Outer Banks season 5 has been released on Netflix, and fans have already watched all 10 episodes of the final season. The series ended with a heartwarming final scene, but one thing was missing: JJ Maybank (Rudy Pankow), who died in the season four finale.
JJ was fatally stabbed by his biological father, Chandler Groff (J. Anthony Crane). Fans were devastated by the loss, and while watching season five, they admitted the series "didn't feel the same" without JJ.
Fans react to JJ's absence
Viewers took to X to share their thoughts. One said: "I hoped so much that JJ would come back to life thanks to the Blue Crown, but it was no use. I mean, why is it always my favourite characters?"
Another wrote: "It's really hard watching this show with JJ gone, it just doesn't feel the same, he should be there with them." The finale included a group shot of the Pogues, but JJ was missing. One fan pointed out: "The last frame being just the Pogues. But JJ should be there, man."
Another viewer commented: "JJ was genuinely one of the best characters in Outer Banks. Season 5 didn't hit the same without him..." Someone else shared: "20mins into Episode 1 of @obxnetflix and it already feels weird without JJ."
Heartbreaking flashback scene
Fans were also emotional over a flashback scene showing the first time JJ and his best friend-turned-love interest, Kiara Carrera (Madison Bailey), met as young children. One fan said: "That JJ & Kiara flashback of when they were young and they first met." Another echoed: "The first time Kiara and JJ met. Aww, my babies."
Prequel series announced
Just before the final season dropped, a prequel series was given the green light. It will detail the origin story of the feud between the Pogues and the Kooks, set 20 years before the events of Outer Banks. Creator Josh Pate explained the premise to Deadline: "It really is the story of how the island split — and it’s particularly relevant in our country right now — how it split into the haves and have-nots, how the Kooks and the Pogues started. How did this rift start?"
Creator Shannon Burke added: "And seen through the stories of some of the characters you know and some new characters. But they’re 20 years before, so it’s the parents’ generation." The prequel will feature John B (Chase Stokes) and JJ's dads, as well as Sarah (Madelyn Cline) and Rafe Cameron's (Drew Starkey) dad, Pope's (Jonathan Daviss) and Kiara's parents, and Topper's (Austin North) mother and grandfather.
Outer Banks is streaming on Netflix.
