If you’re a hardcore Outer Banks fan, then the tension in Season 4, Part 1 probably has you biting your nails.
One question has been haunting fans since the trailer dropped: Does JJ Maybank, one of the most beloved characters, die in this latest season?
With rumors swirling and a suspicious body bag spotted in the trailer, viewers have been preparing for the worst. Let’s break down what actually happens to JJ in Part 1 of Season 4—and whether he might be on borrowed time.
No, JJ does not die in Outer Banks Season 4, Part 1. The body bag moment in the trailer had fans buzzing with theories, but JJ remains alive and kicking throughout the first half of the season. However, don’t get too comfortable—there’s still the second half of the season to worry about.
If you’ve been on the Outer Banks subreddit or cruising through TikTok, you’ve probably seen the wild speculation about JJ’s fate. The body bag scene, with the Pogues wheeling what looks like a covered body down a dock, has fueled countless theories.
The fact that JJ was notably missing from that scene had fans freaking out, assuming the worst. “What if it’s JJ in the bag?” was the question on everyone’s mind. But thankfully, as of the end of Part 1, JJ is very much alive.
That being said, Outer Banks has never shied away from cliffhangers, and with Part 2 dropping soon, JJ’s fate isn’t entirely sealed. So, while he’s dodged death so far, that doesn’t mean he’s out of the woods just yet.
JJ’s Season 4 Storyline: It’s All About Family (and Secrets)
The real shocker of Outer Banks Season 4 isn’t about JJ’s death—it’s about his life. Fans have always known JJ Maybank as the ultimate Pogue—wild, loyal, reckless, and fiercely independent.
He’s been carrying the scars of a rough upbringing, with his absentee, alcoholic father Luke playing a major role in shaping his tough, scrappy personality. But Season 4 throws a wrench into that narrative in a way nobody saw coming.
In a jaw-dropping twist, JJ learns that Luke Maybank isn’t his real father. Yep, you read that right. JJ, the ultimate Pogue, finds out he’s actually a Kook. His biological father?
None other than Chandler Groff, a wealthy businessman from the Kook side of town. This revelation sends shockwaves through JJ’s life, shaking the very foundation of who he thinks he is.
To understand why this is such a big deal, you need to know a bit about Outer Banks’s class dynamics. The show splits the people of Kildare Island into two groups: the Pogues, who are the working-class locals struggling to get by, and the Kooks, the rich, entitled elite who summer in the Outer Banks.
JJ has always represented the very heart and soul of the Pogue lifestyle, constantly at odds with the Kooks and everything they stand for. So, to learn that he’s actually one of them? That’s a massive blow.
Rudy Pankow, who plays JJ, admits he didn’t see this twist coming. In an interview, he said it was a complete shock to him and his character. “JJ has spent his whole life rejecting the Kooks,” Pankow said. “To find out he’s one of them? It’s a huge identity crisis.”
How Does JJ Learn the Truth?
The big reveal comes after JJ gets a mysterious letter from Wes Genrette, the grandfather he never knew he had. In the letter, Wes urges JJ to ask Luke about something called “Albatross.”
At first, Luke brushes off JJ’s questions, but after JJ helps him evade the cops (again), Luke finally spills the beans. “Albatross” refers to the boat that JJ’s biological mother, Larissa Genrette, died on years ago, which means Wes Genrette is his real grandfather, and Chandler Groff is his father.
This revelation sends JJ into a tailspin. Everything he thought he knew about his life—his struggles, his relationships, his identity as a Pogue—has been turned upside down.
Jonas Pate, one of the show’s co-creators, explained that this storyline was meant to torture JJ emotionally. “What could hurt JJ more than finding out he’s not actually a Pogue, but a Kook?” Pate said in an interview. “It’s the ultimate betrayal.”
This discovery leaves JJ grappling with some major internal conflict. Can he still consider himself a Pogue if he’s technically a Kook by birth? Will his friends, who’ve always stood by him, look at him differently? What does this mean for his relationship with the Kooks, especially now that he’s one of them?
Of course, it wouldn’t be Outer Banks if there wasn’t some treasure hunting involved. Season 4 kicks off with the Pogues trying to track down Blackbeard’s treasure, which leads them into more clashes with the Kooks.
JJ, naturally, throws himself into the adventure, but this time with the weight of his new family history hanging over his head. As if he didn’t already have enough daddy issues, now he has to figure out how to deal with the fact that he’s been fighting against people who are, in some way, his own.
This class warfare has always been a central theme in Outer Banks, and now JJ finds himself caught in the middle. The stakes are higher than ever as the Pogues continue their treasure hunt, with Kooks like Topper breathing down their necks. And with JJ’s newfound Kook heritage, his role in the group could be in jeopardy.
Will JJ Survive the Rest of Season 4?
So, while JJ doesn’t die in Part 1, it’s clear that he’s still in a dangerous spot. The treasure hunt is heating up, and the body bag from the trailer is still looming large in fans’ minds. Could it be a fake-out, as some have speculated? Or is JJ really destined for a tragic end?
What makes this season so interesting is that JJ’s greatest threat might not be external—it could be his own internal struggle. The emotional weight of learning he’s a Kook might be harder for him to handle than any physical danger.
Averagebeing’s Take: JJ dodging death (for now) is a relief, but his identity crisis is a ticking time bomb. This Kook revelation is going to change everything—how he sees himself, how his friends see him, and even his place in the Pogues. Will JJ’s loyalty to his friends win out, or will his new family ties pull him away from everything he’s fought for?
What would you do if you found out your whole life was built on a lie?
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