John B, Sarah, Kiara, JJ, Pope, and Cleo venture on yet another treacherous journey in Outer Banks season 4, but this time, the treasure hunt uncovers many unexpected secrets, including the truth about JJ’s family. Netflix’s action-adventure mystery teen drama follows a group of Pogues living in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. After discovering El Dorado during Outer Banks season 3’s ending, the Pogues are richer than ever in season 4, meaning there’s no need for more adventures (at first). Unfortunately, JJ uses most of their money to buy his property back so they can live and work there.

After building a surf/bait/tackle shop, it gets damaged by a storm, and zoning changes threaten to take Poguelandia away from the group. Consequently, the Pogues are forced to take Wes Genrette up on his offer to retrieve Blackbeard’s wife’s amulet in exchange for $50,000. They encounter other treasure hunters, led by Lightner, also looking for Elizabeth’s amulet, raising the stakes. By the end of Outer Banks season 4, episode 5, Lightner possesses the amulet and a scroll retrieved from a crypt, and Sarah and Pope’s lives hang in the balance as JJ learns his birth parents’ identities.

Who JJ’s Birth Parents Really Are In Outer Banks

Luke Maybank Returns & Tells JJ He’s Not His Father By Blood

After receiving a peculiar (posthumous) letter from Wes in Outer Banks season 4, episode 5, JJ separates himself from the others, who head to Charleston, where they believe Blackbeard hid his treasure. Kiara stays behind so that she can be there when her boyfriend returns. JJ is busy as he tracks down his father, Luke, hiding from the police in his friend’s house. JJ asks Luke to explain why Wes’ letter says to question the teen’s father about Albatross. After running from Deputy Shoupe, Luke reveals to JJ that he’s not his birth father — Chandler Groff is.
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As Wes explains in Outer Banks season 4, episode 2, his daughter, Larissa Genrette (also Groff’s wife), died a week after seeing Elizabeth’s ghost. Albatross was the name of the boat where she drowned, and it was rumored that her baby drowned with her. However, viewers know that’s not true because JJ is still alive. Somehow, JJ, whose birth parents are Larissa and Groff, survived. Luke took him in and raised him as his child. It’s unclear why Groff didn’t raise JJ himself, but it might have to do with the fact that he’s one of Outer Banks‘ villains.

After telling JJ that he’s not his birth father, Luke reveals that the woman JJ thought was his mother was just his girlfriend at the time.

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Wes writes in his letter to JJ, “I apologize for the clandestine manner of the delivery, but there are forces, both natural and supernatural, that make this secrecy necessary.” Of course, supernatural forces refer to Elizabeth’s ghost and the curse. However, it’s intriguing that Wes also discusses natural forces, suggesting a living being is why JJ’s identity has never been revealed until the end of Outer Banks season 4, part 1. While not explicitly stated, Groff is likely the person Wes refers to in his letter. Given his interrogation with Shoupe, Groff could also be the one who murdered Wes.

Why Hollis Robinson & Chandler Groff Are Working Together

Outer Banks Season 4, Episode 5’s Ending Reveals Hollis & Groff Know Each Other

Hollis Robinson, a realtor, is introduced as an old friend of Ward Cameron in Outer Banks season 4, part 1. She approaches Rafe at a party about a development project — buying Goat Island from the Genrettes and syndicating it with a group of partners. Hollis wants Rafe to cut a deal for $400,000, and after some bribing and pushing on Sofia’s part, Rafe accepts. It’s clear that Hollis is scamming Rafe, though, and using him for her own agenda. The swindle is made even more obvious when episode 5 ends with the reveal that Hollis is working with Groff.

As a direct descendent of the man who killed Blackbeard, Wes Genrette believes the ghost of the pirate’s wife, Elizabeth, has been haunting and violently killing the family for generations. Wes hopes that finding Elizabeth’s amulet will break the curse, but he dies before that can happen.

When part 2 of Outer Banks season 4 premieres, the episodes will divulge more information about Hollis and Groff’s relationship. But whatever their plans are, they are likely nefarious. Groff is in on the deal that Hollis makes with Rafe to buy Goat Island and build real estate since he doesn’t own it himself. Wes didn’t pass on the ownership of Goat Island to Groff in his will. So, Groff is finding other ways to possess the island, and Hollis is evidently helping him.

Lightner & The Other Treasure Hunters’ Plans Explained

Lightner & His Men Are Also Pursuing Blackbeard’s Treasure

The Pogues first encounter Lightner at their shop, and his vibes are off from the start. It’s unclear what Lightner’s deal is until he attacks JJ and Kiara in Outer Banks season 4, episode 2, in Blackbeard’s sunken ship. Just like the Pogues, Lightner is after the infamous pirate’s treasure, and he has an entire team backing him up. However, while Lightner leads the men, he seemingly reports to a woman named Dalia, who is looking for “The Blue Crown.”

Outer Banks Season 4 Cast
Role

Chase Stokes

Madelyn Cline
Sarah Cameron

Madison Bailey
Kiara “Kie” Carrera

Jonathan Daviss
Pope Heyward

Rudy Pankow
JJ Maybank

Carlacia Grant
Cleo

Drew Starkey
Rafe Cameron

Austin North
Topper Thornton

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The ending of Outer Banks season 4, part 1 doesn’t venture any deeper into what “The Blue Crown” is, but Lightner and Dalia want it. After stealing Elizabeth’s amulet from Pope, Lightner and Dalia travel to Charleston, where the necklace leads them. John B, Sarah, Pope, and Cleo also go to Charleston, but their mission is unsuccessful. Lightner and Dalia retrieve a scroll Blackbeard hid in one of his men’s coffins and leave without much (if any) opposition from the Pogues. It’s unclear what’s on the scroll, but it’s important if Lightner and Dalia want it.

Why John B Chooses Not To Shoot Lightner In Outer Banks Season 4 Part 1’s Ending

John B Lets Lightner Get Away With The Scroll

After Lightner and Dalia escape the crypt with the mysterious scroll, Cleo tries to kill him. She’s unsuccessful, and Lightner leaves her alive because people are around. However, John B runs to the Twinkie, grabs a gun, and points it towards the criminals. John B is ready to pull the trigger when he experiences flashes of when Big John shot and killed someone in front of him. Not wanting to be like his father, John B lowers the gun and watches as Lightner drives away with all the clues to finding Blackbeard’s treasure in Outer Banks season 4.

Why The Pogues Bury Terrance’s Body At Sea Instead Of Calling The Police

Lightner Kills Terrance

In a surprise turn of events, episode 3 reveals that Terrance, the cargo ship captain, is still alive. Terrance is working for Lightner, but he wants to help Cleo as soon as Lightner kidnaps her. Unfortunately, he doesn’t escape death for a second time in Outer Banks season 4, part 1, as Lightner shoots and kills Terrance, who was just trying to protect Cleo. Lightner escapes with Elizabeth’s amulet, and the Pogues are left with Terrance’s dead body in their house.

Shoupe doesn’t exactly regard the group of teens as upstanding citizens.

Deputy Shoupe swiftly arrives at Poguelandia in Outer Banks, wanting to question JJ about something unrelated to Terrance’s death. Instead of telling Shoupe the truth, John B, Sarah, Kiara, Pope, and Cleo hide the body and clean the blood while JJ distracts the cop. Shoupe doesn’t exactly regard the group of teens as upstanding citizens. So, it makes sense why the Pogues assume that Shoupe wouldn’t believe them if they told him the truth about Terrance. Shoupe leaves without seeing the body, and the Pogues then bury Terrance in the sea in Outer Banks season 4, part 1.

Why Rafe Wants To Make Amends With Sarah

Rafe Wants To Be Like His Father

In another surprising turn of events, Rafe expresses the desire to make amends with Sarah in Outer Banks season 4, part 1. At the beginning of the season, Rafe blames Sarah for their father’s death, not believing that she and the other Pogues didn’t kill him in South America. However, as the episodes continue, Rafe starts to long for a family again. He hears Ward’s voice saying, “Family is the most important thing,” and “Take care of each other.” So, Rafe vows to attempt to be like his father and rebuild the Cameron family.

Rafe visits the Pogues’ shop in Outer Banks season 4, episode 5, just to find Kiara. He wants to talk and make up with Sarah, but she’s in Charleston. So, after terrorizing Kiara a little bit, Rafe leaves. He will have to try to make amends with his sister another time. However, it’s quite unlikely that Sarah and Rafe can become a family again in Outer Banks, given what Rafe has done to her and her friends.

How Outer Banks Season 4 Part 1’s Ending Sets Up Part 2

Episode 5 Ends On A Couple Of Cliffhangers

The final moments of Outer Banks season 4, part 1 are spent revealing two surprises — one, JJ’s birth parents are Larissa Genrette and Chandler Groff, and two, Groff is working with Hollis Robinson. So, when part 2 opens, JJ will be reeling from learning the truth about his family. Meanwhile, the Netflix series should dive deeper into Hollis and Groff’s partnership and plans for Goat Island. However, part 2 must also explore the truth behind Blackbeard’s treasure and address Sarah and Pope’s fates.

The rain outside is making the crypt fill up with water, and it won’t be long until Sarah and Pope drown.

Outer Banks season 4, episode 5, ends with Sarah and Pope stuck in the crypt with no way to get out. The way they got in is locked, and Lightner and Dalia’s exit also isn’t an option. To make matters worse, the rain outside is making the crypt fill up with water, and it won’t be long until Sarah and Pope drown. The good news is that the two Outer Banks characters have John B and Cleo on the outside, hopefully working to somehow save their significant others in season 4, episode 6.

How The Outer Banks Season 4 Part 1 Ending Was Received

Fans Felt the Fourth Season Was A Step Up From The Third

The fourth season of Outer Banks was critically acclaimed, sitting at 100% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes by critics and at 78% by the audience score. For the audience, the season was a step up from the third season. One audience reviewer wrote, “Really good so far, exited to see what part 2 brings. Such a big improvement over season 3, hope the writers noticed the show is at its best when the pogues are all together.”

As for the critics, Daniel Hart of Ready Steady Cut writes that the first part of the fourth season proves that the show has longevity. “Season 4 shows that Outer Banks is maturing,” Hart wrote. “The characters are the same. The vibe is the same. Heck, it even follows similar plot beats. But it has proven its longevity by adding a sense of maturity to the young characters. Gone is the YA-feeling gloss; less stupid drama, more growing up.”

Fans on Reddit talked about how the first part of Outer Banks season 4 ended on a note that seems hopeful for the series. “I love it so far it seems it’s gonna end well and for the first time in while a show ending good is rare most def from Netflix,” Redditor Sufficient-Record586 wrote. From the sound of it, the fans are happy to see the Pogues back together as one, and the consensus is that things keep looking up, and the show can possibly continue on for at least two more seasons.