John B, Sarah, Kiara, Pope, JJ, and Cleo get involved in yet another mystery in Outer Banks season 4, and like always, they aren’t the only ones looking for treasure, as Lightner and his team serve as the Pogues’ opposition. Throughout every season of the Netflix action-adventure teen drama, the main characters find themselves wrapped in treasure hunt after treasure hunt. Unfortunately, for them, an outside (and typically lethal) force messes with the Pogues’ plans in Outer Banks every time.

Netflix split Outer Banks season 4 into two parts, with five episodes each. Part 1 premieres on October 10, 2024, and part 2 drops on November 7, 2024.

As for the story in Outer Banks season 4, the Pogues are soaking in the bliss of their El Dorado discovery. However, JJ spends almost all their money on buying the Maybank property and a storm damages their shop, forcing the Pogues to use more of their newfound fortune to fix it. Then, JJ bets their remaining money on himself at a dirt bike race. When he loses, the group is inclined to take Wes Genrette up on his offer to find the amulet of Blackbeard’s wife, Elizabeth, in exchange for $50,000. But the Pogues aren’t the only ones searching for Blackbeard’s treasure.

Lightner’s Group Includes Mercenaries & Criminals Looking For Blackbeard’s Amulet & Blue Crown

Lightner Is The Pogues’ Direct Opposition In Outer Banks Season 4, Part 1

The Netflix TV show introduces a new Outer Banks character — Lightner, played by Rigo Sanchez — during the season 4 premiere. At first, Lightner is just a creepy guy who comes to the Kildare County Surf Shop. However, when JJ and Kiara dive to Blackbeard’s sunken ship and come across Lightner (who attacks them), it’s clear that he’s one of the Pogues’ major adversaries in season 4. As the episodes go on, viewers learn that Lightner is working with a team of mercenaries and criminals, including a mysterious woman (Dalia) who he calls captain.

When Dalia is introduced on the pier in episode 3, it seems as if she’s the leader of the operation to find Blackbeard’s amulet and the Blue Crown in Outer Banks season 4. Lightner and his men are evidently working for Dalia. After Lightner steals the amulet from the Pogues (and kills Terrance), the necklace takes him and Dalia to Charleston, just like the Pogues. Sadly, Lightner and Dalia discover the coffin of Blackbeard’s navigator, Sam Bellamy, in the crypt first and retrieve a scroll. It’s unclear what’s on the scroll, but it’ll likely lead them to the Blue Crown.

What Lightner’s Connection To Wes Genrette & Chandler Groff Is In Outer Banks

Groff Is Quite Suspicious After Outer Banks Season 4, Episode 5

Lightner and his group aren’t the only villains, as the ending of Outer Banks season 4, part 1, suggests Chandler Groff is also nefarious. Groff is (or was) Wes Genrette’s son-in-law and JJ’s birth father, and he’s also the number one suspect in Wes’ murder. Since Groff is seen with realtor Hollis Robinson in episode 5, he likely wants to own or profit from Goat Island, which he could only do after Wes’ death. However, Groff may also be responsible for killing the guy on the beach, who died the same way as Wes and is probably linked to Lightner.

Since Omar was strangled just like Wes, and Groff is the biggest suspect in Wes’ death, Groff could have murdered Omar in Outer Banks season 4, part 1, too.

After Lightner retrieves Blackbeard’s treasure in Outer Banks season 4, Dalia and their men set course for Charleston, where the amulet opens up a door to the aforementioned crypt. Before leaving, though, one of the men is upset that they are leaving without avenging Omar’s death. Omar, who is likely the man found dead on the beach, was a part of their crew, and they know who killed him. Since Omar was strangled just like Wes, and Groff is the biggest suspect in Wes’ death, Groff could have murdered Omar in Outer Banks season 4, part 1, too.