Season 4's ending hints Rudy Pankow will likely be leaving Outer Banks, with little chance of return

Outer Banks season 4 part 2 ended with the shocking death of Rudy Pankow's JJ at the hands of his biological father, Charles Groff. The finale episode, titled The Blue Crown, was released on Netflix on November 7, 2024.

JJ is a steadfast member of the Pogues, who discovers the treasure known as the Blue Crown, but hands it over to Groff when the latter holds Kiara hostage. However, Groff goes ahead and stabs JJ anyway after receiving the Blue Crown.

The treasure-hunt series, which first premiered on Netflix on April 15, 2020, aired its fourth season between October and November 2024.

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Why did Groff kill JJ in Outer Banks season 4 part 2?

A still from Outer Banks Season 4 Part 2 (Image via Tudum by Netflix)

Rudy Pankow played JJ Maybank, an original member of the Pogues since the show's beginning. JJ makes a startling discovery in season 4 part 1, when his father Luke Maybank tells him that Chandler Groff and Larissa Genrette are his biological parents.

This changes his entire identity from a Pogue to a Kook. However, JJ doesn't have much time to delve into it as a few episodes later, he is killed by his biological father, Groff.

The wealthy Wes Genrette, who hired the Pogues to find the Blackbeard treasure, is JJ's biological grandfather. He pieces everything together in part 1 and leaves a letter to 'Master JJ Maybank' before his mysterious death in episode 2. In the letter, Wes urged JJ to ask his father, Luke Maybank, about the 'Albatross.'

Subsequently, Luke reveals that JJ is the son of the wealthy Kooks Charles Groff and Larissa Genrette, who is also Wes' daughter. Larissa died on a boat named the Albatross, reportedly with her young son, John Jackson. However, little John survived the boating accident and Charles requested Luke to raise him as his own son, to protect the kid from the Blackbeard curse.

In reality, the Blackbeard curse was fabricated by Groff, who had killed Larissa and later, Wes and JJ, to inherit Genrette's ancestral property, including the house and land on Goat Island.

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Is Rudy Pankow leaving Outer Banks?

Chase Stokes and Rudy Pankow in Outer Banks season 4 part 1 (Image via Tudum by Netflix)

In an August 29, 2024, interview with Backstage, Rudy Pankow hinted at his exit from Outer Banks by saying:

“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.”

Fans quickly rushed to conclude that Pankow was leaving the series due to disagreements with the showrunners. However, it seems that was not the case, as his character's storyline came to a natural conclusion by the end of Outer Banks season 4 part 2.

Rudy exited the adventure series with JJ's death. Now, the upcoming fifth season will feature the rest of the Pogues avenging their friend's murder by hunting down Groff. It's speculated that Pankow may make a cameo appearance, likely in flashback scenes, but the showrunners have not confirmed anything yet, as of writing this article.

Furthermore, showrunner Josh Pate shared some insights about the Pogues in Outer Banks season 5. While speaking to Tudum by Netflix, in an interview dated November 7, he said:

"They feel a duty to avenge JJ. If they don’t go after Groff, they’ll feel like they’ve let the spirit of JJ or their friendship down... I think they all feel it, like they have to do something. It’s almost to just ameliorate the grief they’re feeling."

He also called JJ's girlfriend Kiara "the lead dog" on the hunt for Groff going forward. The co-creator further added:

"They may end up getting treasure as part of their revenge, but it’s all about avenging JJ, and trying to get some solace or peace, and to move on from the grief they all feel."

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