Luke Maybank finally returns in Outer Banks season 4, with the truth about the whereabouts of JJ’s father making the teen’s story more tragic. Season 1 quickly established that Outer Banks‘ character JJ Maybank (Rudy Pankow) came from a troubled home life, as his mother abandoned him years before the start of the show, while his abusive father blames him for her absence. JJ’s father, Luke Maybank (Gary Weeks), proves to be a poor parent for the teen, and often engages in criminal activity, which includes abandoning JJ while running from authorities in season 2.

Most of the Pogues’ parents are absent from season 4, with Sarah’s father Ward and John B’s father Big John both dying in Outer Banks season 3’s ending. However, JJ’s family life comes to play an important role in Blackbeard’s treasure hunt. In Outer Banks season 4, episode 5, JJ receives a letter from Wes Genrette hinting at a major revelation about his identity, but states that he first needs to ask Luke about “Albatross.” This leads him to seek out Barracuda Mike to finally find Luke, ultimately reuniting JJ with his father for the first time since season 2.

Why Luke Maybank Abandoned JJ & Went On The Run From Authorities In Outer Banks Season 2

It’s Implied That Luke Escaped Jail & Had To Flee Town

In Outer Banks season 2, Luke goes to jail but suddenly shows up and tells JJ that he’s out on “work release” for “good behavior.” But, whether that’s actually true is another matter. Luke then tells his son that he broke into a pharmacy and assaulted the pharmacist, so he needs help fleeing the island to avoid going back to jail. JJ ends up helping his dad get a boat and enough provisions to last five days on a trip, with Luke telling him that he’s heading for Yucatán and may never return.

Until Outer Banks season 4, part 1’s ending, the season 2 episode “The Cross” was the last time JJ had seen or spoken to his father. He was still a wanted man throughout Outer Banks season 3 and the 18-month gap between the teens’ El Dorado and Blackbeard treasure hunts. However, when JJ finally needs to speak with Luke about “Albatross,” he learns that not only has Barracuda Mike been in contact with him the entire time, but Luke has actually been much closer to home than JJ was led to believe.

Outer Banks Season 4 Reveals Luke Maybank Has Been Secretly Living In The Cut With Barracuda Mike

Luke Has Secretly Been Living Down The Beach From JJ For 2 Years

Feeling further betrayed and misled by his father, JJ discovers that Luke has been living on The Cut with Barracuda Mike for almost the entire time that he’s been “missing” and on the run. JJ heard that his father had gone as far south as Belize, but, in reality, had just been a few miles down the beach from him. During this time, Luke was still engaging in criminal activity in order to make money. However, Luke’s long-delayed return in Outer Banks season 4 comes with a massive revelation about the truth of the Maybanks family’s relationships.

Luke also reveals to JJ that the woman who he thought was his mother was actually just a girlfriend he had at the time he agreed to raise JJ.

Luke has no choice but to go with JJ to the lighthouse to escape Shoupe and the authorities, which is where he agrees to explain the meaning of “Albatross.” As it turns out, Albatross is the name of the boat that Larissa Genrette died on, with Luke elaborating that he isn’t JJ’s birth father. Outer Banks reveals JJ’s real parents are Larissa and Chandler Groff, and Luke raised JJ as his son to “help out.” Since Groff is still alive, plenty more revelations await regarding Luke and JJ Maybank’s true backstory in Outer Banks season 4, part 2.