John Routledge

**John Routledge**, otherwise simply known as **Big John** is the overarching protagonist on *Outer Banks*. He is portrayed by Charles Halford.

Big John is John B's father. He does not appear in the main events of the show but appears frequently in flashbacks. He was very invested in finding the loot from the Royal Merchant until he disappeared nine months prior to the Pilot. Although his body was never discovered, he was believed to have died after Ward Cameron severely injured and then tossed him into the sea. He hung onto life and spent his last moments on a small island that he washed up on carving the word "Redfield" on a compass, a family heirloom so that John B could find it and continue what he started.

## Throughout the Series

### Season 1

While out looking for the Royal Merchant, John and Ward Cameron were out on a boat and they thought they found something which was the merchant but, it led into a argument which ended when Ward pushed John onto the edge of the boat wall and it cut a slit in the back of his head, it slowly started to bleed and Ward apologized but John slowly passed out and he shoved the body of John into the ocean off of a boat. A few days later, he floated onto a island where he made a little home, and etched a message onto a family heirloom, Compass of John's for his son John B to find, which was "Redfield". He slowly passed out and was found dead by Susan Peterkin and his glasses were found along with his compass and was taken in.

### Season 2

Somehow, he was rescued by a Barbados man, and was transported to his home where he stayed “half dead” until the current time. Limbrey then approaches him after he wrote to her about the shroud, as Big John replies, “I know where it is. I can help you. But you have to help my son.”

### Season 3

Big John sends signals to John B, through some bells, to get him to come find him. John B does and they have a tearful reunion, thrilled to be back together again. They start on a treasure hunt- looking for artifacts and a secret gnomon to get the clues to find the treasure.

They visit different people gathering clues and evading the trail of Carlos Singh. Big John wants this treasure no matter what and he's willing to do whatever it takes. He gets captured by Carlos and separated from John B. However, John B and the Pogues go to South America to get him back. They all go to a digsite to search for the treasure and they find it.

Big John stays back while they pile gold into bags. However, Carlos arrives and points a gun at his head. Big John threatens to set off a stick of dynamite if Carlos hurts John B. He throws the dynamite to let the others escape. The cave collapses around Carlos.

Ward then threatens Big John with a gun but the rest of the Pogues show up and surround him with machetes. The group realizes that Big John was shot earlier in the day. He succumbs to his wounds and dies.

## Death

John's death was caused by a gunshot to the abdomen. He did not die directly after, and he survived more than a night. Ultimately, he died from either organ failure or blood loss. The perpetrator is unknown, but it's certain that it's one of Singh's men. There is a possibility that it was Singh himself.

John's death was a result of greed, and it could have prevented. However, his sacrifice was for the good of the Pogues and his son, John B.

## Physical Appearance

John has a scruffy beard, wears glasses, has long hair and is often seen wearing a classic button-down shirt and a grey undershirt.

## Appearances

* *The Forbidden Zone*
* *The Runway*
* *The Coastal Venture*
* *The Bells*
* *Fathers and Sons*
* *The Diary*
* *Heists*
* *The Dark Forest*
* *Happy Anniversary*
* *Tapping the Rudder*
* *Welcome to Kitty Hawk*
* *Secret of the Gnomon*

## Trivia

* Starting with Happy Anniversary, he began to appear in only one scene.
* Where Big John had gotten shot was somewhat the same area Sarah had gotten shot, though the former died from it while the latter was revived.