Could JJ return in Outer Banks season 5? Rudy Pankow’s fate teased

Many people who are used to the Pogues' way of life by now are excited about the release of Outer Banks season 5, which has been officially confirmed as the last season of the action-adventure mystery teen drama series. Additionally, some fans are looking forward to the return of certain characters (who met their tragic end) in the show's previous seasons.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for Outer Banks season 4. Readers' discretion is advised.

Those who have already watched Outer Banks season 4 in its entirety would know that JJ Maybank's character, played by Rudy Pankow, was killed by the end of the season. This incident naturally left his fans heartbroken as they were upset to see one of their favorite characters go.

However, despite his tragic fate, many people took to social media to speculate if the character could return in Outer Banks season 5. Although not everyone agreed, based on the evidence available at the moment, it appears that JJ could not return to the show. That said, fans of the show and the character are still holding on to hope.

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Why is JJ's return in Outer Banks season 5 not a possibility?

As previously mentioned, JJ's return in Outer Banks season 5 is unlikely because the character died in the latest installment. JJ's death was shown on screen, and his friends were seen burying his body in Morocco, making it almost impossible for him to come back.

Additionally, Rudy Pankow, who played the beloved character, addressed his exit following JJ's demise, putting any theories about a potential return in Outer Banks season 5 to rest.

On November 15, 2024, after the episode that revealed JJ's tragic fate aired, Pankow took to Instagram to share his heartfelt gratitude to the fans who have supported him throughout the show. He also thanked his costars and crew members for supporting him on the journey. He wrote in his post:

"Being grateful doesn’t begin to explain it.. honestly words in general explaining 5 years of memories, blood, sweat and passion with this special cast, crew, writers, producers, artists aren’t possible. So for now, giving a huge THANK YOU, thank you to all them and to YOU for the treasure hunt of a lifetime. And lastly to my pal JJ Maybank, thank you..I’ll love you forever."

Additionally, Rudy Pankow also spoke to Netflix's Tudum. In an article published on the news portal on November 9, 2024, he reflected on his experiences in the show. He said:

"I want to leave the cast and crew with the biggest thank-you. It’s been such a pleasure to come to work. This is by far the biggest thing I’ve ever done in [my] experience, and to have this as my start is a start of a lifetime. I’m going to miss it. Thank you for so many fun memories I’ll have the rest of my life.”

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Why do some people still think JJ's character could appear in Outer Banks season 5?

While substantial evidence suggests that JJ's character probably won't return in Outer Banks season 5 after his death in the previous season, some fans are still hopeful. This hope is largely fueled by a few ambiguous remarks made by some people involved with the show.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly for its November 7, 2024, issue, co-creator Shannon Burke, when asked about JJ's possible return through flashbacks, said "maybe" and mentioned that it wasn't out "of the realm of possibility." Jonas Pete, another co-creator, echoed a similar sentiment in an interview with Cosmopolitan in its November 7, 2024 issue. When asked about JJ's return in the upcoming season, he stated, "I’d say never say never."

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All episodes of Outer Banks seasons 1 to 4 are currently streaming on Netflix.