Outer Banks Season 4 is now out on Netflix, and the fourth season ended with a big death that is set to condition the fifth and final installment of the show. A treasure-hunting young adult drama, the show follows a group of friends from the poor side of town as they seek treasure after treasure and try to build a family with each other.
In the fourth season of the show, Outer Banks dug deeper into JJ Maybanks’ real parentage, revealing that he wasn’t actually Luke Maybanks’ son but the son of Larissa Genrette and Chandler Groff, who turned out to be the villain of the season. At the end of their last treasure hunt, Groff kills JJ to get the blue crown they were all after, ending the storyline of one of the show’s original characters.
Related: Who is the Outer Banks cast dating?
Or, at least that’s what it seems like. Despite reports of behind-the-scenes drama between Pankow and co-star Madison Bailey, people aren’t so sure JJ can’t come back, considering the blue crown Groff stole from JJ is supposed to grant wishes—and there is no bigger wish for the Pogues right now than for JJ to return.
But is Rudy Pankow gone for good? Who is in the Outer Banks Season 5 cast? Who might be coming back and who else is leaving?
Status: Confirmed to be returning
Chase Stokes’ John B. Ruthledge is set to return for the fifth and final season of Outer Banks. At the end of Season 4, John B. was one of the main characters wowing revenge on Chandler Groff after JJ’s death. John B.’s storyline doesn’t just revolve around his fallen best friend JJ, though, with the character set to be a father for the first time at some point in the future—Sarah is pregnant with their first child.
Status: Confirmed to be returning
Madelyn Cline’s Sarah Cameron is also set to return for the fifth season of Outer Banks. Sarah Cameron was seen dealing with the news of her pregnancy in Season 4, and yet still managing to help the group. However, everyone was extra protective of her and really happy that she and John B. were having a baby. In the final episode of Season 4, she also reconciled with her brother, Rafe Cameron.
Status: Confirmed to be returning
Madison Bailey’s Kiara Carrera is the character most directly affected by JJ Maybanks’ death, as Kiara and JJ had been dating for the last eighteen months and had been friends since childhood. Kiara is also the one who is actually with JJ when he dies—in fact, they are only in danger because Groff grabs Kiara and threatens to kill her unless JJ gives up the crown. He does, but after implying to his father that he doesn’t need the treasure, he’s got everything he needs in Kiara and his friends, Groff gets upset and murders him in cold blood anyway.
Status: Seemingly not returning
Rudy Pankow’s JJ Maybanks died a hero’s death in the last episode of Season 4, and all the comments surrounding his death make it seem like he will not be returning for Season 5 and the Pogues will be avenging his death. But there’s always hope for the character, particularly considering the blue crown is supposed to be able to grant wishes, and Pankow doesn’t even need to return himself for the show to suddenly bring back JJ at the end of the show.
Status: Confirmed to be returning
Jonathan Daviss’ Pope Heyward went through a lot at the end of Season 4, with him even killing a man to both protect Cleo and avenge Terrance. Pope is also on the run, having escaped from home right after being released from jail with an ankle monitor. But of course, his immediate concern is Groff and what happened to JJ—who was also a childhood friend of Pope. Revenge first, right?
Status: Confirmed to be returning
The newest Pogue, Carlacia Grant’s Cleo has had a hard life. But she isn’t alone anymore now that she’s a member of the Pogues and she has Pope by her side. Cleo was wounded in the last episode of Season 4, but she escaped their run-in against the Lupine Corsairs, unlike JJ. In Season 5, she’s expected to get more of a focus as the team gets their revenge on Groff.
Status: Seemingly returning
Drew Starkey’s Rafe Cameron has had an on-screen redemption story that has been both overdue and hard to trust at times, reconciling with sister Sarah in the last episode of Season 4. But Rafe also broke up with his girlfriend Sofia after finding out she lied and is in a fragile emotional state after Groff stole from him, which might explain why he suggests the Pogues follow Groff to Lisbon to avenge JJ. Starkey’s availability in Season 5 might be limited due to other commitments, as he has spoken openly about his other projects outside of Outer Banks, including the upcoming movie Queer.
