Outer Banks fans, you know you’ve thought about it. There’s always been something between Rafe (Drew Starkey) and Kiara (Madison Bailey). Whether it was intentional remains unclear, but there’s a simmering tension that’s lingered just below the surface between these two characters that we can’t ignore any longer.

The Netflix series has plenty of solid ‘ships already: John B (Chase Stokes) and Sarah (Madelyn Cline), JJ (Rudy Pankow) and Kiara, Pope (Jonathan Daviss) and Cleo (Carlacia Grant). However, the Riara fandom has been slowly building a case for Rafe and Kiara. (I’ve seen the fan edits!)

Should Outer Banks explore a romantic relationship between Rafe and Kiara? Give in to the enemies-to-lovers vibe? Or should the show steer clear? Rafe is extremely problematic, after all. Let’s break down the pros and cons of a possible Riara relationship.

Vote and dish out your thoughts in the comments below. Plus, check out our other Should They / Shouldn’t They polls.

Outer Banks, Season 4, Episodes 1-5, October 10, Netflix

Outer Banks, Season 4, Episodes 6-10, November 7, Netflix

Jackson Lee Davis / Netflix

CON: Rafe is a murderer

If this were real life, Rafe would already be in prison for killing Sheriff Peterkin (Adina Porter), among a slew of other crimes. He tried to kill his own sister and attacked Kiara in Season 1.

We’re not saying Rafe is a good guy whatsoever, but worse characters have been redeemed in television history. Outer Banks is a show that lives firmly in the gray (okay, sepia-tinted) area. The moral compasses of all the characters are a little blurry. Kiara doesn’t need to concern herself with the likes of Rafe.

Netflix

PRO: Kiara’s Kook year could be explained

One of the show’s biggest mysteries is Kiara’s Kook year. What exactly went down before Kiara went full Pogue? Could Kiara and Rafe have had a brief fling?

In Season 1 Episode 4, Rafe addresses Kiara by her nickname “Kie” in the most gentle tone he’s had throughout the series. Before the conversation turns serious, he asks a little too nicely, “How are you?” It feels like there’s something unspoken here. This little exchange could easily be between two people who used to hook up. When she walks away, Rafe looks at her a little too longingly. The man may have caught feelings at some point.

Everyone loves a good flashback, and it’d be a great twist for Kiara to have some secrets from her Kook year.

Jackson Lee Davis / Netflix

CON: Jiara trouble

If the show were to entertain a Rafe and Kiara romance, this would have a major impact on JJ and Kiara’s relationship. These two went from friends to lovers over the course of a long slow burn, and this would just disrupt everything. Let these two crazy kids be happy together for a while.

However, given that these are teenagers we’re talking about, first loves usually don’t last forever. Since this is Outer Banks, we highly doubt Jiara will get through Season 4 unscathed.

Jackson Lee Davis / Netflix

PRO: They make a good team

Rafe and Kiara had to work together when they were held hostage by Carlos Singh in Barbados. In a rare expression of emotion, Rafe broke down in tears over how he’d treated his sister. “I’m trying to get better,” he told Kiara.

If he was full villain, Rafe wouldn’t have cared what Kiara thought of him. He would have gotten himself off the island and never given Kiara a second thought. But he made a point to at least offer to help her escape.

Even though Kiara was reluctant to team up with Rafe, they actually made a stealth duo. They were able to get out of Singh’s mansion without a scratch.

Rafe told Kiara that he “always liked her” and reiterated how he wanted to help Kiara get off the island safely, but he stressed that he wouldn’t help her friends. Why just Kiara, though? His insistence in helping Kiara, who rightfully pushed him off a boat when she got the chance, could be evidence of his underlying feelings for her.

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CON: Pogue drama

Any semblance of Rafe and Kiara would not go over well with the Pogues. It honestly wouldn’t even be worth risking the friendships. Rafe would never be allowed in Poguelandia, that’s for sure.

Jackson Lee Davis / Netflix

PRO: Rafe redemption era

Can he even be redeemed? The guy has made too many mistakes to count. However, because of his unpredictability, Rafe has always been one of the most fascinating characters to watch on Outer Banks. His clear daddy issues and villainous behavior have made him the show’s ultimate bad boy.

Maybe it’s just that Starkey’s enigmatic performance has made Rafe so entertaining to watch that we’re kind of hoping the actor can flex those acting muscles even more and show a different side to Rafe. Given their Season 3 team-up and the fact that Rafe didn’t just leave Kiara high and dry, it’s not impossible that Kiara could be involved in Rafe trying to better himself. Maybe Rafe has one small, probably minuscule, heroic bone in his body.