Outer Banks Season 4 expertly stirs fans' emotions with the shocking death of JJ (Rudy Pankow) at the hands of his estranged father, Chandler (J. Anthony Crane), in the finale.
As the Pogues prepare for their adventure in the fifth and final season, following Netflix's renewal of the show, questions arise: Will JJ return in Outer Banks Season 5?
Warning: Major spoilers ahead. Read at your own risk.
In a climactic moment, JJ finally acquires Blackbeard’s Blue Crown, but Chandler threatens Kiara (Madison Bailey) at knifepoint, demanding the crown in exchange for her life.
True to his character, JJ sacrifices the treasure to save Kiara, but his father is not satisfied. In a brutal act of betrayal, Chandler violently stabs JJ, leaving him to bleed out and die in Kiara's arms.
The fourth season finale sets the stage for the remaining Pogues to seek revenge for JJ's death and track down Chandler in Portugal, where he plans to sell the Blue Crown.
However, many fans wonder if JJ will still appear in Outer Banks Season 5.
Outer Banks Season 5 Theory that May See JJ Alive
Avid fans of JJ and Pankow are not ready to accept his departure; they want to see him return in Outer Banks Season 5.
On Reddit, user Additional-Virus1202 proposed a theory about how JJ might come back to the show.
Legend has it that the Blue Crown grants its wearer powerful abilities, including invincibility, immense favor, and even the power to grant wishes.
Therefore, when the Pogues finally retrieve it from Chandler, there is a possibility that either John B (Chase Stokes) or Kiara might impulsively wish to bring JJ back.
However, in a surprising twist, it is suggested that JJ won't simply be resurrected; instead, he could be reincarnated as the child of John B and Sarah (Madelyn Cline).
While this idea may seem far-fetched, some hints support its plausibility.
For instance, throughout the series, JJ has always been a lone wolf, desperately seeking a family and a place where he truly belongs.
When John B reveals that he and Sarah are expecting a child, JJ jokingly suggests naming the baby after him.
Although this may have been a lighthearted comment, it now carries more weight in light of his death.
Reborn into a loving family could finally fulfill JJ's wish and provide his character poetic justice.
This theory also ties into the magical elements of the Blue Crown as Outer Banks Season 5 unfolds.
Will Fans See Rudy Pankow in Outer Banks Season 5?
After that heartbreaking finale, it looks like it was the last time fans saw JJ in Outer Banks.
Pankow has already bid his final farewell to the cast and crew of Outer Banks, confirming that he will not be returning for Season 5—even in spirit.
“I want to leave the cast and crew with the biggest thank-you. It’s been such a pleasure to come to work,” he told Tudum. “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.”
Co-creator Jonas Pate acknowledged that killing off such an important character was incredibly difficult, but he believes it sets the stage for an “epic fifth and final season.”
“We’re planning a story of redemption and a season that embodies the friendship that JJ had come to represent,” he teased. “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.”
Pete also commended Pankow for embracing this “powerful way to end” JJ’s journey.
Indeed, JJ's discovery of the Blue Crown marked a moment of redemption following his contributions to the loss of Poguelandia.
He died knowing he had everything he needed: his Pogue family and Kiara, sacrificing himself to protect them.
As Chip Esten, who plays Ward Cameron, stated about JJ, “You got to end well. Your character’s got to end well.”