by Mike Hilty, Contributing Writer
The Righteous Gemstones, which follows a family of rich televangelists, has been one of TV’s more underappreciated shows for four seasons now. So with Season Four being its last, did it stick the landing?
This season focuses more on the family than the church’s plight. Depending on whether you’d rather see a story that revolves around Jesse (Danny McBride), Judy (Edi Patterson), and Kelvin (Adam Devine), this season might feel like a departure from where the show truly excels. However, this season has more character development than its predecessors. Certain characters, like Martin (Gregory Alan Williams), Amber (Cassidy Freeman), and most of the children, are shafted due to the season’s time constraints. Perhaps the character that gets less screen time than they deserve is Uncle Baby Billy (Walton Goggins). However, what it loses with certain characters, The Righteous Gemstones makes up for with rich backstory and themes.
Season Four focuses on the origins of a missing gold Bible dating back to the U.S. Civil War. Elijah Gemstone (Bradley Cooper) is a preacher for the Confederacy who has a checkered past. Season Four is bookended with the power of prayer, and Elijah’s prayer for condemned troops fundamentally changes him. The gold Bible goes missing one night, and the season talks about how something like history is far more precious than the gold that makes the Bible so valuable in the first place.
In addition to the gold Bible, Season Four focuses on moving forward. The late Aimee-Leigh (Jennifer Nettles) casts a wider net over the family. It’s been a while since her passing, yet many characters still deal with the aftermath. Judy is the most traumatized by Aimee-Leigh’s death, and it leads to moments of clarity with her husband and BJ (Tim Baltz). Eli (John Goodman) and Aimee-Leigh’s friend Lori (Megan Mullally) are dealing with moving on without her. An episode in the middle of the season shows Aimee-Leigh’s kindness on full display, and her absence is felt more in this season than in others.
Sins of the parents isn’t a new theme for The Righteous Gemstones, but this season deals with the effects of that on some of the family’s friends. Lori’s family showcases this theme with her ex-husband, Cobb (Michael Rooker), and their son Corey (Seann William Scott). Cobb’s violent tendencies have a devastating effect on Corey, and he lets the demons begat by his father get to him. Eli’s past frequently comes back to bite him and his children, but not quite in the way that Cobb does for Corey. Even Jesse’s kids feel pressured by what it means to be in their parents’ shadows.
The most important theme of the season, though, is worthiness. Each person deals with a moment where they have to determine whether or not they’re worthy of what they have. Jesse, for instance, has to prove that he’s worthy to lead the church against rival Vance Simkins (Stephen Dorff). They’re both the oldest sibling and part of the same secret society, and Jesse uses these to show his worth to others. Eventually, he realizes that he makes his own worth and needs to stop living his life the way that Eli wants him to.
Kelvin deals with it most strikingly by realizing and accepting who he is. The season deals with issues involving LGBTQIA+ individuals in the church. They conflict with this when Kelvin is nominated for a prestigious award. Although Kelvin is sure of himself and knows his worth, Season Four causes him to question this far more than in past seasons. It’s a strong story for someone sidelined for much of the series.
All of this culminates with the final episode that involves a long-lost letter from Aimee-Leigh, and a prayer that profoundly affects Jesse, Judy, Kelvin, and Corey. This prayer, made for someone who needs one due to fear of the unknown, helps everyone profoundly by allowing everyone to realize they’re not perfect, but God doesn’t need them to be perfect. The letter from Aimee-Leigh also shows how people will always be with you, even if they’re not physically with you. It’s a remarkable parallel to the power of faith, and how the story comes back to faith.
The Righteous Gemstones’ final season isn’t its best, but it ends with a decisive moment regarding faith and self-worth. It’s a message that the series wades into at the end of each season, and it still has an emotional and striking effect on the audience. The performances and humor are still there, but this season is far more character-driven than in the past. I’ll miss the craziness of the Gemstone clan, but ultimately, I’ll miss their message the most.
Rating: Low Side of Liked It
The Righteous Gemstones is currently streaming on Max
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