‘Outer Banks’: JJ’s Death Looms Over the Pogues in Explosive Season 5 Trailer
The Pogues are going on one last mission in hopes of bringing back the dead. Yes, you read that right. On July 29, Netflix dropped the official trailer for Outer Banks Season 5, which picks up in the aftermath of JJ’s tragic death at the end of last season. The Pogues want revenge, and they’ll do just about anything to get it.
“The legend is that the crown can bring back the dead,” Kiara (Madison Bailey) tells the group. The Pogues don’t need much convincing to go all in on this adventure. They’re at rock bottom, and they can only go up from here. On top of this side quest, they’re all gunning for JJ’s dad, Groff (J. Anthony Crane), who killed his own son.
The streamer renewed the series for a fifth season before Part 2 of Season 4 dropped in 2024, but it will be the final season. This is going to be our last Outer Banks summer, and it’s going to be a memorable one. From the premiere date to the cast details, here’s a rundown of all the latest updates.
Jackson Lee Davis / Netflix
When is Outer Banks Season 5 coming out?
Outer Banks Season 5 has an official premiere date: August 20. Unlike last season, which split the episodes into two parts, the full season will drop all at once. The final season will consist of 10 episodes.
The streamer announced the show’s renewal on November 4, 2024. The fifth season was filmed in and around Charleston, South Carolina, as well as Croatia.
Jackson Lee Davis / Netflix
Jackson Lee Davis / Netflix
Is Season 5 the final season?
Yes, Season 5 will be the final season of Outer Banks. Co-creators and executive producers Jonas Pate, Josh Pate, and Shannon Burke released the following statement:
“Dispatch to all Pogues:
Seven years ago, in the summer of 2017, we came across a photo of teenagers on a beach at dusk during a power outage. That photo sparked an idea for a story of four best friends who only want to have a good time all the time. From this beginning, we imagined a mystery that would lead to a five-season journey of adventure, treasure hunting, and friendship.
Jackson Lee Davis / Netflix
At the time, seven years ago, it seemed impossible that we would really get to tell the whole five season story, but here we are, at the end of our fourth season, still chopping away.
The fourth season was our longest and hardest – but most rewarding – to produce. The season ends with a feature length episode, which we think is our best, most powerful episode. We hope you feel the same way.
Now, with a little sadness, but also excitement, we’re putting Season Four behind us, and are turning to Season Five, in which we hope to bring our beloved Pogues home in the way we imagined and planned years ago. Season Five will be our last season, and we think it will be our best yet. We hope you’ll join us for one more paddle out to the surf break.”
Who will return for Outer Banks Season 5?
The majority of the main cast will return for the fifth and final season. Series regulars include Chase Stokes as John B, Madelyn Cline as Sarah, Madison Bailey as Kiara, Jonathan Daviss as Pope, Carlacia Grant as Cleo, Drew Starkey as Rafe, Fiona Palomo as Sofia, and Austin North as Topper. J. Anthony Crane and Cullen Moss, who play Chandler Groff and Deputy Shoupe, respectively, will also return for Season 5 and have been upped to series regulars.
Sydney Gawlik / Netflix
Given the shocking twist at the end of Season 4, Rudy Pankow will not return as JJ (more on that below). However, he could return in flashbacks!
What happened at the end of Season 4?
Outer Banks Season 4 went full throttle on the bombshells. The Pogues (along with Rafe) headed to Morocco to chase down the blue crown. Sarah found out she was pregnant in the midst of the madness.
However, the biggest twist was JJ’s death. JJ was stabbed by Chandler Goff (J. Anthony Crane), his biological father, after finding the blue crown. Kiara was with him in his final moments as he bled out from his injury. The devastated Pogues buried him in Morocco and vowed to avenge his death and get the blue crown back.
Fans were understandably outraged about JJ’s death, but the creators have stressed that the decision to kill off the beloved character had been building since the show’s start.
“It’s been kind of lurking in his DNA from the beginning. He’s really a tragic figure, and the idea of mortality, and you only have a finite window — it’s also a theme of the show,” Pate told The Hollywood Reporter in November 2024. “It’s something John B. has talked about from the first season. So believe it or not, this is something that was always sort of baked in the cake, and we just wanted to tell the story as elegantly and interestingly as possible.”
Outer Banks, Season 5, August 20, 2026, Netflix
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B
I literally felt as if I was losing someone close to me. It was crazy. JJ was my favorite character and just the type of boy I would have fell for at that age. RIP JJ. We’ll get him.
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G
Did not like jj dying. He should’ve been a big part of the cast in their final season. Dissatisfied in the ending.
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G
Sorry to say but seeing JJ die was hard to watch as he was the best part of the group. But story wise I don't see how they could have killed off anyone e but JJ. Hope to.see him in flash backs or mentioned in season 5 he will be missed
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O
no i cant with jj dying and not knowing more about sarah's baby like i literally cried when jj died and it ended
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R
Since JJ Died and they were trying to get the crown and they said that legend has it that it can make one wish I think that they are going to ask for hi back if they get it
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R
I have never seen a friend like jj 😔 😭
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R
It's rediculus they killed jj 🥺 how they could do that😭
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R
I just love jj character.....he teaches us that how is besn true friends are
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G
I didn’t like it when jj lost his life he should have been a part of 5 he lost everything he should have got to be apart of the reward in 5 when it comes out
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B
this show is truly the best when watching it you feel truly part of everything going on you grow hate but also love for your favourite characters. The show will definitely never be the same without JJ because like John B said he holds Us all together just as you think one bad thing’s gonna happen it became better because he made it better. whether he was making a joke we’re going to jail or yelling at topper he made it better
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C
I was very sad when JJ died I think he should have been apart of season 5. He was my favorite character and I am disappointed of how this turned out.
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M
Broooooo WHY DID JJ HAVE TO DIEEEEEE!!! HE LITERALLY MADE OBX OBX!!
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C
Ye he was a good one
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O
I’m gonna be honest I don’t think anyone is really going to watch it bc y’all took 1 of a fav characters out like, if I watch season five it’s going to feel like something is missing.
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S
Definitely one of the hardest things to watch in the show was JJ’s death he was just the one that put and kept everyone tg laughing and joking around it was definitely kinda sad that the one person who i related to the most and who had the hardest life was the one that had to die and no disrespect to John b but in the end he did find his dad and got to apologize and tell him he loved him and JJ never got that chance i hope to see him in some point in season 5
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B
If you remember the person that last had the crown had a wish one wish that will come true so something tells me maybe he’ll come back to life🤷♀️
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O
If they don’t bring JJ back, I’m literally going to blow my eyes out like if they need to bring JJ back yeah they better bring JJ back if they don’t I’m gonna kill the director for real JK. I’m gonna kill Elaine. He’s the reason why he’s not on the show anymore and they broke up so I don’t see why he shouldn’t be back on the show
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O
Wait y’all what if they get the crown back from groff and wish for jj back????
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C
Real lol
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C
I know me and all of my friends were extremely sad about JJ’s death and to confess I cried! It was very upsetting and as JJ had the most traumatic and harsh childhood and was most deserving of a happily ever after. I have been conspiring with my friends and have come up with some speculations on if he was to come back what would happen. 1) Like I said he had the harshest childhood and was most deserving of a long happy life, why would they end the life of the character that suffered the most out of all the pogues, it makes no sense and sends the wrong message, 2) During the show it was said repeatedly that a pogue couldn’t be killed, hinting that JJ could come back, 3) They never showed JJ being buried, they could be burying the guy Pope killed (lightner), 4) they showed Groff feeling bad about killing JJ while holding the crown meaning he could wish for JJ to be brought back, 5) Even if Geoff doesn’t wish for JJ back the pogues will most likely steal the crown off gruff and wish for him back, 6) Some of the season 5 script was leaked ‘JJ’s lifeless eyes shot open’, this could be fake but it also could be real?!, 7) Cleo said ‘no goodbyes just see you laters’ earlier in the season this could be foreshadowing JJ’s comeback, 8) Despite what this page says, on the actual confirmed cast list Rudy Pankow’s name is listed and if they were just doing flashbacks they wouldn’t need him to return. Sorry if this is too much for some people, I just really love the show and JJ 💗☀️🌺🥥
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O
I am not even gonna watch it at all anymore if it doesn’t have jj.
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B
That outer banks should keep going we have absolutely loved every episode please please please keep the show running 🙏🤞❤️
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G
I really want them to bring back JJ, but I know maybe they can and I literally started bawling crying after he died. Everyone loved him. He was the best character in the whole movie to me and all my friends.
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O
He was the best part of the outer banks session
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O
I cried my eyes out for weeks after this felt like I was losing someone I had know for my whole life
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G
You guys made a major mistake killing off jj. He was the heartbeat of that show in my mind. And then choose a blue crown of all treasures that can grant wishes, even bring someone back to life, like jj. And then you choose not to bring him back??? Wont be watching obx 5.
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C
I was in love with jj
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B
JJ should return at least in the dreams of his friends. Maybe even as a ghost watching over them or guiding them… anything!
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O
I am. Bout to not watch because he not in it that I Mets up!!!!
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R
they should have never killed jj off.
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