Even at Pankow’s first audition, the character breakdown for JJ literally stated that he was “true to a debt.” “When I first learned that JJ was going to risk everything and not make it, I knew it,” Pankow said. “And the risks got bigger and the stakes got higher.” He considers it a “great honor to portray such a beautiful and selfless character.”

Outer Banks Creators Josh Pate, Jonas Pate and Shannon Burke always planned for JJ to die at some point in the series. “It was a really hard decision because he’s such a great part of the cast,” Josh Pate said. “It sets the stage for an epic fifth and final season. We’re planning a story of redemption and a season that embodies the friendship JJ came for. JJ’s death was a hard but necessary part of the architecture of the story, and we plan to honor that as much as possible because we love the character as much as the fans do. And Rudy is a great friend of ours.”

After discussing it with Pankow, Jonas Pate said that Rudy embraced the “powerful way to end the character’s journey.” The co-creator recalls a great line from Chip Esten (who plays Ward Cameron): “You have to end well. Your character has to end well.”

Looking back on the series so far, our dear Captain Maybank could easily be described as the most Pogue-rich Pogue of them all. “Basically, JJ is kind of the heart of Outer Banksin my opinion,” said co-star Madelyn Cline, who plays Sarah. Jonathan Daviss, who plays Pope, would even say he is “Pogue incarnate.”

For Daviss, the core of the show is that the misfit Pogues attempt to break the shackles of their social status for a chance at a better life – hence their constant need to chase the G game (gold) whenever they want offers the opportunity to do so. “You want to work and do whatever it takes to get to the other side and bring your family and friends with you,” he said. “That’s what JJ is trying to do – it’s just that sometimes you get to dangerous places.”

Actually, JJ has never been to dangerous places. Growing up, he was raised by his abusive (and adoptive) father Luke (Gary Weeks) on the cut side of Kildare Island and became friends with John B (Chase Stokes) in third grade. From this friendship he learned to be “loyal to the extreme” (just like in surfing and dirt bike racing), and this loyalty remained his driving force until the end. “He was the ride-or-die hype man,” Pankow said.

This dedication was also evident in Pankow’s approach to his character’s death scene. Burke admired how detail-oriented he was and “immediately started planning how he was going to play it.”

But that doesn’t mean filming that final moment in Episode 10 wasn’t difficult. “The sound people were crying,” said Jonas Pate. “That was a tough scene.”

Bailey remembers a really difficult day. “This character is a great loss and everyone will feel it,” she said. Pankow finds it difficult to put this scene into words other than: “I knew everyone was ready to do their best, and I felt that in everyone.” Bailey and I brought it with us, and I know we did smashed it. It was emotional, but deep down everyone agreed, ‘Let’s make a difference.’ And I think we did.”

In this fateful scene, Groff doesn’t actually have to kill JJ – whom he’s already tested by abandoning him his entire life, murdering his mother and leaving him to die in the middle of the sea. In the finale, JJ has already given him the Blue Crown treasure in exchange for Kiara, and Groff stabs him just out of spite. “That just makes it a lot more surprising,” Burke tells Tudum. “Every time I see that I cringe. I’ve seen it a hundred times and you think, ‘Oh my God.’ Why did you do that?!’ The intent is to make us hate Groff. I think we succeeded.”

The goal has more than been achieved. Groff is by far the worst father of all Outer Banks fathers. “Yes, I think he will take the crown,” says Pankow, adding: “That’s not a funny pun, though.”

But at least JJ hasn’t inherited his father’s blinding greed and realizes what really matters. “I already have everything,” he tells Groff before handing over the crown. “I have everything I ever wanted, things you’ll never have.” Josh Pate tells Tudum that this moment “gets me every time.” And I’ve seen it many times.”

For the OBX Creators, this realization is what the show is essentially about. “It’s about these treasure hunters, but we tried to write a scene where he ultimately wants to give up the treasure because it doesn’t interest him compared to the things that really matter to him,” Jonas Pate said. JJ found a real family, built a house with Poguelandia 2.0, fell in love, and – despite all the evidence against him – tried to give both his Pogue and Kook fathers the benefit of the doubt.

For Jonas Pate, the series’ P4L (Pogues for Life) ethos is about friendship and, in turn, making sacrifices for those friendships. “At some point this had to happen to justify P4L,” he said. “There is definitely a sense of mortality that runs through the show. John B talks about it all the time.” Burke adds that the theme of sacrifice permeates the Pogues, as “they’re willing to give up everything for each other, and this is the ultimate example of that.”

For Pankow, JJ’s death is a reminder that life is precious. “His death really determines the future of OBX with the question, what is worth it? And when someone close to you is gone, how do you deal with it?”

Carlacia Grant, who plays talented klepto colleague Cleo, says JJ embodies the choice of friendship. “That’s something his character has always represented,” she said.

Stokes remembers how work on the series began when he and Pankow shared an apartment in South Carolina, where they were filming the series. “I am forever grateful for the experience I had with Rudy and forging a friendship that an entire generation could look at and say, ‘I need someone like that.’ I need someone to hold me in difficult moments and someone to support me in my highs. And if I act like an asshole, I’ll get called out for it too,” Stokes said. “And it goes both ways. They do it to each other.”

Bailey said she knows “this is going to rock my character’s world,” and JJ’s presence in the Pogues’ lives is a symbol of “never giving up and not letting circumstances affect how you love.”

Now that his work on the series is complete, Pankow would like to share his gratitude for his time Outer Banks. “I would like to extend my biggest thank you to the cast and crew. It was a great pleasure to come to work,” he said. “This is by far the greatest thing I’ve ever done and having this as a starting point is a start to my life. “I’ll miss it. Thank you for so many beautiful memories that I will have for the rest of my life.”

And to you Pogues die-hards: “To all the fans who show JJ so much support and love, I just want to say thank you,” he said. “I was really impressed playing him. It was an honor to bring him to life for you and it was a pleasure to play him. And P4L!”

As fans watch the finale, Pankow hopes they will be inspired to seize every second, just like JJ always does. “The spirit of JJ is: take the risk.”

Regard Outer Banks now only on Netflix.

Watch them Outer Banks Season 4, Part 2 Trailer