‘Outer Banks’ Season 4 Ending Explained—Is This Main Character Really Dead?

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Outer Banks. (From left to right) Drew Starkey portrays Rafe, Rudy Pankow plays JJ, Madison Bailey takes on the role of Kiara, while Carlacia Grant appears as Cleo. Chase Stokes is featured as John B, Jonathan Daviss plays Pope, and Madelyn Cline portrays Sarah Cameron in episode 410 of Outer Banks. Photo credit: Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix © 2024.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Season 4 of Outer Banks.

If you've just finished watching Part 2 of Season 4 of Outer Banks, you're probably still reeling from that incredibly emotional ending. Here's a summary of the key events that unfolded in the last episodes of the season, including the Pogues' next steps after the loss of one of their members.

In Part 2, JJ discovers more about his family after finding out that Larissa is indeed his mother and Chandler Groff is his real father. He decides to team up with Groff, but Groff turns on him, stabbing him and abandoning him to drown in the ocean. Luckily, the Pogues manage to rescue JJ before he can perish. Meanwhile, Groff also targets Hollis Robinson, adding him to the list of people he has harmed, which already includes Omar the mercenary, Wes Genrette, Larissa, and possibly others from his days as a con artist.

In the rest of the Pogues' storyline, Pope got arrested during the riots and had to stay away from Cleo and his friends for a significant part of the second season. After he decided against joining the military, he reunited with them, and they assisted him in getting rid of his ankle monitor. Meanwhile, Sarah discovers that she’s expecting a baby and later shares the news with Kiara, John B, and the rest of the Pogues, deciding to have JJ as the godfather.

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Before the Season 4 finale, the Pogues make their way to Morocco to find Groff and get back the Blue Crown. They won’t be going solo—Rafe manages to secure a reliable boat to sail across the Atlantic, but he’s only assisting them because he is eager to confront Groff, who cheated him out of $400,000 and deceived him about the progress on Goat Island.

While they are on their way to North Africa, a fierce storm strikes, and Sarah is thrown overboard. JJ quickly grabs an orange flotation device and jumps in to rescue her. Fortunately, they both manage to reach the shoreline safely, even though there were moments when they feared they might be lost at sea.

"We've shown over the years that they can cope with some really intense physical challenges," co-creator Jonas Pate shared with Tudum. When discussing their survival, Pate clarified that they were actually nearer to the coast than it appeared. "It's possible that the currents also played a role and gave them a bit of a boost," he added.

Understanding The Ending Of Outer Banks Season 4

Outer Banks. (From left to right) Rudy Pankow playing JJ, Chase Stokes as John B, Madelyn Cline portraying Sarah Cameron, along with Carlacia Grant as Cleo, Jonathan Daviss as Pope, and Madison Bailey as Kiara in episode 410 of the series. Photo by Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix © 2024.

The Pogues arrive in Morocco, eager to track down the wharf and locate Groff. However, maneuvering through the crowded streets proves to be harder than they anticipated. Their initial lead comes from spotting a statue of Murat, the Barbary pirate who drew up the map to discover the Blue Crown.

Rafe separates himself from the rest of the group and spots a name that corresponds with one on a pen Groff had given him earlier. He finds the mercenaries' base and eavesdrops on a heated discussion between Dalia and Lightner, who are becoming increasingly annoyed with Groff and are insisting on information regarding the scroll. Groff claims he doesn't have the scroll and lies about where it is. Just as Lightner is about to take drastic action against him, Rafe intervenes and saves Groff.

At the same time, The Pogues come across Terrance's boat at the dock and start looking for hints about Groff's next steps. JJ sees a mercenary heading toward the boat while John B. and Sarah find pictures of Groff's map that might guide them to the treasure. They make a quick getaway just in time, but now Dalia and her crew know they were there.

Outer Banks. Drew Starkey portrays Rafe in episode 410 of Outer Banks. Credit: Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix © ... [+] 2024

Groff confesses to Rafe that he brought Sofia on board (his fiancée, whom he proposed to in Part 2) to help him finalize the shady deal. Upset, Rafe shoves him into a well, taking the scroll and lens, and ends his relationship with Sofia over the phone. The Pogues follow the clues on the map and eventually find the well where Groff is stuck. Even though Groff tries to persuade JJ to free him, JJ stands firm and leaves Groff trapped inside.

In the meantime, the mercenaries are getting closer to Rafe, but the Pogues come up with a plan to distract them and rescue him. The thrilling chase escalates in the streets of Morocco, culminating in Pope taking down Lightner to defend Cleo and avenge Terrance's death.

John B, Sarah, and Rafe stumble upon an important lead concealed within a statue, which they believe holds the Blue Crown. However, they are pressed for time as a sandstorm is on the horizon. Fortunately, the storm turns out to be an advantage for them, as the mercenaries struggle to get a clear shot because of the reduced visibility.

Is JJ Dead In Outer Banks Season 5?

In the midst of the sandstorm, JJ steps up to climb the statue and grab the Blue Crown since Rafe’s hand is injured. While he and Kiara attempt to make their getaway with the crown, Groff emerges from the well and blocks their path. He takes Kiara hostage and warns that he will harm her if JJ doesn’t surrender the crown. In response, JJ hands over the crown to Groff and tells his father that it holds no value for him because he feels he already possesses everything he has ever desired.

"It's sad, the two of us," Groff says just before he plunges his knife into JJ, ending his life. Kiara watches in horror and cries over JJ's motionless body. When the rest of the Pogues show up, they are devastated to learn that their closest friend is gone.

**Is Rudy Pankow Exiting ‘Outer Banks’? The Reason Behind JJ’s Journey Was Intentional** Written by Monica Mercuri for Forbes.

What Happens At The End Of Outer Banks Season 4?

Outer Banks. Madison Bailey portrays Kiara in episode 410 of Outer Banks. Photo credit: Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix © ... [+] 2024

In the closing moments of Outer Banks Season 4, Groff stands on the shore holding the Blue Crown, having just heartbreakingly taken his son's life. In his sorrow, he throws away the knife he used to kill JJ.

In the meantime, the Pogues are in sorrow over JJ's passing and organize a small service to honor him. Rafe shares important information, indicating that Groff has found a buyer for the Blue Crown in Lisbon, which is probably his next destination.

The Pogues are determined to settle the score with Groff for his actions against their friend. “They believe it’s their responsibility to seek justice for JJ,” Pate shared with Tudum. “If they don't confront Groff, they would feel as though they’ve betrayed JJ's memory and their bond of friendship.”

Pate mentioned that "Kiara takes the lead" in the search for Groff in Season 5. He went on to explain that the rest of the team also feels a strong urge to take action, almost as if they're trying to ease the pain of their sorrow.

Is Outer Banks Getting A Season 5?

Outer Banks. (From left to right) Jonathan Daviss plays Pope, Chase Stokes portrays John B, Carlacia Grant takes on the role of Cleo, and Madelyn Cline represents Sarah Cameron, while Madison Bailey plays Kiara and Rudy Pankow is JJ in episode 410 of Outer Banks. Photo credit: Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix © 2024.

Netflix has officially announced that Outer Banks will return for a fifth and final season, just a few days ahead of the release of Part 2. In this new season, viewers can expect to see the Pogues on a mission to find Groff in Portugal, driven by their desire for revenge for JJ's death and the pursuit of the Blue Crown.

The creators and executive producers of Outer Banks, Pate, Josh Pate, and Shannon Burke, announced that they will conclude the series after five seasons. They expressed, "When we first started, we envisioned a mystery that would take us through five seasons filled with adventure, treasure hunting, and camaraderie." They also reflected on how, at that time, it felt unlikely that they would actually have the opportunity to unfold the entire five-season narrative.

The three also mentioned that the script for the final season is currently in the works. "With a mix of sadness and excitement, we're wrapping up Season Four and moving on to Season Five, where we aim to bring our cherished Pogues back in the way we envisioned and planned for years," they shared. "Season Five will be our last, and we believe it will be our finest one."

Keep an eye out for more updates on Outer Banks Season 5. Check out the official teaser for Season 4, Part 2, below.