PART one of Outer Banks season four dropped a major twist regarding the parentage of JJ Maybank.
The revelation in episode five turns everything viewers thought they knew about the character’s background on its head.
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Rudy Pankow plays JJ Maybank in Outer BanksCredit: Getty
Who is JJ Maybanks’ dad?
For the first three seasons of Outer Banks, JJ — played by Rudy Pankow — was portrayed as the son of Luke Maybank, an abusive alcoholic who physically and emotionally mistreated him throughout his childhood.
However, the truth is far more complex and ties directly into the overarching mystery of season four.
In episode five, titled Albatross, JJ receives a letter from Wes Genrette revealing some shocking information about his true identity.
When JJ confronts Luke about this, he finally admits that he is not JJ’s biological father.
He says JJ’s real parents are Larissa Genrette and Chandler Groff.
This makes Wes Genrette, who hired the Pogues to find an amulet, JJ’s grandfather.
Larissa was married to Chandler, making him JJ’s biological father.
The Genrette Family curse
The revelation of JJ’s true parentage ties directly into the central mystery of Outer Banks season four involving the Genrette family curse.
According to Wes, the Genrette family has been haunted by the ghost of Elizabeth — Blackbeard’s wife — for 300 years.
Family members have died violent deaths, including Larissa, who supposedly drowned with her infant son on a boat called the Albatross.
Wes hired the Pogues to find Elizabeth’s amulet, believing it would break the curse.
The quest takes on new significance now that JJ is revealed to be part of the Genrette bloodline.
Unanswered questions
While the twist explains some of JJ’s background, it also raises many new questions:
Why did Luke raise JJ as his own son? Luke claims he was “just trying to help,” but the full story remains unclear
Does Chandler Groff know JJ is his son? His comment in episode two about believing in JJ suggests he might be aware of their connection
Why was JJ’s true identity kept secret? It’s possible Larissa wanted to protect JJ from the family curse or from Chandler himself
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JJ receives a letter from Wes Genrette revealing some shocking information about his true identityCredit: Netflix
Implications for JJ
This revelation throws JJ’s entire identity into question.
He’s spent his life as a proud Pogue, dealing with the stigma of being Luke Maybank’s son.
Now he discovers he’s actually a Kook by blood and would have lived a very different life if raised by his biological parents.
The truth about his parentage is likely to have a significant impact on JJ’s character development in part two of season four.
He’ll have to grapple with his true heritage and how it affects his relationships with the other Pogues.
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JJ confronts Luke Maybank, who reveals he isn’t his biological fatherCredit: Netflix
Potential dangers
JJ’s newly revealed identity may put him in danger.
If Chandler Groff is indeed a villain, as some scenes suggest, JJ could become a target.
There’s also speculation that Groff may have been involved in Wes’ death and is working with Hollis Robinson to gain control of Goat Island.
What next on Outer Banks?
As Outer Banks season 4 continues, viewers can expect to see more exploration of JJ’s true parentage and its implications.
The series will likely delve deeper into the Genrette family history, the curse and how JJ fits into this larger mystery.
The revelation about JJ’s father adds a new layer of complexity to his character and opens up numerous storytelling possibilities for the remainder of season four and beyond.
It will be interesting to see how JJ reconciles his Pogue upbringing with his newly discovered Kook heritage.
Will this knowledge affect his relationships with both his found family — the Pogues — and his biological relatives?
