'Outer Banks' star Rudy Pankow responds to fan theory that JJ Maybank is being killed off of show

Outer Banks Season 4, Part 1 concluded with a huge reveal that JJ Maybank's (Rudy Pankow) parents are Larissa Genrette and Chandler Groff (J. Anthony Crane), making him a Kook, JJ's worst nightmare. Before the Netflix show continues with Outer Banks Season 4, Part 2 on Thursday, Nov. 7, Rudy Pankow, Carlacia Grant and Austin North spoke to Yahoo Canada in Toronto about what's to come for the rest of the season.

Pankow responded to the widely spreading fan theory that JJ is going to die or be killed off the show, while North reflected on why Topper is still not over Sarah (Madelyn Cline) being with John B (Chase Stokes), and Grant teased how Cleo is going to move on from Terrance's (Terence Rosemore) death.

Video Transcript

Rudy, I have to start with you because what an ending to part one when you read that in the script, are you like, oh shit, this is getting like very real regular er you know, just pa back layers again.

And uh that scene was always really exciting for me and Gary to like portray because we, we had a chance to talk about it beforehand.

And um yeah, we both were shocked but we kind of kind of played into the scene of like, let's unpack the history of things and I think uh that's what happens in that scene and more to come in part two.

What were some of those conversations you had with him before?

You kind of shot that scene?

It was like, what does this also say about Luke?

Like, yes JJ has an identity crisis now where it's like, who is he?

Where does he come from?

Um like uh what characteristics of JJ now?

Can he hang on to?

But then it also was like, Luke, what was he protecting him from?

Why didn't he tell him uh what was the scary deeper thing um that he was trying to keep him from.

Um and that's more elaborated on part two.

So you really made um fans nervous because now there's a lot of people contemplating whether JJ is dying or being killed off in some capacity, anything you wanna say to clear up, maybe some concern.

This is a, you know, it's kind of a theory that compounds his back and forth and if it just speaks to his impulsiveness and his ability to put himself in, uh, well, dangerous situations quite often.

And I think that's where these theories are mainly coming from.

And again, I can't really speak about part two coming up.

But, uh, again, that's where I think those theories are coming from.

It's just his tendency to be the first in front of danger is a part of it fun to be on a show where people are kind of theorizing all the time and reading it to like every little thing to try to figure out what's happening.

I mean, we try to like, honestly just kind of focus on the work as much as we can.

So we don't really see all of them, but I've heard about that one.

I mean, I think that one's significant.

You talked about, um, the bracelet that people wear the bracelets now, is it nice that people are catching on to this now?

Because now I think I was one of those people who read that and then had to go back and then watch literally everything to see.

Yes.

And this has been since season one.

Like, we've always had these bracelets and no one noticed it.

This is something that every day, like, someone's losing it.

Like someone is losing one.

Like our makeup, our costume designer has like a bunch of them and it's been like this thing, like, we have these bracelets that are a part of our character.

So it was so funny that like they were, I was like, wow, that's crazy.

Like we figured like, I feel like our fans like know everything and I was like this big clue that was just revealed.

Awesome for you.

Um Do we think that your character is like gonna get over Sarah because when he's like, I had her first, I'm like, ok, but at this point, she's gone through a lot with Bobby at this point, but I don't really know if he wants to be involved with that.

It's, I think it's time to throw in the towel there to her.

I think, I think we need to move on.

But whenever, you know, he sees her, I'm sure brings up past emotions and, you know, a lot of time has passed between season three and four.

But yeah, why is he, you know, still trying to talk to her?

Why is there still this tension between him and John B?

Um I don't think it's going anywhere but I don't think with this new Kook Ruthie, anything's happening.

That's very nice.

She's ruthless.

Ruth ruthless, not the best, love the pot.

Um And I think there should be more of that to come.

Carter, unfortunate death, obviously massive for Cleo.

Tell me a little bit about what we can expect in part two about how it's going to impact her moving forward.

She goes through every stage of grief.

Um And I think that's what um I really spoke to the writers about is just making sure we're being inclusive of like all the feelings.

Um So we, we're gonna see her in a lot of moments of, you know, happiness, rage, um like just her abandonment and just the guilt.

So we're definitely going to go through that journey of like how she handles a death, you know, of this sort when you find out that the plan was to just hide the body where you like, you know, maybe we could have just told someone, you know, honestly, I think where Cleo was in that moment, she was in such a state of shock that I don't even think she could even see past like the shock of it and the pain of it.

So I don't even think she was thinking like that.

And I think at this point, Cleo wants to take it into her own hands.

I don't think she's thinking about calling cops.

This is, I feel like Cleo's like eye for an eye, you know, she's really cool.

How can I get her for you.

I think your character is really interesting and I think we always kind of want the best for Topper but are always a little bit concerned and confused about where he's going to go.

Is there anything that you kind of hope for with your character just in terms of his personal growth?

Um I just want to see topper um pursue his own dreams and aspirations.

He's kinda had this pressure from his mom as he saw beginning of season one to live up to a certain standard, she's a doctor and kind of was pressuring him to get into medicine.

And now you see a tease and I think it's episode two or three where he's talking about some real estate ventures and getting some property and, um, I think he's, he's, yeah, growing into his own and he's figuring out what he really wants in life.