It Just Doesn’t Feel the Same… Fans have reached the end of one of Netflix’s biggest adventure dramas — and the final episodes have left longtime viewers struggling with a painful absence that hangs over almost every moment.

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Outer Banks fans struggle with finale after JJ Maybank’s tragic death

The fifth and final season of Outer Banks has arrived on Netflix, bringing the story of the Pogues to a close. While the series ended on a warm, emotional note, many fans were left feeling that something important was missing: JJ Maybank.

All 10 episodes of the final season are now available, and viewers quickly made their way through the conclusion. The story follows the Pogues as they deal with the aftermath of a devastating loss, pursue revenge and travel around the world in search of the Blue Crown.

But JJ’s absence hangs over the entire season.

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Outer Banks.

Two people hug as others look sad around them

JJ, played by Rudy Pankow, died during the season four finale after being fatally stabbed by his biological father, Chandler Groff, portrayed by J. Anthony Crane. His death was a major blow for viewers, and the reaction continued as fans watched the final season without one of the show’s most popular characters.

Many viewers took to X to explain how difficult it was to watch the final episodes without JJ.

One fan admitted they had hoped the Blue Crown might somehow bring JJ back to life, writing that they had wished for his return but ultimately knew it would not happen.

Another viewer said watching the series without JJ was “really hard,” adding that the show simply did not feel the same without him and that he should have been there with the rest of the group.

The finale itself only reinforced those feelings. A final group shot brought the Pogues together, but JJ was noticeably absent.

“The last frame being just the Pogues. But JJ should be there, man,” one fan wrote.

Another viewer described JJ as one of the best characters in Outer Banks and said season five “didn’t hit the same without him.” Someone else said the show already felt strange only 20 minutes into the first episode because JJ was missing.

A young man stands in an outdoor area with a house in the background

JJ and Kiara’s emotional flashback

JJ’s absence was particularly painful during a flashback involving Kiara Carrera, played by Madison Bailey.

The scene showed JJ and Kiara meeting for the first time as young children. Their relationship had developed from a close friendship into a romance, making the flashback especially emotional for fans who had followed their story throughout the series.

One viewer reacted to the scene with tears, while another described seeing the first meeting between Kiara and JJ as an emotional reminder of the pair’s history together.

Their connection was one of the relationships at the heart of the series, making the flashback a particularly poignant moment in the final season.

A prequel will explore the origins of the Pogues and Kooks

A young man and woman smile as they hug closely

Even though the main Outer Banks story has ended, the world of the series is set to continue.

Shortly before season five was released, a prequel series was announced after receiving the green light. The new series will go back 20 years before the events of Outer Banks to explore how the divide between the Pogues and the Kooks began.

Creator Josh Pate explained to Deadline that the prequel will focus on how the island became divided between its wealthy residents and those who had less, tracing the origins of the rivalry between the two groups.

“It really is the story of how the island split — and it’s particularly relevant in our country right now — how it split into the haves and have-nots, how the Kooks and the Pogues started. How did this rift start?” Pate said.

Creator Shannon Burke added that the story would feature both familiar characters and new ones, but would take place a generation earlier.

“And seen through the stories of some of the characters you know and some new characters. But they’re 20 years before, so it’s the parents’ generation,” Burke said.

The original Outer Banks already established connections between that older generation and the main characters. The series featured John B’s father and JJ’s father, along with Sarah and Rafe Cameron’s father. Pope and Kiara’s parents were also part of the story, as were Topper’s mother and grandfather.

For now, the fifth season marks the end of the Pogues’ main adventure. But for fans still struggling with JJ’s absence, the emotional final moments have made it clear how much the character meant to the group and to the audience.

Outer Banks is streaming on Netflix.