| “ | I love you, Kie. | ” |
— JJ's last words to Kiara in The Blue Crown
| ||
Jackson Jesse “JJ” Maybank (born Jackson Jesse Groff) was one of the main characters in Outer Banks. He is portrayed by Rudy Pankow.
JJ was the loose cannon in The Pogues. He's the latest in a “long line of fishing, drinking, vendetta-holding salt-lifers who made their living off the water.” John B describes him as the “best surfer [he] knows.” JJ was erratic and often didn’t think before he acted. He was feisty and quick-tempered but also always up for a laugh and an adventure. He was sometimes a liability but is also brave and loyal to a fault, always ready to look out for and defend his friends at any turn. Since the end of season 3, JJ dated fellow Pogue member, Kiara Carrera until his death in the end of season 4.
Early Life[]
JJ Maybank was originally born as the son of Larissa Genrette and Chandler Groff. He was presumed to have drowned alongside his mother as a baby. However, Luke Maybank adopted him and let him believe his mother was a random girlfriend of his.
History[]
Biography[]
JJ has had a troubled home life. His father Luke is an alcoholic and a drug addict (We first see Luke leaving Barry's place before we know that he's JJ's father. [1]) Luke can't hold down a legitimate job and it is insinuated that he is part of nefarious deals around the OBX. He also physically and mentally abuses JJ. His mother never appears but his father does mention that she left, blaming JJ for it.
His father often has frequent violent outbursts which has led to JJ's own struggles with violent behaviour. He is John B's oldest friend, having been friends with him since the third grade.
However, later in the series it is revealed that his life as he knew it was all one big giant lie - Luke tells him he's not actually his real father, which means JJ is actually Larissa Genrette and Chandler Groff's biologial son.
JJ is dating Kiara Carrera, who he has been in love with for years.
Personality[]
JJ is usually the life of the party and a trouble-maker as well. He tends to be irresponsible and doesn't think about the consequences of his actions. He always speaks his mind, even if it is hurtful. He is also not very good with emotions and comforting others, but he is loyal to his friends and would do anything for them. He gets himself and others in trouble a lot. When he wants something, there is not a lot that can stop him from getting it. JJ also seems to have anger issues, as he often has violent outbursts for seemingly no reason. The first plan JJ comes up with is usually something that includes violence, like killing other people or threatening them. He gets into fights a lot and his first solution is usually to fight others. He might be like this because he doesn't know any different from home. JJ likes to cover up his emotions and pain with humor. His loyalty is shown when he took the fault for Pope even though he knew that his dad would hit him again for this. JJ is also the one that the Pogues are usually worried about when they get into trouble, because all of them know that he might get them into even more trouble by his dangerous actions. JJ is someone who doesn't hesitate to get violent and hurt others, his threats often become true. When Officer Shoupe told the remaining Pogues that Sarah and John B most likely died in the storm, JJ got angry and threatened to kill him, even though he would probably never really do that. He is reckless and energetic and can't seem to hold still for even a few minutes as he always has something to say. JJ is also very protective of his friends and can't take their fighting. He has a good heart and normally puts his friends - or his family as he calls them - first.
JJ relies on criminal behaviour a lot. He steals without batting an eye, for example he stole money from Barry's home and took a gun from a safe and kept it. He even stole the ambulance from his cousin. He is often seen smoking weed or drinking. He's known at the police station. John B calls him a mild kleptomaniac.
He often provokes others, knowing the consequences, just for fun. He is self-aware of his dangerous, violent and criminal behaviour, like his very unsafe driving.
JJ always has a snarky comment or a witty remark. However, when he is with his dad, he becomes more quiet and withdrawn and doesn't try to fight him because he is scared of him, until he finally spoke up for himself and fought back one day. He still wishes that his father would love him or be proud of him though.
JJ normally acts all carefree and like he doesn't care about other people's opinion. However, when Deputy Plumb told him that he was going to end up in jail one day because it's in his blood, it seemed to affect him. John B told him once that if he kept going like this he was gonna end up just like his dad (reciting something JJ had said to John B earlier on) and JJ reacted angrily, but he seems to be aware of the fact that he was in fact becoming more and more like his father.
Throughout the Series[]
Season 1[]
Throughout Season 1, JJ is seen hanging out with the Pogues and getting into trouble. They love to drink beer, ride on the boat, and go on adventures. JJ, along with The Pogues, decide to search for the missing gold from the shipwreck, The Royal Merchant.
Throughout Season 1, they follow clues and get into a few altercations in order to finally track down the gold. Once they do, they are only initially able to retrieve a little gold, which JJ tries to sell in a pawn shop. JJ is always butting heads with the Kooks. He encourages Pope's idea to sink Topper's boat, but when the cops come to arrest Pope JJ takes the blame for it and goes to jail instead. At the end of season 1, JJ helps John B make his escape from the police. He steals his father's boat to lend it to John B.
Season 2[]
JJ, Kiara and Pope find out that Sarah and John B are still alive, but they are in Nassau. The three others try to clear John B's name as he is still found guilty for the murder of Sheriff Peterkin. JJ, Kiara and Pope find out that Ward Cameron paid the man who flew the airplane to not tell anybody that he saw Rafe kill the sheriff. They film Ward's interaction with the man and how he kills him and loses the gun, the murder weapon. Ward sees them and they have to flee. They accidentally destroy the material, so they have to come back to the drain in which the gun fell into and get it out.
Later on, the group reunites. They go on a search for the golden cross. JJ helps his dad leave the island.
Season 3[]
JJ and the Pogues are getting by on the deserted island. They see a plane and flag down the pilot- thinking they are going to be rescued.
The group agree that he is their only chance of getting off the island so they just go along with what he says. They get on the plane. JJ asks Jimmy why he was flying in this area and he tells them it’s to fish for Wahoo. The group realize Wahoo aren’t in season and so he must be lying. They see a photo of the boat they used before in Jimmy’s bag and this confirms their fears. They fight with Jimmy and the plane crashes in the water. John B, Sarah, JJ, Pope, and Cleo swim away.
JJ and The Pogues are desperate to find Kiara, who was separated from them after the crash. They try to find her but Carlos and his men find them first -determined to kidnap them still. The Pogues run away.
JJ goes back to the Outer Banks. He and the Pogues try to steal the cross from Ward but Rafe and Barry have gotten to it first (and melts it.)
The Pogues try to find their way to South America to rescue Big John. Kiara’s parents are not happy and decide to force her to go to a wilderness camp called Kitty Hawk so JJ goes and breaks her out. They kiss. Kiara and JJ meet with Barracuda Mike because they made a deal - to give him part of their El Dorado treasure if he gets them secure transportation to South America.
JJ and Kiara get to South America with Barracuda Mike. They reunite with the rest of the Pogues. They find the treasure and are thrilled.
In a flash forward 18 months later, JJ bought a boat. An old man approaches the Pogues complimenting their discovery of El Dorado. He has a proposition for them- help him find Blackbeard’s treasure.
Season 4[]
After returning with gold from El Dorado, the Pogues decide to use their wealth to buy JJ’s family property, hoping to transform it into a shared home and business. Though they secure the land, JJ’s emotional reaction at the auction leads them to overpay, creating financial strain right from the start. Determined to help, JJ bets their last remaining gold nugget in a risky dirtbike race, The Enduro, but loses, placing the group in a tight financial bind with a looming tax bill. This reckless decision leaves JJ feeling responsible and pushes him to seek any possible way to help the Pogues stay afloat.
The group’s luck takes a turn when they receive attention for their El Dorado discovery and are invited by Wes Genrette to discuss Blackbeard’s legacy and a cursed amulet hidden off Goat Island. JJ dives headfirst into the mission, eager for adventure and redemption, as they set out to retrieve the amulet, which Wes claims could lift a 300-year-old family curse. When rival treasure hunter Lightner confronts them underwater, JJ bravely fights back, stabbing Lightner to defend himself and Kiara. Though injured, JJ manages to bring the amulet back to the surface, a triumphant yet costly achievement that reinforces his commitment to the Pogues and their shared mission.
As their troubles escalate, JJ’s loyalty and quick thinking become critical when the group is suspected of foul play after Wes’s sudden death. JJ plays a key role in deflecting police suspicion, distracting Officer Shoupe while the others cover up evidence of their recent conflicts. He stays protective of his friends, even when faced with Topper’s taunts on the beach, where he tempers his anger to prevent further trouble, though a tense moment is captured on video, putting the group under even more scrutiny.
In a shocking revelation, JJ discovers through a letter from Wes that Chandler Groff, Wes’s strange partner, is actually his biological father, making JJ the true heir to the Goat Island property. This revelation, coupled with the mystery surrounding his mother’s tragic death on a boat called the Albatross, shakes JJ’s sense of identity and loyalty. Despite this personal turmoil, he remains steadfast in helping the Pogues uncover Blackbeard’s secrets, using his newly uncovered connections to push forward.
When the Pogues lose Poguelandia, JJ's pent-up anger leads him to start a riot. He trades fists with police officers and runs away only to destroy shop windows, steal from said shops and set fire to trash cans to spite the kooks. JJ also destroys many things in the rental office of the man who is taking Poguelandia.
Later, there is a warrant out for JJ's arrest with the suspicion of murder. The police assume that he was responsible for killing Hollis Robinson, who was shot dead by Chandler Groff. Chandler, however, put the gun he used to kill her in the Twinkie which he advised JJ to leave at the place. JJ did so, not knowing what his father had been up to minutes before.
Chandler continously uses JJ's trust and manipulates him with the fact that he is his dad. He always reminds him of it when he is in trouble and needs JJ's help to try and convince him to help him this way. JJ's trust in him is completely ruined when he realizes that Chandler killed Larissa Genrette and Chandler tries to kill him. Later, JJ doesn't safe his life in Morocco, so when Chandler saves himself, he goes after them again. JJ finds the crown and runs away with Kiara, but Chandler catches up to them and threaten's Kie's life. JJ gives up the crown for her, but Chandler wants payback for being left for dead by his son, so he kills him and leaves with the crown.
Relationships[]
John B[]
Main article: John B and JJ
JJ and John B have been friends the longest out of the Pogues, since the third grade.[2] They sometimes fight, but they're always there for each other and they can relate to each other the most out of the Pogues, JJ stated in the the Pilot that "he and John B have nothing to lose". They would do anything for each other and it has been proven many times that they are both ready to go to jail, or even die the for the other. Most often, John B is the one who JJ does stupid and reckless things with. At the end of season 1, JJ, Pope and Kiara helped John B and Sarah escape on The Phantom after John B was wanted for the murder of Sheriff Peterkin.
When John B was presumed dead at sea, JJ grieved him and even got a tattoo on his ankle in honor of John B and the other Pogues. Before the Pogues found out that John B and Sarah were both still alive, JJ was shown drinking out of a flask, he was also seen holding his chest on numerous occasions throughout Season 2, presumably to cope with loosing John B. [3]
Kiara[]
Main article: JJ and Kiara
In Season 1, JJ and Kiara are best friends and are in the same friend group, The Pogues. They both don't seem to like physical touch from other people but they hug and touch each other a lot. JJ and Kiara often argue but they are good friends and look out for each other, They also flirt a lot with each other and Kiara has always been there for him, especially during his traumatic abuse at the hands of his father. JJ is shown to have romantic feeling for Kiara, even telling John B that he tried to be more than friends with her and getting jealous when she is trying to date Pope. After JJ revealed the bruises on his abdomen given to him by his father, Kiara hugs him tightly. When he and Kiara have to go back to JJ's house to get the keys to The Phantom, Kiara offers to go with him, but he declines.
In Season 2, JJ is jealous of Kie and Pope's relationship but he doesn't say anything because he wants Pope to be happy. Eventually, Kiara breaks up with Pope because she doesn't love him and doesn't see him as anything more than a friend. Kiara and JJ are still best friends, and she even helps him when his father appears in the Chateau. She asks his father if he has any idea how special JJ is. In the final episode of Season 2, they have a very sweet conversation about the future when JJ tells her that he wants to go on a surf trip when all of this is over. Kiara looks at him adoringly as asks him if he has room for one more. She realizes that JJ has the same dreams as her and her feelings for him start to bloom. Later on, JJ gets hurt to protect Kie and she jumps in the water to save him from drowning, leading to her being completely relieved when he wakes up, hugging him.
In Season 3 , JJ and Kiara have been stranded on the island with the other Pogues for over a month and they get even closer to each other. We see that Kiara has deeper feelings for him during this time. JJ shares with her that he doesn't want to leave the island because he has everything he needs right there and Kiara says that is like "what they talked about" (referring the surf trip). When the plane comes to rescue, Kie and JJ are the only ones who are not excited to get out, and later on, Kie gets kidnapped by a man called Singh, who has interest in the treasure of El Dorado. During this time, JJ is completely desperate and nervous, doing everything he cans to get her back. When she finally escapes, they share a passionate hug where he tells her that he is glad she's safe. She tells him that she thought she was never going to see him again and he says that everything is okay and he is there now, hugging her again. On the ride home, JJ and Kiara almost kiss on the boat when she tells him that anything that happens, they are going to handle it together like they always do, but Pope interrupts. Back in the OBX, Kiara tries to talk to him about what happened and they even have another almost kiss until JJ flips and asks her what are they doing, telling her that they shouldn't do that because he is just a loser and he doesn't have anything, unlike her. He questions why she would even care about him and even calls her a Kook, before leaving in his motorcycle. When they find each other at the Chateau, she tells him that she understands why he freaks when people get close to him because she knows how his life is but she doesn't want him to say that she doesn't care about him, because it's not true. Their relationship is tested again when JJ steals money from Kie's dad after he insulted him and saying that he is a liar and a thief, just like his father. When JJ has a motorcycle accident, Kiara has a breakdown and when she sees that he is okay, she asks him to not do that again. She tells him that she loves him during a fight and he rejects her saying that it will not work. One night, JJ tries to apologize to Kie from stealing from her dad but gets interrupted by the fire on The Chateau. When Kiara is sent away to Kitty Hawk by her parents, JJ does everything he cans nd goes after her. When they reunite, he apologized for his mistakes. Kiara looks at him and tells him that she loves him again but this time JJ tells her that he loves her too and they kiss in front of the other camp girls, who start screaming and clapping. They run away together to El Dorado, to reunite with their friends.
In season 4, JJ and Kiara are still in a very happy relationship. Kie senses he's worried about potentially becoming a Kook and constantly reassures him. She smiles at him when he does a little celebration dance in front of their friends and wanders down the dock towards him, telling him she loves him before they kiss, the rest of the Pogues cheering them on. They go scuba diving to find the amulet but end up getting the bends, which leads to them having a heart-felt conversation in the hospital. Later, Kie teases JJ about how they've never been on a real date before, and JJ takes her hand, telling her they're on a date at this very moment as they stroll down the pier to spy on the mysterious man. They get ice cream and then tease each other about jumping off the ledge. JJ and Kiara jump off the pier hand in hand. When Ruthie and Topper make fun of Kie for caring about the turtle hatch, JJ immediately gets protective of her and does not leave her side, vowing to kill every single one of the Kooks if they ever dare to come near her or any of them ever again. When JJ takes off in episode 5, leaving nothing but a weird note, Kie keeps calling and texting him as she stays behind, hoping he'll show up as soon as possible.[4]
Pope[]
Main Article: JJ and Pope
JJ and Pope are probably the closest duo of the group. When Rafe and Topper beat Pope up when he was delivering groceries on Figure Eight, JJ, helps him with his revenge. When Pope gets caught by the police, JJ takes the fault even if it meant getting beat up by his abusive father, and when he was in jail he smiled because he knew taking the fault for Pope was worth it because it was a close friend of his, even when he knew what was going to happen to him later.
An episode after, Pope was worried about JJ and asked for him, but a few minutes later he sees JJ and hugs him very tightly, then JJ, surprised, kisses him on the cheek and said "I love you too man". Pope sees bruises on JJ's face and asked him if Shoupe did it, to which JJ responded that it was his dad. Pope told him that it was his fault (Pope to JJ that it was Pope's fault) and that he was going to say to the police that he had all the fault, JJ was telling him to shut up, but then he grabs Pope's face and said to him "for once in your life trust someone else". [5]
JJ has also stepped between a gun and Pope to protect him, while Pope put his hands on JJ's shoulders to keep him in line. Pope is often seen calming JJ down as well as stopping him from doing stupid things. They are seen hanging out with each other outside the story's plotline. JJ helps Pope through all his struggles and always has his back whenever times are hard.
When JJ revealed the bruises on his abdomen that were given to him by his father, Pope was initially shocked and sad for JJ, but there for him nonetheless. [6]
Sarah[]
JJ and Sarah are friends and they care for each other. JJ and Pope welcomed Sarah into the Pogues when Kiara didn't. Along with John B and Pope, JJ makes a plan to get Sarah and Kiara to become friends again, which works. [7] Sarah knows that JJ gets into trouble a lot and that he never chooses the safe way. JJ and Sarah share complex relationships with their respective fathers, echoing the intricacies prevalent in the Outer Banks narrative. During a crucial discussion with John B. regarding the imperative of bringing Ward to justice, JJ expresses a genuine concern for Sarah, acutely aware that Ward, despite his transgressions, remains her father. This concern for Sarah's welfare is magnified when the Druthers explodes, seemingly engulfing Ward in its flames. In this moment, JJ's gaze shifts towards the distraught Sarah, hinting at a deep level of understanding between them and underscoring how their friendship is fortified by such shared experiences of loving a father who may not deserve that love.
Luke Maybank[]
Luke is JJ's adoptive father. He mentally and physically abuses his son. He blames him for the fact that JJ's mother, who was actually just a random girlfriend of his, left them. Luke is often high or drunk.
JJ is scared of his father, but he eventually fights back and runs away. He isn't at home often and spends most of his time with his friends, probably because he'll have to put up with his dad at home. Even though his dad constantly abuses and scares him, JJ loves him and desires to have a good relationship with him. In season 2 he helps his dad leave the island and cries when his father hugs him and they say goodbye. It is clear that JJ is not happy about his dad leaving the island, especially because now he doesn't have anyone except for the Pogues.
During season 4, in Albatross, Luke Maybank reveals to him that he is not his biological father. And [[Chandler Groff]] is his real father. Luke explains that the baby that supposedly “drowned” with Larissa Genrette is JJ.
Family[]
| Chandler Groff | Larissa Genrette | ||||||||||||||||
| JJ Maybank | |||||||||||||||||
Physical Appearance[]
JJ is lean with shaggy blonde hair and blue eyes. He is often drinking, smoking weed, or hitting a Juul. In some scenes, he is seen with bruises and cuts.
JJ usually wears tank tops or t-shirts and shorts. He is often seen with a red and white cap. He always wears necklaces and knitten bracelets as well as rings.
Appearances[]
Quotes[]
John B (describing JJ): That’s JJ, my best friend since the third grade. He’s about as local as they come. Latest in a long line of fishing, drinking, smuggling, vendetta-holding salt-lifers who made their living off the water. Best surfer I know. Just don’t tell him I said that. Mild kleptomaniac and a future tax cheat.
JJ: "Deny, Deny, Deny."
--One of JJ's mantras
JJ (talking about Pope): ain’t all that bad. just look at that guy over there. he would do anything for us. that’s a pogue if i’ve ever seen one. bone-deep. that's just one man’s opinion though"
Kiara to Luke (about JJ): "Do you have any idea how special your son is, like even a clue?"
JJ (to Pope about Heyward): Your dads a pussy, over.
JJ (to Pope): "Dude, I wasn’t taking little mental polaroids the entire time, man I was under duress!"
JJ (mocking): Be careful John B, just give me that John D already!
JJ (mocking): Housekeeping!
JJ (to Pope): Bends like, bend over?
Pope: "The bends kill you."
JJ (to Pope about Kiara): "Mama's mad"
JJ (to Rafe, Topper, and Kooks): You Power Puff Girls have fun tonight!
JJ (to Kie and Pope): If I'm the one mediating, we've hit rock bottom
Pope: Let's get that wheat out of the water.
JJ: Weed? I'm up for weed.
Trivia[]
- According to John B, JJ is the best surfer he knows.[2]
- JJ loves the roosters at John B's house, which he sadly had to kill in order to not get caught.[8]
- He deep down desires to have a good relationship with his father.
- He has a dirt bike.
- He took a welding class.[6]
- JJ routinely uses Spanish words and phrases. However, it is unknown if he is actually fluent in the language.
- He mentioned that he has sensitive lungs.[9]
- JJ has “P4L” tattooed on his ankle.[3]
- JJ named the Pogues' hot tub “The Cat’s Ass.”[6]
- He's a lot like his mother according to Luke.[4]
- Arguments seem to trigger him.[10] [11]
- He can’t read cursive.[9][12]
- He always believed that he would end up in jail.[13]
- Kiara is the only girl JJ has said “I love you” to.
- JJ doesn't have a passport, but wants to go on a surf trip around the world.[14]
- He went to Sunday school.[11]
- He has a Samsung phone.[15]
- His friend Boogie is on the Coast Guard.[16]
- In Season 4, it is revealed that Luke and JJ’s address is 14 Rogers Point Road.
- JJ is the biological son of Larissa Genrette and Chandler Groff and the grandson of Wes Genrette. Which means that JJ was actually born a full Kook.[12]
- He swipes his air away from his face the same way Chandler does.[17]
- He speaks faster when lying.[17]
Gallery[]
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References[]
- ↑ The Forbidden Zone, 1x03
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Pilot, 1x01
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The Gold, 2x01
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 The Phantom, 1x10
- ↑ Midsummers, 1x05
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Dead Calm, 1x07
- ↑ Parcel 9, 1x06
- ↑ The Lucky Compass, 1x02
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Prayers, 2x03
- ↑ The Runway, 1x08
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 The Cross, 2x08
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Albatross, 4x05
- ↑ The Darkest Hour, 2x05
- ↑ The Coastal Venture, 2x10
- ↑ The Bells, 3x02
- ↑ Blackbeard, 4x02
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Mothers and Fathers, 4x07