Outer Banks Theory: John B's Mother Is Carla Limbrey
"Outer Banks" is about friendship and the thrill of adventure, but the treasure hunt at the heart of the narrative isn't all fun and games. The Pogues are on a mission to find their fortune, whether it's Denmark Tanny's gold, the Cross of Santo Domingo, or the legendary city El Dorado, though their plans are often thwarted by various adversaries. It's not really a treasure hunt without a little competition, and every contender has their own motives. Carla Limbrey (Elizabeth Mitchell) is desperate to find the mythical shroud that's hidden inside the Cross of Santo Domingo, a factor that Big John (Charles Halford) uses to his advantage in his efforts to get back to his son.
Big John and Limbrey spent a good chunk of time together in Season 3, and their tenuous alliance is enough to make the viewer question how these two know each other. It could be that they simply see each other as a means to an end, but it's also possible that Big John and Limbrey have crossed paths in the past. John B.'s (Chase Stokes) mother left when he was 3 years old, and Carla Limbrey just might be the young man's mother.
Both Limbrey and Big John are treasure hunters with a twisted sense of morality, so they definitely have common ground. Limbrey isn't as well developed as the other antagonists and her storyline pretty much fizzles out by the end of Season 3, which leaves plenty of opportunities for her to return in future seasons.
What do we really know about Carla Limbrey?
Viewers are introduced to Carla Limbrey in Season 2, and it's immediately apparent that she's been keeping tabs on the Pogues. She knows everything about their search for the gold, but she's not interested in money. She wants the shroud for its healing properties, but we don't know a lot about Limbrey's life beyond that, so it's entirely possible that she's actually John B.'s mother. If this theory is true, it also makes sense why she left.
Limbrey and Big John are both interested in treasure hunting, so it's not far-fetched to think that they met prior to the start of the series. However, they're very different people. Big John's main goal is to find the Royal Merchant gold, while Limbrey is obsessed with finding the Cross of Santo Domingo and the mystical shroud. If Limbrey is John B.'s mom, it's possible that she left as her illness was getting worse and her quest for the shroud became even more urgent.
Still, there are more questions than answers when it comes to Limbrey's role in the narrative moving forward. If she's actually John B.'s mom, would she really demand payment to reunite him with his own father? It's pretty cold-blooded, especially since she doesn't appear again after they give it to her. Chase Stokes says that "Outer Banks" Season 4 will allow the Pogues to reflect on everything that's happened thus far, so hopefully the show will circle back to Limbrey's storyline.