The collective scream that echoed through the Pogues’ fandom during the Season 4 finale wasn't just for show. It was a reaction to the most devastating moment in the series' history. We’ve seen character deaths before—Ward Cameron’s explosive exit, Big John’s long-awaited demise—but nothing hit like the moment in Morocco. It left everyone asking the same desperate question: did JJ really die in Outer Banks or is this just another classic Netflix fake-out?
He's gone.
Honestly, it feels weird to even type that out. JJ Maybank, the soul of the show and the loose cannon everyone protected, was killed by his biological father, Chandler Groff. This wasn't a "falling off a cliff and washing up on shore" situation like we saw with Sarah Cameron in earlier seasons. This was a brutal, intentional stabbing in the dunes of Agadir. Groff wanted that Blue Crown, and he was willing to murder his own son to get it.
The Brutal Reality of the Season 4 Finale
The scene was hauntingly quiet. After Groff plunges the knife into JJ’s abdomen, the rest of the Pogues—John B, Sarah, Pope, Cleo, and Kiara—rush to him. There’s no magic medical intervention. No ambulance is coming to the middle of the Moroccan desert. We watch the light leave Rudy Pankow’s eyes as Kiara sobs over his body. It’s raw. It’s heartbreaking. And for the fans who have followed JJ’s journey from a neglected kid in the Cut to a hero, it felt like a betrayal.
Why would the writers do this?
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Josh Pate, Jonas Pate, and Shannon Burke, the creators of the show, have been pretty vocal in interviews following the release of Season 4, Part 2. They’ve basically confirmed that this was a narrative necessity to raise the stakes for the fifth and final season. They wanted the Pogues to face a loss that they couldn't just bounce back from with a surf session and a beer at The Pogue Tool. It changes the DNA of the group.
Why JJ Maybank’s Death is Different From Past Near-Misses
We've been conditioned to think main characters are invincible in this show. Think about it. Sarah was literally clinically dead in the Bahamas and John B performed "CPR" to bring her back. It was ridiculous, but we loved it because we didn't want to lose her. Then you have the various times characters have survived plane crashes, shark threats, and being shot.
But JJ’s death is definitive.
- The Visual Confirmation: We see the body. We see the burial. The Pogues literally dig a grave in the sand and say their goodbyes. In the world of TV, if you see a funeral and a burial, the "he's just hiding" theory loses almost all its weight.
- Actor Involvement: Rudy Pankow has essentially said his goodbyes to the character on social media and in press junkets. While actors sometimes lie to protect spoilers, the tone of his exit feels much more like a permanent departure than a temporary hiatus.
- The Narrative Shift: The final scene of Season 4 jumps ahead. We see the remaining Pogues sitting around a campfire, months later. They aren't looking for JJ. They are mourning him. This time jump is a huge indicator that did JJ really die in Outer Banks isn't a mystery within the show—it’s a fact the characters have accepted.
Addressing the Fan Theories: Could He Return?
Even with the evidence, the internet is a wild place. Some fans are convinced that since this is a show built on legends and "miracles," there might be a supernatural element involving the Blue Crown. The Crown is rumored to have powers, right? Maybe it can bring someone back?
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Honestly, that would be a shark-jumping moment. Outer Banks is a treasure-hunting soap opera, but it hasn't dipped its toes into actual magic or necromancy yet. If the writers used a magical artifact to resurrect JJ, it would cheapen every emotional beat of the Season 4 finale. It would turn a gritty, emotional sacrifice into a comic book trope.
There's also the "it was a dream" theory. People hate that one. If Season 5 starts and John B wakes up in a hammock and JJ is just frying bacon in the kitchen, half the audience might actually throw their remotes at the TV. It’s lazy writing, and the Pates are usually better than that. They want the final season to be about "Vengeance," which is a word they've used repeatedly in interviews. You can't have a vengeance arc if the person you're avenging is actually fine and just hiding in a shed.
The Impact on Season 5
The final season is now a revenge story. The Pogues are no longer just looking for gold or crowns to get rich and live the Pogue life. They are hunting a murderer. Chandler Groff has moved from being a pathetic antagonist to the most hated man in the franchise.
Kiara’s character arc is going to be the most painful to watch. She and JJ finally found each other, only for it to be ripped away. Madison Bailey's performance in those final moments was gut-wrenching, and it sets her up to be the most dangerous Pogue in Season 5. She isn't looking for treasure; she’s looking for blood.
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And then there's Rafe. Surprisingly, Rafe Cameron has his own weird connection to the JJ situation. He’s been on a redemption-ish path, and seeing the fallout of Groff’s actions might be the thing that finally aligns him with the Pogues for good. Or, it might just remind him that fathers in this show are generally the worst people on the planet.
Was it the Right Move?
It’s controversial. Killing off the most popular character is a massive risk. Some fans have already threatened to boycott Season 5. But from a storytelling perspective? It’s bold. It makes the world feel dangerous again. For a few seasons, the stakes felt low because we knew the "Core Six" were safe. Now, all bets are off. If JJ can die, anyone can die.
JJ died a hero. He saved his friends. He stood up to the man who gave him nothing but grief and trauma. In his final moments, he wasn't the "scared kid" he often felt like inside; he was the bravest person on that beach.
What to Do While Waiting for Season 5
If you're still processing the grief of losing JJ Maybank, you're not alone. The wait for the final episodes is going to be long. To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on production updates for Season 5, which is expected to wrap up the Pogues' story once and for all.
Re-watching the series from the beginning actually highlights how much foreshadowing went into JJ’s reckless nature and his ultimate sacrifice. Look for the small moments in Season 1 where he talks about not having a future—it makes the ending hit even harder. Pay attention to the casting news for the final season; if Rudy Pankow is spotted on set, it’ll likely be for flashback sequences, which the showrunners have hinted might happen to give the character a proper "send-off" beyond the desert grave.
The hunt for Chandler Groff is the new driving force. Focus on the Blue Crown’s history, as its supposed "blessing" or "curse" will likely be the focal point of the final treasure hunt. The Pogues are heading to Lisbon next, and the shift in tone from "adventure" to "mission" is going to be the defining characteristic of the series' end.