How Outer Banks Cast Reacted to Season 4 Finale’s Shocking Ending

Warning: This story contains major spoilers for season four of Netflix's Outer Banks. 

The  OuterBanks Pogues made the most of a heartbreaking moment. 

Josh Pate and Shannon Burke—who co-created Outer Banks and co-wrote the show's season four finale—revealed that the Netflix series' cast had somewhat positive reactions to their decision to kill off beloved character Jackson "JJ" Maybank at the end of the fourth installment. 

In fact, Rudy Pankow, who plays JJ on the show, was actually on board with the idea of his character facing a tragic fate from the start.  

"He seemed excited about it," Shannon exclusively told E! News. "Like, just the idea of doing a death, dying scene, in the abstract."

Rudy also had a lot of time to prepare for the big moment, as Josh recalled coming up with the idea to kill off one of the Pogues early on in the teen drama's development and pitching it to the 26-year-old shortly after. 

"It was actually an idea that was almost present from the beginning of the series that, at some point, one of the Pogues would die," the screenwriter explained. "By the second season, we realized it would be JJ. And we even talked about it with Rudy far off in the future, like, 'When this character goes, it might be in Kiara’s arms.'” 

As for his castmates Madison Bailey (Kiara "Kie" Carrera), Madelyn Cline (Sarah Cameron), Chase Stokes (John B Routledge), Drew Starkey (Rafe Cameron), Austin North (Topper Thornton) and Carlacia Grant (Cleo Anderson)? Jonas Pate—who co-created Outer Banks alongside Josh and Shannon, as well as directed season four's final episode—shared that the stars found out about the shocking ending after it'd been solidified in ink. 

"They didn't find out until pretty late," Jonas told E!. "Honestly, not until the draft of the final episode got to them."

But once they were cued into the storyline, Rudy's costars certainly had a mix of feelings. 

Joking that their initial thought was probably, "'Thank god it's not me,'" Jonas explained, "They were emotional about it, because they love Rudy. The cast are good friends."

And of course, the actors' top priority was making sure his death received the onscreen treatment that it deserved. As Jonas put it, "Everyone just sort of rallied around the story."

"Everyone really wanted to make it as emotional and as compelling as it could be," he continued. "And they just jumped on board."

Ultimately, "emotional" wound up being an understatement for how JJ's final moments felt for Shannon. 

"I can’t watch it without crying," he shared. "The whole story comes together there, and it comes to a really emotional conclusion, and then seeing the flashbacks of the younger Rudy, it’s just really emotional on so many different levels."

Shannon added, "I don’t want to say it's my 'favorite' scene because it’s heart wrenching—it’s like a dagger to the heart—but it’s effective and it’s satisfying in a way that it’s a fitting conclusion to his character."

Part one and part two of Outer Banks season four are now streaming on Netflix. For more shows to add to your watchlist once you've caught up, keep reading. 

The riveting Indian spy thriller, set against the vibrant tapestry of the '90s, features explosive action, high-octane stunts and edge-of-your-seat excitement, complemented by multilingual performances and a grand visual scale. When stuntman Bunny (Varun Dhawan) recruits struggling actress Honey for a side gig, they are hurled into a high-stakes world of action, espionage and betrayal. Years later, as their dangerous past catches up, the estranged Honey and Bunny must reunite and fight to protect their young daughter Nadia.

The three-part docuseries follows celebrity pals Nivea, Eva Marcille, Tammy Rivera and London Hughes as they take a girls’ trip to Vietnam to rejuvenate themselves, find new inspiration and celebrate Nivea’s birthday. As they travel across Vietnam, the four women experience the vibrant Vietnamese culture and end up learning about themselves. But cultural clashes and misunderstandings within the group lead to early conflict, and the ladies must get things back on track. The spirituality and beauty of Vietnam serve as the backdrop as Nivea, Eva, Tammy and London heal from heartache, strengthen friendships, and reevaluate their priorities back home.

Yellowstone chronicles the Dutton family who controls the largest contiguous cattle ranch in the United States. Amid shifting alliances, unsolved murders, open wounds, and hard-earned respect – the ranch is in constant conflict with those it borders – an expanding town, an Indian reservation, and America’s first national park.

St. Denis Medical, which stars Wendi McLendon-Covey, Allison Tolman and David Alan Grier, brings the laughs with a mockumentary about an underfunded, understaffed Oregon hospital where the dedicated doctors and nurses try their best to treat patients while maintaining their own sanity.

Real estate expert and designer Christina Haack will continue to expand her design business in the South, creating custom dream homes for Nashville-area clients and navigating the hot market with her next flip and first rental property in six new one-hour episodes of the HGTV docu-series Christina in the Country.

During the six-episode season, the brothers will confer with clients to understand their home’s shortfalls and make a game plan to address what’s not working for them. With a set budget, Drew and Jonathan will take down walls, tear out kitchens and reconfigure living areas, assessing any hidden damage along the way that could impact the homeowners’ wish lists. They’ll reassure the families throughout the daunting renovation process and offer encouragement in emotional moments as they say goodbye to original rooms that hold treasured family memories.

Two years after the “accidental death” of Grace’s abusive husband, the close-knit Garvey sisters may have moved on, but when past truths resurface, the ladies are thrust back into the spotlight, suspicions are at an all-time high, lies are told, secrets revealed and the sisters are forced to work out who they can trust. 

The first-of-its-kind competition series will feature America's best roller-skating teams dancing through the decades for a chance to win  $150,000.

An unrivaled and highly elusive lone assassin, the Jackal, (Eddie Redmayne) makes his living carrying out hits for the highest fee. But following his latest kill, he meets his match in a tenacious British intelligence officer (Lashana Lynch) who starts to track down the Jackal in a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase across Europe, leaving destruction in its wake.

Alex Cross is a detective and forensic psychologist, uniquely capable of digging into the psyches of killers and their victims, in order to identify—and ultimately capture—the murderers. Aldis Hodge stars in the series and also serves as a producer. 

FX’s limited series is a gripping story of murder and memory in Northern Ireland during The Troubles. 

Spanning four decades, the series opens with the shocking disappearance of Jean McConville, a single mother of ten who was abducted from her home in 1972 and never seen alive again.

Telling the story of various Irish Republican Army (IRA) members, Say Nothing explores the extremes some people will go to in the name of their beliefs, the way a deeply divided society can suddenly tip over into armed conflict, the long shadow of radical violence for all affected, and the emotional and psychological costs of a code of silence.

Behind every country song is an untold story. Country music superstar Luke Bryan is exploring the hidden depths of Nashville in search of those stories. The series features never-before-seen performances by some of the biggest stars of country music as Luke uncovers the secrets, the hidden inspirations and the personal moments that shaped the music you love.

Season six, part two brings us to the Sekai Taikai, where Miyagi-Do will face new challenges and old enemies as they fight to become world champions—can they stay united as internal rivalries bubble back to the surface?

Silo is the story of the last ten thousand people on earth, their mile-deep home protecting them from the toxic and deadly world outside. However, no one knows when or why the silo was built and those who try to find out face fatal consequences. Rebecca Ferguson stars as Juliette, an engineer who seeks answers about a loved one’s murder and tumbles onto a mystery that goes far deeper than she could have ever imagined, leading her to discover that if the lies don’t kill you, the truth will.

Silo season two stars new addition Steve Zahn.

In celebration of Universal Pictures’ new cinematic event, based on the generation-defining Broadway musical, international superstars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande lead an all-star cast in a spectacular journey through Oz for their new film, Wicked.

Filmed on the movie’s stunning Emerald City set, stars Grande, Erivo, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang and Marissa Bode and will share personal memories, intimate video diaries and revealing secrets about their personal journeys through the making of the Universal Pictures film.

Based on Charles Yu’s award-winning book of the same name, the show follows the story of Willis Wu, a background character trapped in a police procedural called Black & White. Relegated to the background, Willis goes through the motions of his on-screen job, waiting tables, dreaming about a world beyond Chinatown and aspiring to be the lead of his own story. When Willis inadvertently becomes a witness to a crime, he begins to unravel a criminal web in Chinatown, while discovering his own family’s buried history and what it feels like to be in the spotlight.

Housewives Garcelle Beauvais, Erika Jayne, Dorit Kemsley, Kyle Richards and Sutton Stracke return for a season of monumental changes and new beginnings.

Joining the group is housewife Bozoma Saint John, marketing titan and friend of Sutton’s who brings her unique flair and fierce energy to the 90210. Resident socialite Kathy Hilton and Oscar-nominated actress Jennifer Tilly join season 14 as friends.

Making Manson uncovers new revelations from Charles Manson’s own words, offering the most comprehensive Manson portrait yet on film or television.  

Featuring never-before-heard audio of Manson culled from more than 100 hours of intimate conversations recorded over 20 years up until his death in 2017, the series offers new details about Manson’s past and surprising insights into his worldview. Nearly 20 contributors appear in the series, from those closest to his crimes in “The Family” to family members of victims, some speaking out on-camera first time. 

Season three of the comedy will premiere Nov. 19.

This season returns with DJ Khaled, Ludacris and Latto serving as the newest judges to up and coming talent from around the country vying to win the grand prize of $250,000 and the title of hip hop’s newest star.

Season two finds new parents Ava (Kaley Cuoco) and Nathan Bartlett (Chris Messina) three months into parenthood. Focused on taking care of her family, Ava is determined to resist her true crime obsession and return to work as a real estate agent while Nathan trains private tennis clients.

But a series of new murders pulls her back in – is Matt (Tom Bateman) behind the slayings? Is Tory (Liana Liberato), now entangled in a relationship with Matt, in danger?

Watch Ted Danson as Charles, a retired man who gets a new lease on life when he answers an ad from a PI and becomes a mole in a secret investigation. From creator Mike Schur, A Msn on the Inside is based on the documentary The Mole Agent, a 2021 Oscar nominee for Best Documentary feature.

Twenty-five years after the iconic film captivated audiences with its provocative drama, sex, and scandal, this series introduces a new class of cruel characters who are ready to take their games and manipulation to a whole new level. Whether you're a longtime fan of the film or new to the twisted tale, the series promises binge-worthy fun that audiences won't want to miss.

The comedy, which follows a group of college students at New England’s prestigious Essex College, returns for season three in November.

Coming off the first half of Outlander season seven, we find Claire, Jamie and young Ian leaving the colonies and arriving in their beloved homeland: Scotland.  The perils of the Revolutionary War force them to choose between standing by those they love and fighting for the land they have made their new home.

Meanwhile, Roger and Brianna face new enemies across time, and must battle the forces that threaten to pull their family apart. As loyalties change and painful secrets come to light, Jamie and Claire’s marriage is tested like never before. With their love binding them over oceans and centuries, can the MacKenzies and Frasers find their way back to each other?

Returning for season 11 are Dr. Jacqueline Walters, Dr. Simone Whitmore, Dr. Heavenly Kimes, Toya Bush Harris, Quad Webb, Phaedra Parks, Esq. and Lateasha “Sweet Tea” Lunceford.   

The three-part docuseries investigates the mishandling of the 1996 JonBenét Ramsey murder case by law enforcement and the media.

Muncie Daniels (Colman Domingo) is a political consultant-turned-TV pundit who may have lost his way in life. While on a work sabbatical in the Poconos to write the great American novel, Muncie finds himself the only witness to the murder of a well-known white supremacist, and now he's being framed for the crime. Muncie is forced to go on the run in a desperate fight to clear his name and unravel a global conspiracy before time runs out. Along the way he'll reconnect with his family, find unlikely allies, and fight against disinformation in a post-truth age.

The 98th Macy’s Parade lineup will be the largest yet with more than 5,000 volunteers, 17 featured character balloons, 22 floats, 15 heritage and novelty balloons, more than 700 clowns, 11 marching bands, 10 performance groups and music’s biggest stars, all welcoming Santa Claus and the holidays. Today's Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker will once again join as hosts of the Emmy Award-winning celebration. 

A fresh take on the critically acclaimed hit French drama Le Bureau des Legendes, the all-new political thriller follows Martian (Michael Fassbender), a covert CIA agent, ordered to abandon his undercover life and return to London Station. When the love he left behind reappears, romance reignites. His career, his real identity and his mission are pitted against his heart; hurling them both into a deadly game of international intrigue and espionage.