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Topper Thornton is one of the main characters and secondary antagonist in Outer Banks. He is portrayed by Austin North.

Topper is the "king" of Outer Banks young The Kooks. He is athletic and is a nationally ranked surfer. Topper is very wealthy is considered to be of elite status with a legacy on the island along with money, and often comes across as entitled. For this reason he is disliked by The Pogues. He frequently behaves violently towards them and attacks them on a number of occasions.

He is in love with Sarah and is rather possessive towards her, despite them not being together anymore. He has his own struggles, often feeling as though he is not good enough, due to his mother's harsh treatment of him.

Early Life[]

Nothing much is known about Toppers early life. He is the only son of Dr. Thornton and his father. A native to Outer Banks and a member of the Kook academy, where he met and started dating Sarah Cameron.

History[]

Biography[]

Topper has a strained relationship with his mother, despite that he does whatever she ask of him. She blames him for everything and is often very hard on him. Topper hates The Pogues, but the reasoning behind the feud between them is never fully highlighted. However, this is most likely because of his friend, Rafe Cameron, who is shown to have a deep hatred for them. For that reason, he believes that they are bad and he is often manipulated by Rafe and Kelce. He considers them to be beneath him in terms of wealth and status.

Throughout the Series[]

Season 1[]

At the beginning of Season 1, Topper is happy because he is dating Sarah Cameron, whom he loves. He often hangs out with his best friends, Rafe Cameron and Kelce.

Topper gets possessive and suspicious about Sarah when she disappears for a night (with John B). He catches her with John B and pushes John B, who falls off of a tower, severely hurting him.

Sarah breaks up with Topper and he is devastated. He holds a big grudge against John B and when John B is framed for the murder, Topper initially helps the police try to find John B.

At the end of Season 1, Topper discovers Sarah with John B in the middle of the manhunt. He tells her he is going to prove how much he loves her, and he runs out in John B's red sweatshirt to distract the police while they getaway. The police take Topper to the police station for questioning.

Season 2[]

In season 2, During the episode of The Darkest Hour, Sarah is tricked into meeting her brother Rafe on a boat dock. Rafe and Sarah then get into a feud, which leads Rafe to get violent and Drown Sarah in a tub of water. Thankfully Topper hits Rafe the head and saves Sarah from drowning. He then proceeds to repeatedly punch Rafe, warning him that if he ever touches her again, he will kill him. Topper brings Sarah to his place and comforts her until she feels better.

Season 3[]

Topper meets up with Sarah at a Kook party. He kisses Sarah on the cheek at the party and she kisses him back on the lips after a moment of hesitation. John B beats up Topper, infuriated something happened between him and Sarah.

Sarah goes to Topper’s house to smooth things over after he was attacked by John B. Topper isn’t as badly hurt as she thought. He’s at the house, working out in the gym. He tells her he’s planning on pressing charges and urges her to testify against John B. He asks her to meet him later at the police station and she agrees.

Topper is at the police station. Sarah comes and tells him what happened to John B’s dad, Big John, and begs him to hold off on pressing charges against John B. She promises him he will be out of town by the end of the day. Topper tells Sarah he loves her. He agrees not to press charges.

Later, Topper sees Sarah and John B back together and he's furious. He sets fire to John B's house, the château, which burns down to the ground. He then calls the police on John B, informing them that they are at the airstrip with Ward's plane.

Season 4[]

Topper continues to antagonize the Pogues. His rivalry with John B and the rest of the group escalates as he makes repeated attempts to undermine them, especially at their new home on JJ’s property. At the beach, Topper and his crew create tension by deliberately driving over a nest of baby turtles heading to the ocean, an act of cruelty that infuriates Kiara. Although Kiara and JJ are ready to confront him, Topper’s provocations are tempered by the group’s need to avoid more trouble, especially as the police are already watching them closely. Topper, however, thrives on pushing their limits, creating a hostile atmosphere whenever he’s near.

In a moment that appears to be a gesture of reconciliation, Topper approaches the Pogues claiming he wants to “bury the hatchet,” but his actions make it clear he’s insincere. This tension climaxes when a video surfaces of JJ threatening Topper after yet another provocation. The video places the Pogues in a precarious situation, amplifying the scrutiny from law enforcement and the community. Topper’s consistent meddling demonstrates his ongoing vendetta against John B and the Pogues, fueled by his jealousy and disdain for their tight-knit bond.

Relationships[]

Sarah Cameron[]

Main article: Sarah and Topper

Sarah and Topper dated for a long time before the series started, and they had professed their love for one another. He was often possessive over her and worried not only for her well-being but also about her interactions with other men - particularly, John B. Their relationship drama was stirred up by Wheezie, Sarah's younger sister, who planted doubt in Topper's minds about Sarah's faithfulness. This led to Topper interrogating Sarah every time they were together. She eventually couldn't take it anymore, which is around the time she grew closer to John B. She did cheat on Topper with John B as the two kissed and hung out under the radar despite her still being with Topper. When Topper found out he was furious with Sarah and lashed out, calling her a whore and refusing to see reason. He got drunk and confronted the new couple which led to John B falling off of the bell tower and breaking his wrist. Topper and Sarah didn't talk for a while, however, he remained bitter over the way things ended between them. In an attempt to prove his love for Sarah, he disguised himself as John B so the real John B and Sarah could escape the police.

In the second season, Topper saves Sarah from being drowned by Rafe, by hitting him in the back of the head.

Rafe Cameron[]

Main article: Topper and Rafe

Topper and Rafe were best friends for a long time, it is implied that they grew up together. They both have a feud against the Pogues and they are frequently seen picking fights with them. They are rarely up to any good and often pick fights with the Pogues. Topper is often manipulated by Rafe and Kelce into doing stupid things, like fighting with Pope at the golf course. They are shown to trust each other and do a lot for each other, like when Rafe picked a fight with Pope and JJ after they sunk Toppers boat. Rafe also never seemed to care that Topper dated his sister Sarah.

When Sarah told Topper that Rafe is the one that killed Sheriff Peterkin at the end of Season 1, Topper was devastated that his Best Friend did that. Their brother-like friendship eventually came to an end when Rafe tried to drown Sarah in the middle of Season 2.

Family[]

Mother: Dr. Thornton.

Maternal Grandfather: Judge Holden.

Physical Appearance[]

Topper is of above average height, preppy, with straight blonde hair. He is considered attractive. He has a muscular build as shown in "The Forbidden Zone."

Appearances[]

Season 1[]

Season 2[]

Season 3[]

Season 4[]

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