When Outer Banks Season 4, Part 1 was announced, fans were eager to see how the new treasure hunt would unfold. The previous seasons focused heavily on John B and his father, Big John, trying to find El Dorado (aka the Lost City of Gold) to prove the Routledge dynasty was right. The other characters in John B’s crew — the Pogues — were mostly backup in this journey.

The fourth season of the popular Netflix series actually gives more depth to the others. One of them is John B’s best friend and proverbial brother, JJ. All series long, JJ is that impetuous, impulsive yet fiercely loyal friend who gets John B into trouble. But the newest slate of episodes gives JJ his own family dilemma by revealing who his biological father is. It comes with a major bombshell regarding the Pogues and Kooks, and JJ’s destiny.

Who Are the Pogues and Kooks In Outer Banks?

JJ Pushes The Pogues to Hate the Poor Kooks

To understand JJ’s family tree, one has to dissect the Pogues and Kooks down in the Cut in South Carolina. The Pogues are the poor kids, social pariahs and those who hate the elites. JJ leads this ideology, which is why he hated how John B crushed on Sarah Cameron. JJ considered Sarah and the rich “Kooks” — the kind of people his kind wouldn’t associate with. It created arcs based on classism in this modern update of films like The Goonies.

This social divide opened up a Romeo and Juliet story with John B and Sarah, who defected to the Pogues. It also touched on bullying, as JJ often defended the Pogues’ brain child, Pope, from the arrogant Kooks. Kiara was the exception. She is wealthy and privileged, but she considers herself a Pogue due to her compassion and empathy. This is why JJ loves her as a girlfriend; he knew she wasn’t faking it, as she often broke her parents’ rules to go treasure hunting with JJ and the boys.

JJ Actor Details

Actor Name
Rudy Pankow

Date of Birth
Aug. 12, 1998

Place of Birth
Alaska, USA

Notable Movies
Uncharted, The Crusades

Notable TV Shows
Solved, Acting For a Cause

JJ loves these kindred spirits because he didn’t have much of a family growing up. His father, Luke Maybank, was a deadbeat, alcoholic and criminal. He even got violent with JJ. Many assumed it was resentment, as Luke said an old girlfriend (assumed to be JJ’s mother) left him to raise the boy on his own.

JJ harnessed all this rage, hating Luke, who disappeared when the police came seeking him out for his smuggling activities. The teenager knew, however, that while his father was “scum,” he had siblings to lean on. Together, the Pogues could hate the Kooks and try to get rich together as a family.

Outer Banks Season 4 Confirms Luke Maybank Is Not JJ’s Father

JJ’s Mother Is Larissa Genrette

Outer Banks Season 4 has JJ as a loose cannon once more. He is driven selfishly by money after they built up Poguelandia — a haven with a surf shop and his own tours. He wasted their money, however, so now they need cash to avoid losing their place on Luke’s estate due to property tax issues. JJ is desperate for the Pogues to take up Wes Genrette’s offer to find Blackbeard’s treasure. This is an amulet that Blackbeard’s wife, Elizabeth, had, and the Blue Crown.

When Wes mysteriously dies, the Pogues realize they don’t have to sell it to his estate. They can sell the relics to a museum. The rabbit hole they go down, however, is a dangerous trek like the Indiana Jones movies. The Pogues are hunted by mercenaries led by Dalia and Lightner. JJ can tell they are onto something tremendously valuable, which pushes him to seek Luke out. He is desperate for his father’s help and smuggling boats, but things take a shocking turn.

When JJ helps Luke avoid the police, Luke admits through a very coherent, cohesive story that he isn’t the boy’s biological father. JJ is in denial, but he begins reconciling everything that points to the truth. Wes left JJ a letter calling him “master” and detailing the “Albatross” — something only Luke knew about. Luke admits this is the boat that Wes’ daughter, Larissa, died on.

Wes was hoping the relics could wipe out the Blackbeard curse haunting his kin. JJ is personally attached to the job, as Luke confesses Larissa was JJ’s mother. This means JJ isn’t a Pogue — he’s a Kook, as the Genrettes are some of the region’s richest people. It’s the worst thing that could happen to JJ in terms of philosophy. He’s left shattered and wondering about his history and future. This also means JJ’s father is actually an enemy: Chandler Groff.

Who Is Outer Banks’ Chandler Groff?

Chandler Groff Is JJ’s Sinister Father

Chandler is seen early on in these new Outer Banks episodes, heartbroken about Larissa, and then, Wes’ death. He can’t believe his father-in-law is gone, but suspicions were raised. One red flag came with Chandler directing Deputy Shoupe to the Pogues when he was quizzed about Wes’ death. Chandler came off like he was faking it and like he had something more to do with the hunt. Now, it’s safe to say he just wants the treasure.

The finale has him with Hollis, a shady real estate agent who is looking to buy up territories such as Goat Island. It looks like JJ’s father is trying to secure, not just Wes’ estate, but others in a capitalist scheme with Hollis. It’s uncertain if Chandler knows about JJ, how Luke came across JJ and decided to raise him, and what other secrets Wes left behind with one of his servants. What’s certain is that JJ and Chandler are on a collision course.

The series has only just introduced the Genrette clan, so there aren’t many clues from previous seasons to tease JJ’s backstory or a trajectory for future chapters. It makes the show unpredictable and gives JJ an even wilder story than John B — one fans of the National Treasure movies would love. As for how the Pogues will handle the revelation, that remains to be seen. JJ will have to contend with being the very thing he hates; something the other Kooks will weaponize once they find out that JJ is one of them by blood.

Ultimately, Outer Banks Season 4, Part 2 will have JJ as the centerpiece of the tale. It’s a breath of fresh air, as JJ will have support in Sarah, who knows being a Kook by genetics doesn’t take away from being a Pogue. The question is: will JJ handle all the pressure and revelations when he meets the father, who is turning out to be one of the show’s biggest villains?

Season 4, Part 1 of Outer Banks is now streaming on Netflix. Part 2 will release Nov. 7, 2024.