The sun-kissed shores of the Outer Banks are about to feel a little emptier. Netflix’s teen adventure staple, Outer Banks, is charging toward its fifth and final season, with production underway since June 2025 and a premiere slated for sometime in 2026. But as the Pogues gear up for one last treasure hunt, fans are still processing the gut-wrenching void left by JJ Maybank’s untimely demise in the Season 4 finale. Rudy Pankow’s portrayal of the free-spirited surfer bro turned the series into a binge-worthy phenomenon, and his absence promises to reshape the group’s unbreakable bond in ways that could redefine the show’s emotional core.

For the uninitiated, Outer Banks follows a tight-knit crew of working-class teens—the Pogues—chasing legends of lost gold amid class wars and high-seas drama on North Carolina’s barrier islands. Since its 2020 debut, the Jonas Pate, Josh Pate, and Shannon Burke creation has racked up 2.74 billion minutes viewed in its first two seasons alone, spawning a global fanbase hooked on the mix of mystery, romance, and adrenaline. Season 4, split into two parts and wrapping in November 2024, upped the ante with a globe-trotting quest for Blackbeard-linked treasures, culminating in a Morocco-set showdown that claimed JJ’s life at the hands of his long-lost father, Chandler Groff (J. Anthony Crane). The stabbing scene—raw, rain-soaked, and replayed endlessly on social media—drew 1.2 million TikTok stitches in the first week, with users debating everything from plot holes to Pankow’s Emmy-worthy sendoff.

Pankow, 26, brought JJ to life as the group’s comic relief and moral compass, a tattooed troublemaker whose loyalty often landed him in hot water. His chemistry with Madison Bailey’s Kiara—culminating in a fan-favorite romance—fueled endless “Jiara” edits, while his banter with Chase Stokes’ John B. embodied the show’s “Pogues for life” ethos. “JJ was the heartbeat,” co-creator Josh Pate told Netflix’s Tudum in a June 2025 interview. “His death was tough but essential—it raises the stakes for the finale.” The decision, hashed out in writers’ rooms post-Season 3, aimed to mature the narrative, shifting from youthful hijinks to themes of loss and legacy. Pankow, fresh off a 2024 Independent Spirit nod for the role, expressed mixed feelings in a Variety profile: “It hurts to say goodbye, but JJ went out swinging. The Pogues will carry him forward.”

With filming in full swing across Charleston, South Carolina—standing in for the OBX—the cast’s recent Tudum reunion photos tell a tale of cautious optimism. Chase Stokes (John B.) and Madelyn Cline (Sarah Cameron), the on-again-off-again power couple whose real-life romance fizzled in 2021 but reignited on-screen, anchor the core four alongside Bailey and Jonathan Daviss (Pope Heyward). Carlacia Grant’s Cleo, the Bahamian newcomer who joined in Season 3, rounds out the group, her no-nonsense edge now pivotal in JJ’s wake. Supporting players like Drew Starkey (Rafe Cameron), the reformed Kook villain, and Austin North (Topper) return, with Crane elevated to series regular as Groff—hinting at a revenge arc that could eclipse the Blue Crown hunt teased in Season 4’s cliffhanger.

Promotions for Cullen Moss (Sheriff Shoupe) and Crane signal deeper dives into law enforcement and family fallout, while Fiona Palomo’s Sofia lingers as a wildcard from Season 4’s Venezuela detour. Absent from the group shots? Pankow, whose exclusion at Tudum—a star-studded Netflix event on May 31, 2025—sparked a fresh wave of #JusticeForJJ campaigns. Fans flooded X with montages, one viral thread amassing 500,000 views: “How do you end without the wildcard? Pogues aren’t whole.” Bailey, visibly emotional in a People interview, admitted, “There’s a part of the dynamic that’s gone. JJ was our spark—we’re figuring out how to shine without him.”

The plot, shrouded in secrecy, picks up post-Morocco, with the surviving Pogues nursing wounds both literal and figurative. Cleo’s lingering injury from a Season 4 bullet graze adds vulnerability, while Kiara grapples with survivor’s guilt—her arc, per insiders, explores grief’s quiet fury. Pope, the brainiac strategist, steps up as de facto leader, his romance with Bailey’s Kiara evolving amid shared sorrow. John B. and Sarah’s quest for stability—perhaps a nod to settling down—clashes with the pull of one final score: the elusive Blue Crown, a relic promising riches and redemption. “It’s about honoring friendships forged in fire,” executive producer Shannon Burke shared with Deadline. “JJ’s shadow looms large—flashbacks are in play, but his spirit drives the redemption theme.”

Behind the scenes, production hums with a mix of nostalgia and innovation. Filming, delayed slightly by Hurricane season logistics, wraps principal photography by early 2026, eyeing a spring or fall drop to capitalize on binge habits. The Pate brothers, drawing from their Wilmington roots, amp up the OBX authenticity with new stunt coordinators for high-wire sequences—think yacht chases and cliff dives minus the Morocco exoticism. Budget swells to $12 million per episode, funding VFX for treasure lore and a soundtrack blending beach rock with hip-hop nods to JJ’s playlist vibes. Pankow’s influence lingers: Crew T-shirts read “P4L,” and a tribute surfboard props up on set.

Fan reactions run the gamut from devastation to defiant hope. Reddit’s r/OuterBanksBoK thread exploded post-finale, with 45,000 upvotes on a poll: 68% “devastated but intrigued,” 22% “boycott without JJ.” Petitions for a Pankow spin-off hit 100,000 signatures, while cosplay cons buzz with “ghost JJ” ensembles. Cline, in a July 2025 Entertainment Tonight sit-down, addressed the shift: “Season 5 feels different—more grounded, like growing up. Rudy’s exit hurts, but it makes the wins sweeter.” Stokes echoed, teasing John B.’s arc: “He’s carrying JJ’s surfboard into the unknown. Expect laughs through tears.”

As Outer Banks sails into sunset, its legacy as Netflix’s breakout YA hit—outpacing Stranger Things in teen demos—cements. Four seasons spawned Dollywood collabs, OBX tourism booms (visits up 40% per local chambers), and a merch empire from JJ-inspired tees to Pogue bandanas. Ending on a high note aligns with creator intent: “We always planned five,” Jonas Pate told Collider. “It’s closure, not cancellation.” For Pankow, post-JJ doors swing wide—rumors swirl of a Hulu drama and music EP—but he’ll forever be the wild card who stole hearts.

With 2026 looming, anticipation builds. Will the Pogues unearth closure amid the crown? Can they thrive four strong? One thing’s certain: Outer Banks bows out bolder, bidding farewell to a brother whose echo will ripple long after the credits roll. Stream Seasons 1-4 on Netflix now, and keep an eye on Tudum for teasers. The treasure’s end is nigh—but the adventure? Eternal.