Netflix’s ‘Outer Banks’ season 4 part 1 revealed that JJ might actually come from a family of Kooks

Chase Stokes as John B, Madelyn Cline as Sarah Cameron, Madison Bailey as Kiara, Carlacia Grant as Cleo, Jonathan Daviss as Pope, Rudy Pankow as JJ in ‘Outer Banks’. Photo: Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix

Warning: Outer Banks spoilers ahead!

Outer Banks season 4 ensured the Pogues wouldn’t stay out of trouble for long.

The latest installment of Outer Banks released its first five episodes on Oct. 10, quickly climbing to the No. 1 spot on Netflix. The storyline picked up 18 months after the events of the season 3 finale, which ended with the Pogues — John B (Chase Stokes), JJ (Rudy Pankow), Kiara (Madison Bailey), Pope (Jonathan Daviss), Sarah (Madelyn Cline) and Cleo (Carlacia Grant) — finding the gold in El Dorado.

Afterward, the Pogues intended to put treasure hunting behind them, using their newfound wealth to build a business and start a “normal life.” However, it was only a matter of time until they embarked on another mission — this time, in search of Blackbeard’s valuables in exchange for $50,000.

Unsurprisingly, the journey didn’t come without its obstacles. The teens had to navigate underwater and underground territories while trying to keep their business afloat. With multiple cliffhangers and treasures still to be uncovered, many questions remain for the second half of the season, which will be released on Nov. 7.

Here’s everything to know about the Outer Banks season 4 part 1 ending, from JJ’s shocking identity twist to the sneaky connection between Chandler Groff and Hollis.

How did Outer Banks season 4 part 1 end?

Chase Stokes as John B in ‘Outer Banks’.Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix

In the final episode of season 4 part 1, John B, Pope, Sarah and Cleo headed to Charleston, S.C., to find Blackbeard’s Blue Crown. Meanwhile, JJ and Kiara stayed behind on Kildare Island, where Kiara got a cryptic visit from Rafe at the Pogue’s new shop, and JJ received a posthumous letter from Wes Genrette.

As it turns out, shortly before his death, Genrette left a letter addressed to “Master JJ Maybank” in case something happened, urging JJ to ask his father, Luke, about Albatross.

JJ’s storyline features a complicated relationship with his father, boiling down to a history of emotional, physical and substance abuse. Despite that, JJ helped him flee the island in season 2. But in the final episode of season 4 part 1, JJ tracked him down and learned that he has actually been residing just around the corner all this time.

After pressing his father for information surrounding Genrette’s request, JJ learns that “Albatross” was the name of the boat Wes’s daughter, Larissa Genrette, died on years ago — and that Luke is not his biological father.

Who is JJ’s dad?

Gary Weeks as Luke and Rudy Pankow as JJ in ‘Outer Banks’.Courtesy of Netflix

In a shocking twist, JJ learns that his biological father is Chandler Groff, and his mother is Larissa, who was believed to have drowned with her infant years ago on a boat called The Albatross.

Larissa came from a family of Kooks, meaning that JJ — who “never really had a home,” as Kiara has reminded the crew — came from the other side of OBX.

“What would be the worst thing that could happen to JJ is that he finds out he’s actually a Kook because he’s the Pogueist Pogue, and that would just put him in the frying pan,” showrunner and executive producer Jonas Pate told Entertainment Weekly in October 2024.

While not much is known about how he ended up growing up as a Pogue under Luke’s care, it’s assumed that Genrette knew that JJ was his grandson, given that he wrote him a personal letter referencing Albatross.

Was Blackbeard’s treasure found?

Rudy Pankow as JJ in ‘Outer Banks’.Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix

When Genrette approached the Pogues about the new hunt, he explained that he was trying to break a familial curse that was dependent on finding a certain keepsake: an amulet.

That wouldn’t be easy, as the amulet was located 80 feet deep into the ocean on Blackbeard’s last ship. JJ and Kiara succeed, but following an underwater face-off with a man later revealed to be Lightner, they discover they aren’t the only ones looking for the item.

When Lightner realized the teenagers had the prized necklace, he kidnapped Cleo and forced her to reveal its location. Pope rushed to her rescue, but despite his efforts, they lost the amulet to Lightner, who also killed Terrance, Cleo’s former colleague, during the confrontation. Still, the hunt wasn’t over, as Pope discovered that the rest of the treasure was somewhere in Charleston.

Shortly after, Lightner and Dalia used the amulet to enter a box in the crypt, leading them to discover a script that likely leads to the Blue Crown that the Pogues are hunting for.

At the end of Outer Banks season 4 part 1, the Pogues didn’t have their hands on the amulet or the Blue Crown — but they’ve never been known to give up easily.

What happened to Pope and Sarah?

Madelyn Cline as Sarah Cameron and Jonathan Daviss as Pope in ‘Outer Banks’.Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix

Once the group arrived in Charleston, Pope and Sarah went down to the crypt of an old church while Cleo and John B supervised the surrounding areas. Lightner and Dalia weren’t far behind them, though, and the Pogues had to hide underground in order to avoid another face-off.

While Pope and Sarah desperately sought an escape, a violent storm hit and flooded the catacombs. To make matters worse, they noticed barnacles high up on the ceiling, indicating the area would soon be completely underwater. They remained trapped in the catacomb at the end of season 4 part 1, still hoping to find a way out.

“The adventure they go on is probably my favorite,” Pate told EW in October 2024 when asked about Pope and Sarah’s fates.

“They do some globetrotting that takes them further afield than they’ve ever been, where they’re really, really out of their comfort zone, and it just makes for a really dramatic, explosive story in the second half,” Pate added. “We’ll have the biggest [action scenes] we’ve ever had. The scope of it is enormous.”

How are Chandler Groff and Hollis connected?

Brianna Brown as Hollis in episode 402 of ‘Outer Banks’.Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix

Throughout the beginning of season 4, Hollis, a prestigious real estate developer originally from the Cut, was trying to recruit Rafe Cameron (Drew Starkey) into a shady deal regarding the allegedly haunted Goat Island.

Rafe hesitated to take Hollis up on her offer, unsure if it was a scam. That was, until Hollis offered Rafe’s girlfriend, Sofia, $25,000 to convince him to join the deal. Sofia succeeded, but by the time she started to regret it, it was too late — Rafe was already “all in” with Hollis and had completed the large wire transfer.

After the transaction was completed, he was under the impression that he would learn more about the project through a meeting, where he would be introduced to key players, but the meeting didn’t take place as expected.

Instead, it’s revealed that one of those key players is actually Chandler Groff — who JJ has just learned is his biological father. In the final moments of Outer Banks season 4 part 1, Chandler and Hollis are side by side for the first time all season, with Hollis telling him, “It’s going to be glorious.”

Viewers are still in the dark about what exactly she is referring to, and Rafe still doesn’t know about the bribe, so there are a lot of secrets to potentially be unraveled in the second half of the season.

Did the Pogues lose their new business?

Carlacia Grant as Cleo, Rudy Pankow as JJ, Jonathan Daviss as Pope in episode 401 of ‘Outer Banks’.Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix

At the beginning of season 4, the Pogues return to Kildare Island with 20 lbs. of gold they found in El Dorado, which they exchanged for $1.1 million (after spending some of the money on JJ’s restitution fees).

They used their new wealth to build a bait, tackle and charter tour shop (that would double as a home) on JJ’s old property land that they bought back, naming it “Poguelandia 2.0.”

The business was steady for a while until JJ gambled their last gold nugget in a race against Topper and Rafe, which was supposed to pay their property taxes. Losing the race put them back in debt, leaving them to rely on the $50,000 they would receive in exchange for finding the amulet.

That’s not the only obstacle the now-business owners face. Sarah and Cleo discover that the government is changing zoning laws, which affects the Pogues’ land and could force them out of their home and business.

It remains unknown how they will manage to save their business from the rezoning, but this will likely be a key plot point for the remainder of season 4.

What have the Outer Banks cast and crew said about season 4 part 2?

Drew Starkey, Chase Stokes, Madison Bailey, Carlacia Grant, Austin North, Rudy Pankow, Madelyn Cline and Jonathan Daviss attend the ‘Outer Banks’ season 4 world premiere in Charleston, South Carolina on Oct. 8, 2024.Jeff Hahne/Getty

While there are questions from the first half to be answered, Pate also teased new challenges and storylines to come in Outer Banks season 4 part 2.

“We’re not telling falling in love stories anymore or love triangle stories because all the characters are happily with their significant other, so we have to find new obstacles to throw at them, and that’s what, really, we were trying to explore,” he told EW in October 2024.

According to showrunner Shannon Burke, the upcoming episodes might exceed expectations. “The second half of the season is the best half of a season we’ve ever done,” she revealed to the outlet, before explaining that season 4 is like a “double album.”

“The first half is Pogue-y fun, and then the second half is more stakes, more emotion, more adventure than we’ve ever had,” she added.

In an October 2024 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Cline echoed that excitement for the second half of the season. “If you think part one is good, just wait until part two,” she said.