Prior to JJ’s shocking death in Outer Banks’ season 4 finale, the hit Netflix drama laid the groundwork for the character who will fill the gap that he’s left within the Pogues. While Outer Banks’ main characters have experienced major losses before, such as Ward Cameron and Big John’s tragic fates in season 3, JJ’s death hits the closest to home for the teens. After seemingly being invincible by surviving so many death-defying moments, the Pogues’ luck finally ran out when JJ was fatally stabbed by his own father, Chandler Groff, in Morocco.
The Pogues originally began with the core four – John B, JJ, Pope, and Kiara – before expanding to officially include former “Kook Princess” Sarah Cameron and, eventually, Cleo. The six Pogues stayed strong throughout the past two seasons, but JJ’s death now tragically brings them down to five after Outer Banks season 4’s ending. With JJ being considered the greatest embodiment of a “Pogue,” his loss creates a hole that will never truly be filled in his friends’ hearts. That said, Outer Banks has set up a surprising character to bring the Pogue group back to six members in season 5.
Outer Banks Season 4’s Ending Makes Rafe The Pogues’ New JJ Replacement
JJ Leaves A Hole In The Pogues’ Group That Rafe Is Set Up To Fill
While it didn’t seem like this shift would ever come, Rafe Cameron is being established as the next addition to the Pogues in Outer Banks. Alongside Kooks like Ward and Topper, Sarah’s older brother has been the Pogues’ biggest foe throughout the series, with Rafe’s dangerous, hot-tempered nature often placing the Pogues in lethal situations while sabotaging their treasure hunts. Rafe even disowned Sarah following the death of their father, Ward, in Outer Banks season 3’s ending, as he didn’t believe the story that Ward simply sacrificed himself to save her.
Rafe may have been one of Outer Banks’ biggest villains, but his motivations also must be understood as a product of Ward’s influence. All Rafe ever wanted was for Ward to trust him, be proud of him, and believe in him, but he could never achieve that, and resented Sarah for being Ward’s favorite. Rafe learned from Ward’s poor behavior that horrible actions were justified as a means to a better end, and it didn’t matter who was sacrificed if they got in the way or threatened the security of their family. If his dad hated the Pogues, then he would, too.
Rafe still idolized Ward in the wake of his death, and decided that he would finally get his father’s approval from beyond the grave. Rafe stepped up and decided that he was now the leader of the Cameron family without their father, which meant taking care of their finances and making sure that he and his siblings are on good terms. Therefore, even though Rafe still resents Sarah for opposing Ward and joining the Pogues, he spends much of Outer Banks season 4 prioritizing how to mend his relationship with Sarah.
That culminated in a surprising twist in which Rafe helped get the Pogues from the Outer Banks to Morocco, convincing Shoupe that the murderous Chandler Groff was the one they really needed to capture, and that wouldn’t happen if the Pogues were in jail. In Morocco, Rafe and Sarah finally begin to reunite as they embrace and recognize that they’re really the only family they have left (and Wheezie, of course). This heartbreaking moment sets up Rafe to drop his prejudices against the Pogues, and even learn to become one of them as they prepare to get revenge on Groff.
After JJ’s tragic death, it’s Rafe who tells the Pogues that their top priority should be to go after the guy who just killed their best friend. JJ may not be one of his favorite people, but Rafe is ready to travel to Lisbon with the others to stop Chandler Groff and get payback for killing the OBX-born-and-raised teen. At this point, with Rafe being in love with Sofia, another Pogue, working to fix his relationship with Sarah, and joining the other teens on another international adventure, the Pogues have found a new member in the most unexpected character.
Rafe Will Fill In The Impulsiveness & Unpredictability Of JJ In Outer Banks Season 5
Rafe & JJ Share Some Similar Character Traits
Rafe isn’t just a new character filling the gap left by JJ, as his role in replacing the beloved Pogue is also based on their similar character traits. JJ was known as the group’s wild card, and would frequently engage in impulsive activities, risk too much for the reward, and react with anger due to his often volatile nature. JJ was a good kid filled with love and was loyal to a fault, but many of his flaws were comparable to those seen in Rafe. However, one grew up on Figure Eight while the other grew up on The Cut.
The other Pogues had more reservations about their actions than JJ, so that impulsivity and unpredictability within the group would have been lost without him. But, with Rafe, that element comes back into play for Outer Banks season 5. This time, though, Rafe’s unpredictability should work in favor of the Pogues, rather than being used against them like in past seasons. Outer Banks season 5’s treasure hunt won’t be the same without JJ, but there will certainly be an echo of his presence as the Pogues get revenge for his death and Rafe fulfills some of his lost attributes.
How Rafe Becoming A Pogue Will Change Outer Banks Season 5’s Dynamic
Rafe & Sarah Together Adds A New Family Dynamic To The Pogues
Since JJ’s death in Outer Banks’ season 4 finale was at the very end of the episode, the show didn’t quite integrate Rafe into the group while in Morocco. Rafe was on his own mission while there, and largely kept his distance as the odd man out with the Pogues. However, after JJ dies, Outer Banks sees Rafe get a bit closer to the group, standing around JJ’s grave and even engaging in the conversation around the fire about what their next moves will be.
It’s clear that the Pogues still don’t fully accept Rafe, as he still considers himself a Kook despite how much heartache and tragedy maintaining this label has brought him. Rafe having previously been the opposition to the Pogues will certainly still create some tension within the group in Outer Banks season 5, but now he’ll have to make a priority of protecting Sarah. Considering he knows them the best, Rafe will likely be paired with Kie and Sarah in Outer Banks season 5’s adventure, with Sarah and Rafe’s familial relationship raising the stakes for the danger of their mission.
