Outer Banks – Season 4 Episode 9 Recap & Review

The Storm

Episode 9 of Outer Banks season 4 starts with Groff ringing the police, getting them to check on Hollis. They scour the area and obviously find her dead, along with the planted vehicle and gun. Shoupe has his suspicions on this being JJ’s handiwork, but all the same, he starts to tighten the screw to get him back. Specifically by sending Maritime to cut off all egress around March Point.

The gang hide from the police when they show, as the pieces slot into place for JJ. He realizes that Groff killed Hollis, as they slip away on a boat, evade the police, and head to the other side of the island. They need a boat to sail out to Morocco and here’s a good a place as any to start. They inevitably attract interest from the locals… including Rafe.

The police are in hot pursuit, but Shoupe learns more about Groff in the process. He’s wanted by Interpol and has had five fake passports and been married four separate times too, all under different names.

The gang flee from the scene, but they have a busted boat so they’re kinda stranded. That is, until Rafe gets involved and ends up saving them from the officer. He has his own reasons for wanting to go after Groff, stemming from getting the money back. Before he leaves however, Rafe proposes to Sofia. It’s a proper awkward moment though, as Sofia is trying to explain that she’s responsible for him losing all the money. She can’t say it, and she eventually concedes to the pair getting married. Rafe promises to be back in a few weeks.

Shoupe shows up to see the group first, with this newfound knowledge around Groff and what’s been happening on the island. He wants the courts to decide everything, believing that’s the best course of action. Furthermore, he has a warrant out for both JJ and Pope. so he’s just basically doing his job.

Rafe shows to save them both though, bringing up the truth about Hollis and how Groff is the big fish here. Rafe has a way with words, and after all Shoupe’s job is on the line here, given all the chaos that has taken place this season. He strikes a deal, and Shoupe goes for it.

On the boat, John B and the others head in to talk to Rafe. He wants peace and isn’t looking to double-cross them… as long as they don’t do the same to him. Rafe promises to get them to North Africa, where he’ll get Groff. Just like that, JJ shows and smacks him across the face, double-crossing him and bundling the guy in the cabin below.

When John B brings up that Sarah is pregnant to JJ, the latter twists things around and starts ranting about how bad a father he’s going to be. This all stems from asking JJ to be the godfather to their child and it rubs him up the wrong way. John B is not happy and JJ has definitely got under his skin here.

Over in Morocco, Dalia keeps a tight leash on Groff. Lightner is going to keep watch and make sure he’s behaving, while they’re en-route to see Anton Finch, who certainly won’t take any funny business from him.

Back on the water, the group get closer to reaching Morocco. However, they end up riding right into a massive storm. The waves are monstrous and they’re not in a good way, prompting them to free Rafe to help. JJ also shows up to save Sarah, who ends up overboard, and he jumps in to save her life. The boat is in danger of capsizing, and as they make it to shore, JJ and Sarah also make it there the following day and they’re reunited.

The Episode Review

JJ’s anger and frustration comes pouring out in this episode, as he decides to drink himself into an early grave and completely turn his back on his friends and family. At least to begin with anyway. Eventually he snaps out of it and saves Sarah, and the gang are reunited in Morocco. With a monstrous 80 minute finale up next, it seems everything is going to come to a head in North Africa.

The wildcard here is Rafe though, and with Sofia deciding to keep quiet about Hollis, now that this plot angle has been conveniently wrapped up, he could well end up sacrificing himself to save the group and redeem himself. There’s still the question of how the group are going to overcome these mercenaries though, and right now that’s still very much a contentious narrative point to consider.

In the meantime though, this chapter serves as a proverbial deep breath, bringing everything into focus as we finally get a glimpse of the beautiful Morocco, where this treasure hunt will, I presume, come to a tense conclusion.