Outer Banks’ Rudy Pankow Speaks Out After JJ’s Shocking Season 4 Death

The Pogues weathered many storms in their hunt for treasure over the years, but losing one of their own during the season 4 Outer Banks finale was truly a shock.

Warning: Spoilers below from Outer Banks season 4, episode 10.

After a season of ups and downs, including learning that Chandler Groff (J. Anthony Crane) was his biological father, JJ (Rudy Pankow) nearly died twice during the second half of season 4. While he survived jumping into the ocean to save Sarah (Madelyn Cline) when he faced off against Groff during the OBX finale, which dropped on Thursday, November 7, and gave him the blue crown, he was stabbed.

JJ ultimately died from his injury but not before telling Kiara (Madison Bailey) he loved her. The Pogues have now vowed to avenge his death, honoring the Pogue for Life mantra — and actor Pankow thinks it’s a fitting send off for JJ, who loved his friends more than anything.

“From the get-go, JJ always showed that he would do anything,” Pankow told Netflix’s Tudum in an interview published Thursday. “He would put his friends before himself.”

Pankow, 26, explained, “For JJ, he has to judge every moment in his life, if it’s worth it [to take the risk], and I think it’s constantly, yeah, it is for him.”

From start to finish, JJ’s ability to take chances and risk it all for his Pogue family is something Pankow is proud of. “He lives his life to the utmost fullest, and I don’t think he regrets any part of it,” he said of the character.

While JJ’s death surprised fans, Pankow said he knew about the story line well before they shot the heartbreaking scene.

“When I first found out JJ was gonna risk it all and not make it, I understood it,” Pankow continued. “And the risks got bigger and bigger, and the stakes got higher and higher.”

The actor noted that JJ was the ultimate “hype man, the ride or die” to pals John B (Chase Stokes) and Pope (Jonathan Daviss) as well as Kiara, Sarah and Cleo (Carlacia Grant). That’s why his death to ultimately save his crew from Groff was fitting, according to Pankow, who called it a “huge honor to portray a character so beautiful and selfless.”

Outer Banks creators Josh Pate, Jonas Pate and Shannon Burke told Netflix that it was always the plan to kill off JJ, but when it came time to do it they all felt the heaviness of the moment.

“It was a really hard decision because he’s such a great piece of the ensemble,” Josh confessed. “It sets the stage for an epic fifth and final season. We’re planning a story of redemption, and a season that embodies the friendship that JJ had come to represent.”

He continued, “JJ’s death was a hard but necessary piece of the architecture for the story, and we plan on honoring that as much as we can because we love the character as much as the fans do. And Rudy’s a great friend of ours.”

Pankow, meanwhile, said JJ’s absence will cause the Pogues to reevaluate everything heading into the last season. “His death really does set up the future of OBX with the question, what is worth it? And when someone that close to you is gone, how do you navigate that?” he explained.

For Pankow, saying goodbye to Outer Banks is bittersweet. “I want to leave the cast and crew with the biggest thank-you. It’s been such a pleasure to come to work,” he said. “This is by far the biggest thing I’ve ever done in [my] experience, and to have this as my start is a start of a lifetime. I’m going to miss it. Thank you for so many fun memories I’ll have the rest of my life.”

He also gave a shout-out to the die-hard Pogues: “To all the fans that show so much support and love for JJ, I just want to say thank you. It really did make an impact on me, playing him. It’s been an honor to bring him to life for you guys, and it’s been a joy to play him. And P4L!”

Pankow concluded by telling his fans to remember his character for his adventurous side. “The spirit of JJ is: Take the risk,” he said of JJ’s legacy.

Season 4 of Outer Banks is now streaming on Netflix.