Outer Banks<\/em><\/a> is coming to an end with season 5 and many fans are wondering if Rudy Pankow<\/strong><\/a> really won\u2019t be returning after his character, JJ\u2019s, shocking death in the season 4 finale.<\/p>\n Sadly, all clues point to Rudy\u2019s exit from the series. JJ was killed at the hands of his biological father, Chandler Groff (J. Anthony Crane<\/strong>), at the end of season 4. He died in his girlfriend, Kiara\u2019s (Madison Bailey<\/strong>), arms. John B (Chase Stokes<\/strong>) gave a eulogy in the form of a voiceover as clips of JJ from throughout the series played, and the Pogues had a burial for him in Morocco.<\/p>\n While many television shows have faked characters\u2019 deaths in the past, Rudy left season 4 with a certain finality. \u201cI want to leave the cast and crew with the biggest thank you,\u201d he told Tudum<\/em><\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s been such a pleasure to come to work. This is by far the biggest thing I\u2019ve ever done in [my] experience and to have this as my start is a start of a lifetime. I\u2019m going to miss it. Thank you for so many fun memories I\u2019ll have the rest of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n He also reiterated that JJ \u201cdoesn\u2019t make it\u201d in the season 4 finale<\/a>. \u201cWhen I first found out JJ was gonna risk it all and not make it, I understood it,\u201d Rudy explained. \u201cAnd the risks got bigger and bigger and the stakes got higher and higher. \u2026 His death really does set up the future of OBX<\/em> with the question: What is worth it And when someone that close to you is gone, how do you navigate that?\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the creators of Outer Banks<\/em> said that killing off the beloved JJ had been in the works for a while. \u201cWe were pretty sure early on that this was where it was going,\u201d Shannon Burke told Cosmopolitan<\/em><\/a>. \u201cWe thought that one of the Pogues would die almost in the very beginning in season 1 and we were pretty sure it was going to be JJ. We just weren\u2019t sure when we were going to play that card. We knew this would be JJ\u2019s season. This is JJ\u2019s story<\/a>. And we realized pretty early on, like, \u2018OK, we\u2019re going to play this card now.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Jonas Pate<\/strong> explained why JJ\u2019s death was also necessary to symbolize the heart of the show: loyalty and friendship. \u201cWe tried to write a scene where, ultimately, he wants to give up the treasure because he doesn\u2019t care about it in comparison to the things that do matter to him,\u201d Jonas told Tudum<\/em>. \u201cAt some point, this had to happen in order to justify [Pogues for life]. There\u2019s definitely a sense of morality that runs through the show.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite the writing being on the wall for Rudy\u2019s exit from the show, fans are still holding out hope that JJ could return. Many viewers have theorized that JJ could be resurrected with the help of the blue crown\u2019s power.<\/p>\n Season 4 featured the Pogues on the hunt for the blue crown. According to the legend, the blue crown gives the person in possession of it the ability to have their wishes fulfilled. JJ seized the blue crown but ultimately gave it up to Chandler Groff in exchange for Kiara\u2019s life after Groff took Kiara hostage and was holding her at knifepoint.<\/p>\n After getting the crown, Groff still killed JJ for not helping him out of the bottom of a well in the middle of the Morocco desert earlier in the episode. Groff then took off to Portugal in hopes of selling the invaluable item to a prospective buyer. Meanwhile, the Pogues began plotting their revenge on the man who killed JJ, setting up their season 5 journey to track Groff down and get back what he stole from them.<\/p>\n Fans have speculated that the Pogues could retrieve the crown and make a wish for JJ to come back to life, which would allow Rudy to return to the show.<\/p>\n However, showrunners are more focused on the revenge storyline for season 5. \u201cIt was a really hard decision [to kill JJ] because he\u2019s such a great piece of the ensemble,\u201d Josh<\/strong> Pate<\/strong> said. \u201cIt sets the stage for an epic fifth and final season. We\u2019re planning a story of redemption and a season that embodies the friendship that JJ had come to represent. JJ\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Another widespread fan theory is that Rudy asked to leave the show after season 4 because of rumored drama<\/a> with Madison. Despite the creators\u2019 insistence that JJ\u2019s death was long-planned, many viewers are convinced that the costars\u2019 feud is what really led to Rudy\u2019s departure. Life & Style<\/em> reached out to reps for Madison and Rudy about the feud speculation and we have not heard back as of publication.<\/p>\n Rumors of tension between Madison and Rudy began after season 2 of Outer Banks<\/em> premiered in 2021. Fans noticed that the two seemed to be interacting less on social media and posting less content together than they had when season 1 came out the year before. The stars\u2019 respective girlfriends<\/a> \u2013 Mariah Linney <\/strong>and Elaine Siemek<\/strong> \u2013 became targets, with fans accusing them of being the reason for the apparent rift.<\/p>\n The vitriol against Mariah and Elaine became so negative and filled with unfounded accusations that Madison and Rudy had to step in and publicly defend their significant others.<\/p>\n According to the fan lore, things took another turn following a cast dinner in 2023. Afterward, Elaine and Madison unfollowed each other on Instagram and so did Mariah and Rudy, fans claimed. However, Madison and Rudy still follow each other on the social media site.<\/p>\n Still, when season 4 of Outer Banks<\/em> premiered in 2024, fans felt like the chemistry between JJ and Kiara was off. They referenced one specific scene that appeared to show the actors using body doubles while cuddling up by the fire. \u201cThe camera cuts,\u201d one fan pointed out on X, along with a clip that showed how Kiara and JJ were never seen in the same frame as the romantic scene played out.<\/p>\n Rudy and Madison have not publicly commented on the feud rumors. They both attended various red carpet events for season 4 of Outer Banks<\/em>, but, as many fans pointed out, they did not stand next to each other in any of the group photos.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nIs Rudy Pankow Leaving \u2018Outer Banks\u2019?<\/h2>\n
Why Fans Think JJ Could Return for \u2018Outer Banks\u2019 Season 5<\/h2>\n
Outer Banks\u2019 Rudy Pankow and Madison Bailey\u2019s Rumored Drama<\/h2>\n
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