4 Outer Banks characters most likely to die in season 5

It's finally time for the last ride of the Pogues! Outer Banks season 5 hits Netflix on Aug. 20, 2026. If the last two seasons were any indication, we're not going to see all of these characters make it out alive.

Outer Banks season 4 ended with the death of a few key characters, none more important than JJ Maybank, played by Rudy Pankow. You'll also remember the third season finale, which saw the deaths of two notable characters, Ward Cameron and Big John Routledge.

So, it's pretty clear that there are more than a few characters in danger. Heading into the final season, I picked four characters we should all be very worried about, starting with the Kook King himself, Rafe Cameron.

Rafe Cameron

Rafe Cameron, played by Drew Starkey, has flirted with death a time or two in Outer Banks, but I feel like he's done so many bad things, like killing Sheriff Peterkin, trying to murder his sister, and much more. Is that okay? Do the writers want Rafe to get a happy ending because everyone loves Starkey and he's tried to redeem himself through his actions in season 4? We'll find out.

If there's anyone who could die in Outer Banks season 5, it's probably Rafe. I don't think we need to be that worried about the Pogues, but with everything Rafe has done, it wouldn't be a huge swing to kill his character off while saving Sarah (Madelyn Cline) and her baby or saving John B (Chase Stokes) or Kiara (Madison Bailey) to make up for the bad things he's done.

Rafe is definitely not safe heading into Outer Banks season 5.

Chandler Groff

If there's one character who I am absolutely sure is going to die heading into Outer Banks season 5, it's Chandler Groff (J. Anthony Crane). He's been marked for death since the minute we met him in season 4, but his death is all but sealed after killing his own son, JJ, in the season 4 finale.

The Pogues, especially Kiara, will stop at nothing to kill Groff after what he did. They want the Blue Crown, of course, because of its potential to bring back JJ and because of its cash value. That's priority no. 1, but the second part of the mission is revenge. We've been hearing all about it since the season 4 finale.

If Groff survives the Outer Banks finale, I will be completely shocked.

Kiara Carrera

Speaking of Kiara, she's the one Pogue I'm most worried about heading into the final season. Kiara was in love with JJ, and she was there when Groff killed him. She watched it all happen. Her boyfriend and love of her life just died in her arms. She isn't going to just let that slide.

John B and Pope (Jonathan Daviss), I think, could move on with life after JJ's death if a few things fell their way. Pope wants a future. John B has a baby on the way. Kiara is the one character who might put everything on the line in order to kill Groff if she has the chance.

So, that's what makes me worried for Kie. Will she be able to move forward, or will grief make her take risks that she wouldn't normally take? We'll see in the final season.

Honestly, Kie's death would be especially heartbreaking given what we've already been through with this show. I don't think the creators would really do that. I think it says a lot to kill one main character like JJ. I think it's super depressing if this show ends without two of the original Pogues. Remember, this show started with just John B, Pope, JJ, and Kiara. I would have a hard time if it's just John B and Pope from the original crew left after the final season.

Victor Shoupe

Last but not least, I'm very worried about Shoupe (Cullen Moss) heading into the final season.

Outer Banks season 1 took a huge turn when Rafe killed Peterkin. There's a scene in the trailer, and it looks like Rafe is pulling a gun on Shoupe in the rain. We don't know the context or if it's just creative editing, but it would not be surprising if Shoupe, who has had it up to here with these people and their criminal activity, gets in a little bit too deep and gets killed this season.

For the record, I don't think it's Rafe that would kill Shoupe, though Shoupe could definitely kill Rafe, depending on how this goes. It's much more likely, to me, that Groff kills Shoupe and then pins the death on Rafe or the Pogues just like Ward Cameron (Charles Esten) did in the first season with Peterkin.

Hopefully, we'll see three of these characters survive the final season of Outer Banks. Sorry, but I'm rooting for Groff to kick it this season.

Now, we'll just have to wait and see how it all comes to an end on Thursday, Aug. 20! Stay tuned for more Outer Banks coverage on Netflix Life.

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