What Happened to JJ in 'Outer Banks' Season 4: Breaking Down Who Killed Him and Actor Rudy Pankow's Departure
Poguelandia will never be the same.
Spoilers for Outer Banks season 4 part 2 ending ahead. Though four seasons of Outer Banks saw the crew surviving kidnappings, shootouts, motorbike crashes, plane crashes, and tropical storms, the latest installment tragically ended with a Pogue death. Season 4 of Netflix's low-key-ridiculous teen soap follows the teen treasure hunters as they set out to find Blackbeard's long-lost Blue Crown, putting them up against the season's big bad (and JJ's biological father) Chandler Groff (J. Anthony Crane). In the feature-length finale, the show's core friend group faced the devastating loss of one of their own and officially entered their revenge era for the upcoming fifth and final season.
Read on for our breakdown of the devastating death at the end of Outer Banks season 4, including what the cast and crew have to say about the major twist, and why fans theorize that behind-the-scenes drama could have led to a lead actor's departure.
Does JJ die in 'Outer Banks' season 4?
In the Outer Banks season 4 finale, all of the 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)—head to Morocco to track down Groff and the Blue Crown. Though JJ and Kiara can retrieve the season's treasure, Kie is soon captured and held at knifepoint by Groff, who threatens to kill her if JJ doesn't give him the crown.
Groff tries to lure JJ to the dark side in the season's second half, but the most loyal Pogue tells his money-hungry father in the finale, "I already have everything, and I have everything I've ever wanted. Things that you'll never have." JJ hands over the crown and pulls Kie away from Groff, briefly holding her... 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."
After the second half of season 4 hit Netflix on November 7, 2024, the streamer shared a behind-the-scenes clip about JJ's death. In the memorial, Pankow reminisced on playing the fan-favorite character over the past four seasons. "When I first found out that JJ was going to risk it all and not make it, I understood it," the actor says in the clip. “‘Cause when I read the character breakdown for the audition, it said ‘loyal to a fault.’ And I think as the stakes got higher and higher, his whole thing is he takes the risk and puts his friends before himself."
He also thanked the OBX cast and crew and shared a message with Tudum for the show's fans, marking his first statement since the episodes dropped on Nov. 7. "To all the fans that show so much support and love for JJ, I just want to say thank you," he wrote. "It really did make an impact on me, playing him. It’s been an honor to bring him to life for you guys, and it’s been a joy to play him. And P4L!"
What has the cast and crew said about JJ's death in 'Outer Banks?'
In an interview with Teen Vogue, OBX creators Shannon Burke, Josh Pate, and Jonas Pate revealed that they "always knew" JJ would meet his demise before the series ended.
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
"We had thought that it was going to be JJ basically from the beginning," Burke said. "For a long time, we had known that someone was going to die. [In season 4] JJ is being reckless, but also giving up everything. [Those are] the two extremes of JJ: He'll give up anything for the group, but he's also completely reckless and sometimes flies the plane at the mountain. That's a dichotomy. We thought it was going to be JJ all along."
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 ‘way in the future.’ We didn't really know when we were going to play that card. It was a much more abstract thing at the time, but he seemed interested in that and thought that it would be a good way to go out. And then when it came to that moment, when he read it, obviously, he was surprised. But pretty quickly... he pivoted quickly to just thinking of how he could make it as good as possible and honor the character."
Why is Rudy Pankow leaving 'Outer Banks?'
In the days since JJ's death scene debuted on Netflix, the OBX fandom began swirling with speculation that some long-rumored behind-the-scenes drama could 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 the fan-shipped Jiara (JJ and Kiara), have not gotten along for the past few years due to personal drama.
Fans have also speculated that Pankow's longtime girlfriend, Elaine Siemek, may have also contributed to his departure. Pankow and Siemek met on the set of Outer Banks season 1 when Siemek worked as an assistant on the crew. They went public with their relationship in 2021.
On November 12, 2024, an exclusive source speaking to PEOPLE claimed that Pankow and Bailey are not feuding. The PEOPLE report is the only instance thus far shutting down the rumors. Reps for Netflix, Pankow, and Bailey did not respond to the outlet's request for comment.
That same day, however, the official Outer Banks Instagram shared an emotional interview with the OBX cast discussing JJ's death.
Whatever the reason, Pankow has hinted in interviews that he has prepared for the future beyond Outer Banks. Speaking with Backstage in August 2024 ahead of his starring role in Romeo and Juliet at the American Repertory Theater, Pankow said of his time on the Netflix hit, "I’m so thankful to be in this position… to be working on this craft with these characters. But I know that’s not going to last forever. I’m capable of trusting that it’s gonna be OK no matter how busy I am, or how not busy I am."
Quinci is a Culture Writer who covers all aspects of pop culture, including TV, movies, music, books, and theater. She contributes interviews with talent, as well as SEO content, features, and trend stories. She fell in love with storytelling at a young age, and eventually discovered her love for cultural criticism and amplifying awareness for underrepresented storytellers across the arts. She previously served as a weekend editor for Harper’s Bazaar, where she covered breaking news and live events for the brand’s website, and helped run the brand’s social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Her freelance writing has also appeared in outlets including HuffPost, The A.V. Club, Elle, Vulture, Salon, Teen Vogue, and others. Quinci earned her degree in English and Psychology from The University of New Mexico. She was a 2021 Eugene O’Neill Critics Institute fellow, and she is a member of the Television Critics Association. She is currently based in her hometown of Los Angeles. When she isn't writing or checking Twitter way too often, you can find her studying Korean while watching the latest K-drama, recommending her favorite shows and films to family and friends, or giving a concert performance while sitting in L.A. traffic.
-
Denim Bags Are the Nostalgic Y2K Bag Trend to Reconsider
Sometimes, the classics are overrated.
By Emma Childs Published
-
Royal Expert Says to "Never Underestimate" Princess Kate's Ability to Pull Out a Major "Surprise" During Upcoming Holiday Event
Merry Katemas!
By Kristin Contino Published
-
My Spiced Cinnamon Manicure Is Made for Dialing a Private Jet Concierge
Luxury winter nail colors, ahead.
By Brianna Peters Published
-
Is 'Say Nothing' Based on a True Story? Here's What to Know About Dolours and Marian Price
The new FX series is set in Ireland during The Troubles.
By Quinci LeGardye Published
-
The Best Movies to Watch If You're Getting Into Old Hollywood Musicals for the First Time
Cinephiles and theater kids would agree that these Old Hollywood films are iconic.
By Katherine J. Igoe Published
-
The 'Dune: Prophecy' Cast: What to Know About Who Plays Who in the Max Series
And if you need a refresher on House Atreides and Harkonnen lore, we've got you covered.
By Quinci LeGardye Published
-
The Best Movies About Female Friendship
From outrageous comedies to empowering dramas.
By Katherine J. Igoe Published
-
Who Is Aldis Hodge? What to Know About the 'Cross' Actor
The actor is already going viral for one captivating scene in the new Prime Video series.
By Quinci LeGardye Published
-
'Cobra Kai' Season 6, Part 3: Everything We Know
Don't worry: Part 3 of the Netflix hit's "Finale Event" is coming.
By Quinci LeGardye Published
-
Are Joan Vassos and Chock Chapple Still Together After 'The Golden Bachelorette' Finale? Here's What to Know
The Bachelor Nation lovebirds have an exciting future planned.
By Quinci LeGardye Published
-
Meet the 'Bad Sisters' Cast: Who Plays Who in the Apple TV+ Series
The Apple TV+ hit created and led by Sharon Horgan also features 'Harry Potter' and 'Game of Thrones' alum.
By Quinci LeGardye Last updated