You’ve seen the edits. The slow-mo TikToks of them laughing on a boat, the "Pogue vs. Kook" memes, and the endless debate over who has better hair. Honestly, it’s hard to talk about the Netflix era without talking about Drew Starkey and Rudy Pankow.
They basically became the faces of a specific kind of summer nostalgia. But by 2026, things look a lot different than they did when the first season of Outer Banks dropped during a global lockdown.
The show is wrapping up its fifth and final season. And if you’ve been keeping up with the news, you know that the "JJ Maybank" shaped hole in the cast is massive. Rudy Pankow is gone. Drew Starkey is, somehow, still there—and he’s basically transitioned from the show’s most hated villain to its weirdly sympathetic lead. It’s a strange timeline.
Why Rudy Pankow Left the OBX Universe
Let's just address the elephant in the room. JJ Maybank died.
It wasn't a "he might come back" kind of death either. In the Season 4 finale, JJ was killed by his biological father, Chandler Groff, while trying to protect the Blue Crown in Morocco. It was brutal. It was messy. Fans were absolutely livid.
For years, rumors swirled about tension on set. You probably saw the TikToks claiming Rudy didn’t get along with Madison Bailey (who plays Kiara) or that his girlfriend, Elaine Siemek, was uncomfortable with the on-screen romance. While the cast usually plays it cool in interviews, the fact that Rudy is missing from the 2026 Season 5 filming roster is the ultimate confirmation.
Madelyn Cline even mentioned recently how "strange" it feels to film the final season without him. "We shot four seasons with him," she told Extra TV at a premiere. "There’s a part of the dynamic that isn't there anymore."
Rudy didn't just leave a show; he left a cultural phenomenon. But he isn't exactly hurting for work. He’s already moved on to the Colleen Hoover cinematic universe. He’s starring in the adaptation of Reminders of Him, which hits theaters in February 2026. He plays Scotty Landry. It’s a more "adult" role, which is probably exactly what he needs to shake the "troubled teen" image he's had since 2020.
Drew Starkey: From Villain to the New Face of the Pogues
Then there’s Drew.
If you told a fan in Season 1 that Rafe Cameron would eventually be the one leading the hunt for revenge alongside the Pogues, they would have laughed in your face. Rafe was a monster. He was a murderer.
But Drew Starkey is a very good actor. Maybe too good. He managed to play Rafe with such a specific kind of twitchy, desperate-for-love energy that the audience eventually started rooting for his redemption, even when he didn't deserve it.
By the time Season 5 production kicked off, Drew was standing front and center with the main cast at Netflix TUDUM. He’s essentially "replacing" Rudy’s spot in the core group’s dynamic. Not as JJ, obviously, but as the loose cannon who actually has the resources to take down the people who killed JJ.
Outside of the marsh, Drew’s career is exploding. He recently starred in Luca Guadagnino’s Queer alongside Daniel Craig, which basically catapulted him into the "serious actor" category. He’s also set to star in King Snake, a Southern gothic horror film with Margaret Qualley that starts production in April 2026.
The Reality of Their Real-Life Friendship
Are they still friends? That’s what everyone wants to know.
In the early days, they were inseparable. They lived together in Charleston while filming. They did every interview as a duo. But as the years went on, the public appearances stopped.
Fans noticed a "distancing." On Reddit, people track their social media likes like it’s a full-time job. "They haven't been seen together in a non-work capacity since 2023," one user pointed out.
Honestly, that’s just life. When you’re 21 and you get famous with a group of people, you’re bonded for life, but you also grow up. Drew is 32 now. Rudy is 27. They aren't the same kids who were jumping off piers in South Carolina for a paycheck.
They are professionals. They’ve both navigated the "Netflix fame" trap better than most. They didn't burn out. They didn't end up in tabloid scandals. They just... moved on.
What’s Next for the Duo?
If you’re a fan, here is what you need to keep an eye on:
- Watch Reminders of Him: This is Rudy’s big test as a leading man in a major feature film.
- Keep an eye on King Snake: Drew is working with Jeff Nichols (who directed The Bikeriders). This is a massive prestige project.
- Outer Banks Season 5: This will be the final goodbye. It’s going to be heavy on Rafe’s redemption and, hopefully, a proper tribute to JJ.
The era of Drew Starkey and Rudy Pankow as a "package deal" is basically over. We’re entering the era of them as individual powerhouses. It’s bittersweet, sure. But seeing them both thrive in completely different genres—horror/prestige for Drew and romantic drama for Rudy—is a lot better than watching them stay stuck in the Outer Banks forever.
Next Steps for Fans Check the local showtimes for Reminders of Him this February to support Rudy’s transition to film. If you're more of a Drew fan, keep an eye out for the King Snake teaser trailer, which is expected to drop late 2026.
