One of CBS’ New Shows Was Inspired by Harry Styles’ Experience Living in Someone’s Attic

Is JJ really dead?

@unsiredd#obx#outerbanks#jjmaybank#johnbroutledge#johnb#sarahcameron#obx4#fyp#foryou#fireworks♬ Where'd All the Time Go? - Dr. Dog

There are a few theories about how Outer Banks season 5 will handle JJ's death (aside from Kiara's chilling vow to get revenge, of course). Some fans have their fingers crossed the group will use the Blue Crown to wish him back to life, while others are holding onto hope he was simply unconscious. But there's one theory that stands out among the rest to me: JJ is really dead, and this whole time, John B.'s narration has been telling his unborn child about his namesake.

The show teased Sarah and John B. will name their baby JJ, and since Outer Banks is all about family, friendship, and spending time with one another, the reveal that all along, Outer Banks has been the story of the Pogues' adventures would literally be the perfect way to send them off. I'm literally crying just thinking about it.

Will there be a 5th Outer Banks?

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Outer Banks (@obx)

Yes, we're getting a fifth and final season of Outer Banks coming to Netflix soon. While we don't have an official release date yet, we're expecting to see the last installment in 2025 or 2026.

In their official letter "to all Pogues," creators Josh & Jonas Pate and Shannon Burke explain how a photo of teenagers on a beach during a power outage inspired them to create the hit show we've all come to know and love. "From this beginning, we imagined a mystery that would lead to a five-season journey of adventure, treasure hunting, and friendship," they say in an official letter. "At the time, seven years ago, it seemed impossible that we would really get to tell the whole five season story, but here we are, at the end of our fourth season, still chopping away."

"Now, with a little sadness, but also excitement, we're putting Season Four behind us and turning to Season Five, in which we hope to bring our beloved Pogues home in the way we imagined and planned years ago," they continue. "Season Five will be our last season, and we think it will be our best yet. We hope you'll join us for one more paddle out to the surf break."

I can't wait to see Outer Banks season 5, and TBH five seasons will round out the show perfectly considering each season focuses on a different Pogue. That means season 5 will probably focus on Sarah alongside Kiara's revenge. 👀 Stay tuned for all the OBX5 info you need to know.

Is Rudy Pankow leaving OBX?

After traveling to Morocco to find the Blue Crown, the Pogues (and Rafe, who I guess is a Pogue now??) once again find themselves in a race against Chandler Groff and Dalia & Lightener. Our favorite couples get some quality time, like JJ and Kiara talking about the legend that the crown grants wishes, but right when the group finally starts to crack the treasure map, a sand storm splits them up: Sarah and John B. running from Dalia's men, and Pope and Cleo holding off Lightener while JJ and Kiara find the crown.

And things look up when JJ actually does find the crown! And he and Kiara escape Dalia! But when they run into Groff, who holds Kiara at knifepoint, JJ is forced to choose between the crown and the girl he loves. He willingly gives the crown up, pulling Kiara to safety in a heartbreaking parallel to their sweet hug from season 1. And in a moment of heartless cruelty, Groff stabs JJ anyway, leaving him in Kiara's arms as Groff runs away with the treasure.

It's truly one of the most devastating scenes in recent TV. Kie sits with JJ as he struggles to breathe and he asks her to take care of the other Pogues before telling her he already got his wish — her. They say one final "I love you" and JJ dies. I'm not exaggerating when I tell you I was weeping.

"It’s something that's engineered to be gratuitous," showrunner Shannon Burke told EW. "JJ totally is at peace, that’s the intent. He’s gotten past this. He’s been in a bad place and has been spinning for a lot of the season...And you feel when he comes back [after saving Sarah] that he’s in a better place and that there’s a long and bright future with him and Kiara, so it makes it extra tragic, what happens." Yeah, Shannon, you could say that.

“We wanted to begin in a place of innocence and then go to a place that at least one point to go is really dark for [the kids], and then have them come out of it," he adds in a Deadline interview. "That’s the overarching plan for the show. It was always JJ that was going to be, we just weren’t sure how we were going to play it.”

Is JJ coming back in season 5?

I'm simultaneously pissed and very impressed with this finale. JJ's death immediately started trending on social media, and the fact that a single scene could get such a visceral reaction from millions of fans shows how much we care about this character. And the realization that burying him in Morocco fulfills his greatest fear of being left alone?? I can't handle it.

Despite the fact John B. checks JJ's pulse and we can see Rafe digging JJ's grave in the sand, some fans are hoping the show will bring him back after Ward, Big John, and Sarah have all technically returned from the dead. The show hasn't forayed into true supernatural territory yet, but if the crown really does grant Kie and rest of the Pogues a wish? I'm certain they'd wish JJ back to life.

"Why would they create a treasure with the power of invincibility and wishes if it wasn’t significant?" one X user says in a viral thread. "So either Chandler finds JJ's body in Morocco and uses the crown on him or Kie / the Pogues will wish for JJ's life back."

Stranger Things 4 brought a version of Billy (Dacre Montgomery) back to haunt Sadie Sink's Max, so at the very least we could see memories or scenes with JJ we've never seen before. "I wouldn’t put [Rudy Pankow's return] out of the realm of possibility, Shannon told EW. "I wouldn’t say for sure but I wouldn’t be surprised if it happened."

Is Sarah pregnant in OBX 4?

With the "death of the fandom's favorite character" of it all, you might have forgotten that yes — Sarah Cameron is pregnant! Season 5 is sure to give us some more info about the baby and parents-to-be, but considering JJ, who's the baby's godfather, suggested his name is a great gender-neutral option, there's a chance we already know the baby's name ;). It would be the perfect way to honor him TBH.

What's up with the rest of the Pogues?

In addition to Sarah's pregnancy, she also finally starts to make up with Rafe, who finds himself stuck with the Pogues in Morocco. Cleo has somewhat avenged Terrance's murder with Lightener's death — even though Pope's the one who will take the fall for it. Killing one of this season's bad guys was a huge step for Pope since John B. wasn't able to pull the trigger. And considering Pope is still on the run from the cops AND the Marines are waiting on him I have no idea what's in store for him next season.

But the showrunners did give us a clue as to what the final season of Outer Banks will revolve around: revenge.

What's going to happen in Outer Banks season 5?

“[Revenge] is where we start but I think it will go through different iterations,” Jonas Pate says (via Deadline). “If you look at The Count of Monte Cristo, one of the greatest revenge stories, you start with revenge, but it goes to understanding and forgiveness, so revenge goes on to different iterations of that, but revenge is where we start for sure.”

In the final moments of the Outer Banks season 4 ending, the Pogues sit around a fire in the aftermath of JJ's death. And when they finally acknowledge that JJ wouldn't rest until he had avenged them, Kiara vows to get even and it's one of the most chilling moments of her entire character arc.

"What’s interesting about her is she’s this 'save the turtles, save the dolphins' kind of person, and when you see her at the end of [season] 4, she definitely does not look that like anymore," Shannon Burke tells EW. "She has turned into a different person and we’re excited for that and [Madison Bailey's] really excited for that."

"We’re planning a story of redemption, and a season that embodies the friendship that JJ had come to represent," co-creators Josh and Jonas Pates tell Netflix. "JJ's 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."

Real Touch Norfolk Pine Wreath with Velvet Bow and Bell

A simple velvet bow will elevate your door wreath for the season. This handmade and customizable faux Norfolk pine and juniper wreath is a very demure, very mindful way to decorate for the holidays, indoors and out.

Anthropologie Faux Cedar Wreath (optional trimmings)

Add velvet ribbon and ornaments to this faux and luxe cedar wreath and you have a colorful wreath for many years to come.

Crate and Barrel Faux Red Mini Berry Wreath

Available in holly berry red or winter white, this faux wreath brings holiday cheer to your door or mantel or even as wall art!

Food52 Vintage Bell Olive and Eucalyptus Wreath

Handmade in Monterey, CA, this stunning olive and eucalyptus wreath is very woodland vibes with two vintage bells strung with jute.

West Elm Faux Shimmer Wreath

Bring an instant glow to your holiday decor with this pre-lit wreath and matching garland.

Anthropologie Mistletoe Iron Wreath

For those who love kissing under the mistletoe, this wreath is the perfect holiday addition and tradition.

Maisonette Berry & Bright Ball Wreath

Go for vintage holiday party vibes with this cheeky glass wreath.

World Market Faux Eucalyptus and Red Berries Wreath

Deck your trad door with this lifelike eucalyptus wreath in two-tone green hues.

Afloral Real Touch Norfolk Pine Wreath

This super natural-looking pine wreath is faux and fabulous all year-round. Add small ornaments, ribbon, lights or just keep it au naturel.

William Sonoma Rainbow Kaleidoscope Live Wreath

Holiday wreath, but make it rainbow with air-dried botanicals like delphinium, larkspur, craspedia, strawflower, avena and eucalyptus. So fun!

DIY Holiday Wreath

Say hello to our embroidery hoop mixed with fringe, florals and wood. Take it a step further and add in succulents and some gold detailing to make it the cutest DIY Christmas wreath on the block. (via Brit + Co)

Etsy Large Beaded Natural Dried Wreath

This mix of boho botanicals on a lovely beaded wreath include: baby’s breath, banksia flowers, brunia stems, phylica, and flowers in green, red, yellow, and pink hues.

Anthropologie Paper Village Wreath

How cute are these colorful paper houses? Add a little village to your wreath this year for a whimsical look.

Etsy Boho Wreath

This boho-inspired pampas wreath is lush and beautiful and would look stunning on a dark-colored door.

DIY Pom Pom Wreath

Here's a wreath that's festive, colorful, and could be hung year-round. All it takes is some pom-pom skills (read: scissors) and a good Netflix binge to get you there. Get ready to bring pom-pom holiday decor to your home. (via Brit + Co)

ETSY DRIED FLOWER PAMPAS WREATH

Dried flowers combined with oats, wheat, pampas grass, and mixed cereals will turn your front door into an actual conversation piece.

Terrain Iron Constellation Wreath

This wreath is made up of a constellation of weathered iron stars for a little celestial vibe.

Cost Plus Mini Pinecone and Faux Greenery Wreath, Set of 2

Why go with just one big wreath when you can adorn your door with these sweet 6-inch wreaths with real pinecones, snowy faux pine sprigs and white eucalyptus leaves. Add them to doors, tablescapes or chair backs during your holiday feast.

Amazon Prime Snow-Covered Faux Spruce Wreath

With a mix of white berries, brown pine cones and festive stars, this "Welcome" wreath will cheer up your door instantly.

DIY Succulent Wreath

Here's a holiday wreath refresh, desert-style. It also makes a great handmade gift! (via Brit + Co)

Sign up for our newsletter to receive more creative home decor ideas, delivered right to your inbox and check out our creative DIY classes on B+C Classes!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.