No one could have prepared me for what Outer Banks season 4 had in store for its final episodes. Outer Banks season 4 – part 1 set off the Pogues on the next chapter of their lives. With Eldorado behind them, the group now turned to the hidden treasure of Edward Teach, aka the pirate Blackbeard. The first half of the season ended with the Pogues separated. Sarah and Pope were left to drown while looking for the map to Teach’s treasure, and JJ discovered that he was not really a Maybank, but a Genrette.

Following that setup, Outer Banks season 4 – part 2 catches back up with the group, with John B and Cleo saving Pope and Sarah from drowning, while JJ struggles with his major discovery. The latter is the driving force of the season alongside the Pogues’ mission to find the Blue Crown, an artifact that is not only priceless (which could save Poguelandia 2.0) but is said to grant a wish to whoever possessed it. A few days before the new episodes arrived, it was announced Outer Banks season 5 would end the series, and now I can see why.

Rudy Pankow’s JJ Maybank Is Season 4’s Main Character

Outer Banks Season 4 – Part 2 Ends With A Shocker

In my review of part 1, I called JJ the true star of Outer Banks season 4. Now that part 2 is out, I can confidently say that statement remains true. JJ has always been one of the show’s most important characters. His reckless attitude led to the Pogues getting in and out of tough situations. Alongside John B, Rudy Pankow’s JJ has been my favorite character to watch over the years. Part 2 gave him a new father, his real father, which I was excited to see play out.

It was hard to see JJ fall into Groff’s schemes so easily, but I get that he acted the way he did, as, after all, JJ just wanted to be loved by his father.

Sadly, Chandler Groff turned out to be a worse dad to JJ than Luke had ever been, and that is saying something. Part 2 has JJ grappling with the feeling that he had never really fit in with Luke and that something was missing. This allows Groff to manipulate him, as the character never really intended to be the father that JJ needed. It was hard to see JJ fall into Groff’s schemes so easily, but I get why he acted the way he did, as JJ just wanted to be loved by his father.

This would lead to a very tragic path. Despite his reckless antics throughout the show, JJ was resourceful, which always made me think he would be okay at the end of the day. Well, season 4 had other plans. I was shocked to see Groff stab his own son and kill him, not because it was something I didn’t imagine he could do, but because losing JJ meant losing the heart of the show. And then it hit me. It now makes perfect sense that Outer Banks is ending with season 5, as JJ’s death fuels a final mission.

Before his death, JJ continued his destructive arc from the first episodes of the season. The character literally set Kildare on fire in one of the best shot sequences of the show. He put his life in harm’s way many times. Some of them were to save his friends, while others seemed to be out of thinking that he deserved whatever happened to him and had nothing to lose. While some of JJ’s actions frustrated me, I’m glad he got to pull himself together before the end, realizing that he had all he ever wanted all along — his friends.

Outer Banks Season 4 – Part 2 Sets Up The Ending For The Pogues

The Characters Are Coming For Revenge

While JJ is the star of Outer Banks‘ new batch of episodes, the other Pogues — and Rafe — complete important story arcs or get started toward their finish line. After taking a backseat in part 1, Chase Stokes’ John B gets more to do this time around. It’s interesting to see how the character has changed since the start of the show. While John B used to be the one getting the rest of the group to go treasure hunting, the character is more mature now, weighing the risks and knowing when to take a step back.

Outer Banks is a show about kids and their fathers at its core, and seeing John B, the leader of the Pogues, become one is a fitting way for the series to end.

That change of attitude makes sense. With his father, Big John, dead and Eldorado behind, John B is moving on. The reveal that he and Sarah are going to be parents also adds to that, and I quite liked the direction of their story. Sure, they are young, but the characters’ relationship has been building up to this from the start. Outer Banks is a show about kids and their fathers at its core, and seeing John B, the leader of the Pogues, become one is a fitting way for the series to end.

Like in previous seasons, part 2 continues to stun with gorgeous locations. The Pogues once again travel the globe, and the busy streets of Morocco make for a fine change in scenery. Rafe and Sarah’s relationship gets the best development it has had in seasons, Cleo gets even, and Pope is trying to figure out what future he wants after a major decision. In season 4’s closing moments, Kiara and the Pogues make a vow to get revenge. I don’t see how the show can work without JJ, but I’m intrigued by Outer Banks season 5’s setup to keep watching.

All episodes of Outer Banks season 4 are now streaming on Netflix.