*Spoilers for Season 3 and 4 of Outer Banks
On North Carolina’s coast of golden sand dunes and marshy waters, a group of ragtag teenagers has one goal: fun all the time. Their adventures range from treasure hunting, dodging death and navigating relationships, creating the summer teens dream of.
Brothers Josh and Jonas Pate along with Shannon Burke crafted Outer Banks, the perfect getaway during COVID in April 2020. The setting, costuming and way the characters lived all played into the ideal and dream-like atmosphere. A splitting division between the rich kids dubbed “Kooks” and the poor kids “Pogues” omitted a classic feel similar to the film “The Outsiders.” The directors weaved together the perfect friend group of four with leader John Booker Routledge AKA John B, fellow Pogues JJ Maybank and Pope Heyward and Kook Kiara Carrera, later adding in Sarah Cameron and Cleo.
The series overtook social media feeds and with it our hearts. It kept us on our toes and begging for more. But with Season 4 part 1 released Oct. 10 and part 2 just released Nov. 7, we were left crying in our pajamas on the couch. The entire show wrapped up with a tragic ending. With the new release of Season 4, there have been many negative opinions on the death of JJ, Sarah Cameron’s pregnancy, Kie’s revenge promise and how the creators will be able to create a season that will make up for Season 4.
This season had a lot in store for the Pogues. The story picks up where Season 3 left off, with the Pogues enjoying their newfound riches, which we learn ended up totaling a whopping $1.1 million. However, it’s not long before the Pogues find themselves treasure hunting again after losing all of their money in a series of unfortunate events, like paying off JJ’s restitution fee, buying back JJ’s house (for way more than it’s worth) and funding their new bait shop.
Netflix’s new episode format of releasing seasons in half has forced writers to cram lots of ideas into just eight episodes, speeding up the story and creating a feeling of being rushed. Pacing is a crucial element in story-writing, one that was neglected this season by the writers.
This is especially evident when you look at the show’s main character, John B, whose only plotline of substance was finding out he’ll be a father. John B is haunted by his own childhood, which was less than perfect, and worries he’ll be unfit to raise a child, like his father was with him. However, these feelings that are plaguing John B are barely touched on, as most of the season’s spotlight was on JJ.
Rafe’s character development
Outer Banks token antagonist Rafe Cameron has been given what appears to be a redemption arc this season.
Rafe’s actions from previous seasons can only be described as one thing: psychotic. Rafe is guilty of trying to kill Sarah (on multiple occasions) and Kiara, as well as succeeding in killing Sheriff Peterkin. These were just the beginning of the unforgivable sins he’s committed.
However, I’d wager that most of his deeds were influenced by his father, Ward Cameron. Rafe and Ward’s relationship was parasitic; Rafe commits heinous acts in an eager attempt to win his father’s approval, and Ward is disgusted by the fact his son is so much like him. Despite Rafe proving his loyalty time after time, he could never seem to beat out Sarah for his father’s love.
This is in no way an excuse for his actions, but merely a reason for his psyche. We think we see further evidence of this in Season 4.
Season 4 shows a side of Rafe we’ve never seen: he seems calmer and less quick to jump to his usual erratic decisions. We think this is partly due to his father (who died last season) no longer looming over his shoulder, but also to his new girlfriend, Sofia.
Rafe and Sofia’s dynamic is interesting. Rafe, who’s known to be less than kind to Pogues, shows surprising affection towards Sofia, a Pogue, who works at his yacht club. When Kook party goers have negative things to say about Ward, Sofia is able to calm him down and divert a potential breakdown. Sofia and Rafe bring out the best in each other. It’s true, others may look down on their relationship from both sides, but they don’t let that stop them from enjoying each other’s company. It’s clear he has genuine feelings for her, as he asks her to move into his house, despite the fact that he denied the seriousness of their relationship when asked by his friends.
Unfortunately, after Sofia pushes Rafe to take a shady deal with Chandler Groff (who’s secretly plotting to take Rafe’s money with no return), Rafe kicks her out of his house, seemingly ending their relationship. Rafe and Sofia are a pair I didn’t think I’d like, but one I’ll be sad to see go. However, we doubt this is truly the end of their story and think they’ll smooth things over in Season 5.
JJ’s Death
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. And the greatest of the group, JJ Maybank, the blond headed, surf obsessed, chaos causing and all around lovable character has been lost forever to the Outer Banks series.
The cause of such a devastating loss is answered by the creators but leaves us skeptical. Why give him the greatest character arc with his evolving relationship with Kiara, saving Sarah Cameron from death and then leave him in the dust of the Moroccan desert?
From the start of the season, it seemed as if we were begging for a whole other show. The carefree vibes in season one diminished every season after until extinguishing in Season 4. Littered with irregularities and puzzling situations, the entire series seemingly set us up to be let down. As we watched, we saw JJ making mistakes he usually would; gambling away all their money, getting in fights and sassing all the wrong people at exactly the wrong time.
But something seemed off. There was too much focus on JJ.
The entire plotline of his birth to rich Kook Larissa Genrette and Chandler Groff made him a crazy town destroying rage monster. But it did not add up to us even after they explained it and tried to cover up the holes – questions still seeped through.
Like how was Groff able to climb up through a deep hole with only a knife, somehow managing to trek through the Moroccan desert without any water and survive long enough to kill JJ? Why didn’t Kiara perform CPR or add pressure to the wound? And how did the creators believe that this ending would keep us happy and return for next season?
JJ’s relationship with his dad
One of my favorite plot twists of the season was the reveal that Luke Maybank is not JJ’s biological father. This reveal holds a special place in my heart not because of its unanticipated nature, but because of what it adds to the lore.
Like many father-son relationships on this show, Luke and JJ’s relationship was not perfect. Luke repeatedly subjected JJ to abuse, which is part of the reason JJ is so loyal to the Pogues: they’re the family he chose.
When JJ confronts Luke about the truth of his parents, we see flashbacks of Luke working for the Genrettes, painting him in a much kinder, softer light. When Larissa Genrette drowned in a boating accident, Chandler Groff takes his son, Jackson Jesse (JJ) Groff to Luke, begging him to adopt JJ.
This completely contrasts the Luke we’ve known until now. What happened to him over the years for his demeanor to become so vile?
The revelation of JJ’s true father was just the tip of the iceberg, as it’s also revealed that Luke was never on the run and instead hiding at his friend Barracuda Mike’s place, and that he cut a deal with the town council voiding the sale of his house to the Pogues to keep himself out of jail.
If this isn’t the ultimate betrayal, what is? Each moment shared between Luke and JJ makes you think Luke can’t go any lower, but he succeeds every time. Knowing that JJ’s last memory of his father is one of betrayal, and vice versa, is a route we didn’t think this show would take.
Each season of Outer Banks has ended with a cliffhanger, but this season’s unfinished business might not be worth resolving. Sadly, the season finale ends with the Pogues burying JJ in Morocco and questioning whether they should follow Groff to Portugal to claim their revenge. Seeing Kiara’s piercing gaze at the camera after losing her love sent a chill down my spine. We can’t imagine what next season holds in store for her and what lines she’s willing to cross.
It’s almost karmic, but with arrest warrants, stolen treasure and a fallen member, the Pogues really do have nothing left to lose this time. Which begs the question: what are fans returning for? The showrunners have promised Season 5 will end on a good note, but whether that can be achieved without the beloved JJ has been speculated by fans.
The show should’ve concluded with the Pogues’ happy ending in Season 3, with viewers disappointed by the grim direction of Season 4. Netflix announced Outer Banks’ fifth and final season which is likely to come out late 2025. Whatever is in store for the Pogues, we’ll be ready; tissues and sunscreen in hand.