In recent years, megachurches have been increasing in size and influence. Each week they may receive thousands of dollars in donations. While such money may benefit the community, it can also cause corruption. This fact, and the incidence of corruption in some megachurches, is satirized in “The Righteous Gemstones.”
“The Righteous Gemstones” is a four-season show directed by comedian Danny McBride and starring actors Danny McBride, Edi Patterson, and Walton Goggins. The show starts by introducing us to the Gemstones, a famous but unstable family entangled in controversy thanks to Eli (John Goodman), and his children, Jesse (Danny McBride), Judy (Edi Patterson), and Kelvin (Adam DeVine).
The first season starts with the Gemstones looking to expand their church. The family opens a satellite church where they put the controversial Baby Billy Freeman (Walton Goggins) in charge. This new church threatens smaller churches in the area, leading to the main conflict in the season.
Show creator Danny McBride based the show in South Carolina after his southern upbringing in Fredericksburg, Virginia. This allows him to write about a place familiar to him, as he does with all of his other shows, including “Eastbound and Down” and “Vice Principals.”
The first and second seasons of “Gemstones” are extremely memorable and funny. The third season, on the other hand, is somewhat forgettable. I had to re-watch it to remember what had happened in the first two. I found it the least entertaining of the three, with the jokes falling short and the characters being forgettable. But you can’t go wrong with seasons one and two.
Stand-out characters in this series include Eli and his brother-in-law and fellow televangelist, Baby Billy Freeman (Walton Goggins) who makes the series incredible. Without Walton Goggins’ performance, the show would not be what it is now. As one fan recently posted on Reddit, Baby Billy “belongs on the Mount Rushmore of greatest of TV characters.”
Despite some flaws, “The Righteous Gemstones” is an amazing show uplifted by star performances. A fourth and final season premiered on March 9. You can watch all three seasons on Max with a subscription.
