It’s a shame that Danny McBride’s The Righteous Gemstones has flown under the radar for the entirety of its four-season run on HBO (and yes, it is an HBO production; the network’s signature static opens every episode). Fortunately, the series is back with its fourth season, which is unfortunately the show’s last. Fortunately, though, Season 4 happens to be its best yet.
The Righteous Gemstones centers on the Gemstone family of televangelists and megachurch pastors: patriarch Eli (John Goodman) and his three adult children, Jesse (Danny McBride), Judy (Edi Patterson), Kelvin (Adam Devine), along with Uncle Baby Billy (Walton Goggins), the brother of Eli’s his deceased wife Aimee-Leigh (Jennifer Nettles). At first, it seems like the series intends to revolve around which of the Gemstone children will take over the family empire, which is 100% legitimate and not rooted in donations from its congregation (spoiler alert: it totally is). Almost immediately, though, The Righteous Gemstones shifts its focus to just how unholy this family really is. Throughout its first three seasons, we’ve seen the Gemstones deal with everything from blackmail to adultery and even murder.
But season 4 takes a more lax tone…once it gets to the present timeline, that is. The season opens with an episode set in 1862 and depicts the origin of the Gemstone family’s church connections. None other than Bradley Cooper guest stars as Eli’s great-great grandfather Elijah Gemstone. We learn that, of course, this family of modern-day church grifters got its start in the game via murder: Elijah kills a pastor, then swipes his gold-plated Bible and his identity.
The episode, entitled “Prelude,” deviates from the series’ usual tone – it’s far more serious and reflective and leaves very little room for laughter. And, because of its timeline, the episode doesn’t feature any of the Gemstones with whom we’re already familiar. “Prelude” an odd choice for a season opener – and after a two-year hiatus, no less.
The rest of The Righteous Gemstones Season 4, though, gives us exactly what we want. Among the highlights: Uncle Baby Billy water-skiing completely naked (congratulations, Walton Goggins stans), the Gemstone kids walking in on their father sixty-nining their mother’s best friend Lori (Megan Mullaly), and Teenjus, the story of a teenaged Jesus that serves as Uncle Baby Billy’s foray into television. Teenjus in particular is the cause of a standout exchange between Billy and the Gemstone kids about how stupid the show’s name that is, complete with a string of alternate options.
Gemstones has always been laugh-out-loud funny because of the immaturity of the Gemstone children, but Season 4 season really ups the stupid ante. Between the kids “pussy rallying” – repeating the word “pussy” until their dad admits he’s putting himself back out there – to jealousy over a monkey meant to be a service pet, I was close to tears at least once an episode. Is the humor lowbrow? Maybe – but then it’s also what’s always worked best for the series. The Righteous Gemstones has always taken pride in the stupidity of its characters. And that’s also that’s what we’ll miss the most about it.
Aside from Goggins’ iconic turn as Uncle Baby Billy, Edi Paterson’s performance as Judy, the sole daughter, makes the show. Her physical comedy this season is off-the-charts, reminiscent of Julia Louis-Drefyus in Veep – especially in scenes with BJ (Tim Baltz). Paterson’s timing, her ability to pull laughs out of you with Judy’s outlandish and childish behavior, is likewise a joy to watch. She’s the only woman in a sea of Gemstone brothers, father, and uncle, so even when Judy’s being a brat, Paterson gets us to sympathize with her.
Overall, the series’ final season is a delight. And the series finale wraps the show up nicely. But you can’t help yourself wanting more. Greed is, after all, one of the seven deadly sins – and one of the most fun to commit.
You must be logged in to post a comment.