What happened to JJ at the end of Outer Banks Season 4?

Spoilers for Outer Banks Season 4 Part 2 ends ahead. Although four seasons of Outer Banks saw the crew survive hijackings, shootouts, motorcycle accidents, plane crashes and tropical storms, the final installment tragically ended with a Pogue death. Season 4 of Netflix's low-key, ridiculous teen soap follows the teenage treasure hunters in search of Blackbeard's long-lost Blue Crown and pits them against the season's big villain (and JJ's biological father) Chandler Groff (J. Anthony Crane). In the feature-length finale, the series' main friend group experienced the devastating loss of one of their friends and officially entered the era of revenge for the upcoming fifth and final season.

Read on for our breakdown of the devastating death at the end Outer Banks Season 4, including what the cast and crew said about the big twist and why fans are theorizing that behind-the-scenes drama may have led to the departure of a major cast member.

Does JJ die in Outer Banks Season 4?

In the Outer Banks Season 4 Finale, All Pogues – John B (Chase Stokes), Sarah Cameron (Madelyn Cline), Kiara (Madison Bailey), JJ (Rudy Pankow), Pope (Jonathan Daviss), Cleo (Carlacia Grant), and new ally Rafe ( Drew Starkey) – travels to Morocco to track down Groff and the Blue Crown. Although JJ and Kiara are able to retrieve the season's treasure, Kie is soon captured and held at knifepoint by Groff, who threatens to kill her if JJ does not give him the crown.

Groff tries to lure JJ to the dark side in the second half of the season, but the most loyal Pogue tells his greedy father in the finale: “I already have everything and I have everything I ever wanted. Things you want. I will never do that. JJ hands over the crown and pulls Kie away from Groff, holding her briefly… before Groff brutally stabs his son in the stomach. As JJ dies in Kiara's arms, his last words are: “Take care of the others… I love you, Kie.”

JJ (Rudy Pankow) in Outer Banks Season 4.

(Image credit: Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix)

After the second half of season four dropped on Netflix on November 7, 2024, the streamer shared a behind-the-scenes clip about JJ's death. At the memorial service, Pankow recalled playing the fan-favorite character for the past four seasons. “When I first learned that JJ was going to risk everything and not make it, I understood it,” the actor says in the clip. “Because when I read the character breakdown for the audition, it said 'faithful to the hilt.' And I think as the stakes got higher, he became more concerned with taking the risk and putting his friends before himself.”

He also thanked that OBX cast and crew, Tudum delivered a message to the show's fans, his only statement since the finale aired on November 7th. “To all the fans who show JJ so much support and love, I just want to say thank you,” he wrote. “I was really impressed playing him. It was an honor to bring him to life for you and a joy to play. And P4L!”

Outer Banks: Season 4 | [SPOILERS] Cast and creators talk about the season 4 finale | Netflix-YouTube

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What did the cast and crew say about JJ's death on Outer Banks?

In an interview with Teen Vogue, OBX creators Shannon Burke, Josh Pate and Jonas Pate revealed that they “always knew” that JJ would die before the end of the series.

“We thought it was going to be JJ from the beginning,” Burke said. “We knew for a long time that someone was going to die. [In season 4] JJ is ruthless but also gives up on everything. [Those are] The two extremes of JJ: He gives up everything for the group, but is also completely reckless and sometimes flies along the mountain in a plane. This is a dichotomy. We kept thinking it would be JJ.

Burke added of Pankow's reaction: “We had talked to Rudy about his character dying in Kiara's arms in Season 2 or 3, and we just said 'far in the future.'” We didn't really know When We wanted to play this card. It was a much more abstract thing back then, but he seemed interested in it and thought it would be a good way to go out. And then when it came to that moment, when he read it, he was obviously surprised. But pretty quickly…he quickly thought about how he could make it as good as possible and do the character justice.”

Rudy Pankow as JJ and Madison Bailey as Kiara star in the ocean in the fourth season of Outer Banks.

JJ (Pankow) and Kiara (Madison Bailey) in Outer Banks Season 4.

(Image credit: Netflix)

Why is Rudy Pankow leaving Outer Banks?

In the hours since JJ's death scene premiered on Netflix, the OBX The fanbase began to buzz with speculation that long-rumored behind-the-scenes drama may have led to Pankow's departure from the series. Despite the creators' assurances that JJ's death was “always” planned, there are rumors that Pankow asked to leave the series instead.

According to Stylecaster, fans have speculated that Pankow and his co-star Madison Bailey, the other half of fan-favorite Jiara (JJ and Kiara), haven't gotten along due to personal drama in recent years.

Fans have also speculated that Pankow's long-time girlfriend Elaine Siemek may also have contributed to his departure. Pankow and Siemek met on set Outer Banks Season 1, when Siemek worked as a crew assistant. In 2021, they made their relationship public.

Whatever the reason, Pankow has indicated in interviews that he is prepared for the future Outer Banks. In conversation with Backstage in August 2024 before his starring role in Romeo and Juliet Speaking at the American Repertory Theater, Pankow said of his time on the Netflix hit: “I'm so grateful to be in this position… working on this craft with these characters. But I know it won't last forever. I” I can trust that everything will be okay no matter how busy I am or how not busy, I am.

Does JJ die in Outer Banks Season 4?

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