasure brings new foes for Pope and the Pogues

Daviss talked with Netflix Life about Outer Banks season 2, Pope’s role in season 2, season 3, and beyond, and of course, Pope and Kiara’s relationship.

There are spoilers for Outer Banks season 2 in the interview! Check out the interview below!

This interview has been edited for clarity. 

Jonathan Daviss interview Outer Banks season 2

Netflix Life: What was your first impression of season 2 as you were reading the scripts? 

Jonathan Daviss: Yeah, my first impression was, like, “wow!” We’re starting with that same energy that we ended on in season 1, you know, in 10 (season 1 finale), where it’s depressing and I have no idea what’s going to happen. And, it picks right back up after that.

Season 2 gets crazier as the season goes on. There were a couple of times reading the scripts where I was audibly, like “What?!” I couldn’t believe some of the bigger twists and some of the moments that were happening this season and how much more personal it gets.

Speaking of twists, did you always know that John B’s father was still alive? Or, was that a shock to you? 

That was a shock. That was an Empire Strikes Back-Luke Skywalker moment. I was like, “Wait, what?!” I had no idea.

You also mentioned it gets a lot more personal for Pope in season 2 with the reveal that he’s related to Denmark Tanny and Cross of Santo Domingo is rightfully his. It’s a big shift from what we saw from Pope in season 1. What was it like playing a character who gets so involved personally and invested in something as big as this?

It was a big moment. It felt like it was the right time, just kind of in my life. Things are happening in the real world. And, you know, I was going through some stuff. When the writers called, and they were like, “Hey, we’re trying to do this with the season.” And they asked for my thoughts on it. And I was always more than excited to kind of take that challenge and change this character, almost.

Pope this season is not the Pope he was last season. He’s definitely shown that he’s matured, he’s focused. And he’s really going for something that means so much to him and his family. He makes that kind of change to take control of it.

In season 2, we kind of zoom out a little bit and see how much the show actually revolves around Denmark Tanny. We see how important Pope’s family history is to the whole story. If the show is picked up for season 3, do you think that’s going to be further explored? Are there more secrets in this world?

Yeah, definitely. I think this is only the beginning of the revelation of this season. I think this season expanded the universe kind of a lot. We went to an entirely different country for a good part of the season. And I think that expanded the show and made it a bigger, more personal show.

The first season is the story of four kids who kind of stumbled onto this treasure by happenstance, You know, of course, his dad (Big John) was looking for it, but then everybody’s looking for it. This season, it’s like, no, there was a reason, and it’s very personal now for all the characters involved.

Where do you think Pope would be without his friends? 

Probably in college. (laughs)

But no, he definitely has that leadership quality to him, I feel like. He has that, all right, I know what needs to be done. I know the steps that need to be taken. And I know how to work with people to get it done. I know how to get everybody’s best attributes.

And, same thing with John B. They’re kind of alike in that sense. When they have something that they need to go after, they can focus and go get it no matter how crazy or absurd it might seem to be able to get something like that. They know they can put a plan together and get it done.

At the end of the scene, Pope and Kie commit to just being friends. Do you think that’s the end of their relationship? Or, is there still something there? 

I mean, I don’t know. I feel like, you’re so young, you’re 16. You see something in somebody, and then you don’t see it, and then you see it, and then you try it, and you’re like, it didn’t work. And you have to grow with people for something that didn’t work one time to work another time, and you have to grow and learn.

So, I think as these characters kind of figure out who they are as people, who knows really what could happen? I think the most important thing for this group is that they kind of keep that friendship preserved, and they keep that Pogue energy together. I think that’s what’s always been most important to them, but balancing that with how their emotion can change for each other is going to be an interesting thing to see if we get to continue it in later seasons.

What do you like about Pope? What would you like to see more of from Pope in season 3? And, is there anything new you’d like to see from Pope in future seasons?

I just like Pope’s ability to lead the season and take control and be strong in his own right. You know, in that first season, Pope is very nervous. He’s like, “I’m a mathlete.” But I feel like that was because he’s like, “I can’t really mess up my scholarship, so I’m not gonna do anything that could endanger that.”

This season, we see him fighting, and apparently, he knows what he’s doing. So I’d like to see that continue in his character as he goes on. As he becomes more of his own man, I’d like to see him gaining more and more confidence, going from a nervous kid to a confident adult. I want to see that transition.

Outer Banks season 2 is now on Netflix!