Why Isn't Rudy Pankow Returning forOuter BanksSeason 5? All About JJ's Final Scene — And How the Cast Has Reacted to His Shocking Departure

Mar. 15, 2025

Rudy Pankow starring as JJ Maybank in episode 6 of ‘Outer Banks’ season 4.Photo:JACKSON LEE DAVIS/NETFLIX

JACKSON LEE DAVIS/NETFLIX

Warning:Outer Banksseason 4 spoilers ahead!

After years of treasure hunting together, theOuter BanksPogues are left mourning one of their own.

Although fans have speculated Pankow’s exit was tied to a feud between him and his on-screen girlfriend, Kiara (Madison Bailey),Outer Bankscreators and showrunners have confirmed that his death was planned from the start.

“For a long time we had known that someone was going to die,” showrunner Shannon Burke toldTeen Voguefollowing the season’s part 2 premiere on Nov. 7. “We thought it was going to be JJ all along.”

A source also told PEOPLE exclusively thatPankow and Bailey are not feuding, despite ongoing fan speculation.

So, why isn’t JJ returning toOuter Banksseason 5? Here’s everything to know about Rudy Pankow’s exit from the show.

Why was JJ killed in season 4?

(L to R) Rudy Pankow as JJ alongside Madison Bailey as Kiara in ‘Outer Banks’ season 4.JACKSON LEE DAVIS/NETFLIX

Although JJ’s death shocked viewers,Outer Bankscreators toldTudumthat his fate had been set from the start to pave the way for the fifth and final season.

“We’re planning a story of redemption, and a season that embodies the friendship that JJ had come to represent,” showrunner Josh Pate explained. “JJ’s death was a hard but necessary piece of the architecture for the story, and we plan on honoring that as much as we can because we love the character as much as the fans do.”

Burke also shared withTeen Voguethat JJ’s death will serve as the “main spine” of season 5.

“It’s going to change them. They began as kids who just wanted to have a good time all the time, and now they’ve gone the full spectrum now, where one of them has died in a terrible way,” she said.

However, just because JJ is gone doesn’t mean he won’t be a theme throughout season 5’s story line.

Pankow told Tudum that his character’s death “really does set up the future ofOBXwith the question, what is worth it? And when someone that close to you is gone, how do you navigate that?”

How did JJ die?

(L to R) Rudy Pankow as JJ Maybank alongside Tony Crane as Chandler Groff in season 4 of ‘Outer Banks.'.JACKSON LEE DAVIS/NETFLIX

After successfully retrieving the Blue Crown, JJ and Kiara reunite and attempt to find the rest of their crew. However, they hit an obstacle when Groff, JJ’s biological father, appears and puts Kiara in a chokehold.

Groff demands the crown in exchange for Kiara’s freedom, forcing JJ to choose between the treasure he and his friends have been chasing or the girl he loves. In a testament to his growth, JJ hands over the crown, telling Groff he already has everything he needs — his friends.

True to his word, Groff releases Kiara. However, in a final act of cruelty, he stabs JJ, telling him that he and his friends should have thrown him a rope earlier when they left him trapped down a well, leading JJ to fall to the ground.

In JJ’s final moments before he dies in Kiara’s arms, he tells her, “Take care of the others. I love you Kie.”

Burke explained toTeen Voguethat the line about “taking care of the others” was Pankow’s contribution, while the idea forJJ’s final wordsto Kiara came from the showrunners.

Although filming the final scene was emotional for him, Pankow shared with Tudum that the focus was ultimately on creating a meaningful moment.

“I think deep down, everyone was on the same page … ‘Let’s make an impact.’ And I think we did that,” he said.

What has Rudy Pankow said about his exit from the show?

Rudy Pankow at “Poguelandia,” a Netflix and ‘Outer Banks’ experience, held in Los Angeles on Nov. 2, 2024.JACKSON LEE DAVIS/NETFLIX

JJ has always been known as a Pogue who takes big risks. Reflecting on how this particular one would lead to his character’s death, Pankow told Tudum that he “understood it.”

“When I read the character breakdown for the audition, it said ‘loyal to a fault.’ And as the stakes got higher and higher, his whole thing is taking risks and putting his friends before himself,” he explained.

He added that playing JJ had a profound impact on him: “It’s been an honor to bring him to life for you all, and it’s been a joy to play him. P4L!”

How did the cast react to JJ’s death?

Chase Stokes as John B, Madelyn Cline as Sarah Cameron, Madison Bailey as Kiara, Carlacia Grant as Cleo, Jonathan Daviss as Pope, Rudy Pankow as JJ in episode 401 of Outer Banks.Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix

Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix

When filming JJ’s final scene, the cast knew it would be emotional for fans. “This character is a huge loss, and everybody’s going to feel it,” Bailey told Tudum.

Pankow added of shooting the scene, “I knew everyone was on board to bring their all, and I felt that from everyone. Bailey and I brought it, and I know that we crushed it. It was emotional, but I think deep down, everyone was on the same page … ‘Let’s make an impact.’ And I think we did that.”

Chase Stokes, who plays John B, toldDeadlinehe is “forever grateful for the experience that I’ve had with Rudy, it’s just been such a fun component of the show to shoot,” while Madelyn Cline (Sarah Cameron) called JJ  “the heart ofOuter Banks.” She added, “He is such a wild card and it was something that we all love."

Could JJ appear inOuter Banksseason 5?

(L to R): Madelyn Cline as Sarah Cameron, Chase Stokes as John B, Jonathan Daviss as Pope, Carlacia Grant as Cleo, Madison Bailey as Kiara and Rudy Pankow as JJ in the ‘Outer Banks’ season 4 finale.JACKSON LEE DAVIS/NETFLIX

Although his return seems unlikely, fans will have to wait until season 5 premieres to know for sure. Despite JJ’s absence, showrunners have teased that the new season will be just as action-packed as ever.

“We think it will be our best [season] yet,” the creators said in their  “dispatch to all Pogues” letter onInstagramannouncing the series was coming to a close.

source: people.com