The titular Gemstones of “The Righteous Gemstones” have always had a complicated and less-than-righteous past, but above all else, they have striven to do the right thing — to grow and change and aim to be better. That is, if they only could get out of their own way first.
This tension has long served as a thorough and weighty foundation for the HBO comedy series, but the final season of the Danny McBride-created series has this idea on Front Street. Season 4 picks up with the whole of the Gemstone family in various states of flux. After coming out, Kelvin (Adam DeVine) started an LGBTQIA+ organization at the church, called Prism, and is finding real success for the first time. Judy (Edi Patterson) and BJ (Tim Baltz) find their relationship stronger than ever until their bonds are tested like never before. Jesse (McBride) is struggling to locate his place in the hierarchy of it all as he begins to feel his influence at the church waning. The success of Bible Bonkers has put Baby Billy (Walton Goggins, having a hell of a run on the network right now) in the driver’s seat for the first time in his life, and he’s got a big idea to strike when the iron’s hot. And, amongst it all, Eli (John Goodman) finds himself entering into a new phase of life as he considers what it might be like to find love once more.
With so much change abound, each member of the family begins to deal with it in their own way, which — more often than not — is to say, quite poorly. Such is the hallmark of McBride’s work on HBO, but especially on this series, which has mined comedy gold from the ways in which an individual Gemstone is capable (or not) of coping with the circumstances around them. But with the final season upon us, there’s an added weight for those who have stuck with these characters for so long: an inherent desire in wanting to see them each finally break their worst impulses and strive for something greater in the process — something that the show drives right into the skid of this season.
The semi-arrested development of each of the Gemstone kids is rooted in the death of their mother, Aimee-Leigh Gemstone (Jennifer Nettles), an event so enshrined in their past it feels as totemic as the good word itself. Thus, the brilliance — and comedy — of Season 4’s nine episodes (all of which were provided for critics) lies in how McBride begins to challenge each of the kids on the possibility of Eli moving on and finally finding someone new. Complicating that idea is Lori (a truly delightful Megan Mullally), a long-time family friend who has a storied history with Aimee-Leigh.
The inclusion of Mullally and her plot energizes the season like a lightning plot, giving Goodman a comedic force to shine along with. The inclusion of her son Corey (Seann William Scott) sees Gemstone kids reunite with a long-lost best friend and allows Scott to work in a bit of a different register as the straight man to the shenanigans of Bride, DeVine and Patterson.
Make no mistake, however, this is still “Gemstones” through and through, which means plenty of absurdity, violence, hilarity, religious satire and full-frontal male nudity. Amongst that, McBride and his longtime collaborators like Jody Hill, David Gordan Green, John Carcieri and Jeff Fradley still find the pace and space to send each character out with a fitting arc. The immediate beneficiaries of this are Judy, Kelvin and Baby Billy, all of whom feel like they have an increased presence here. DeVine’s arc, in particular, is a welcome source of emotionality and surprise. Baby Billy’s presence is considerable given the number of projects Goggins has in the hopper these days; it’s also the one where the most Hollywood satire comes from as his megalomaniac desire to capitalize on the fame manifests in a streaming series about Jesus as a teenager. The result is a poorly crafted portmanteau called “Teenjus,” which wouldn’t feel out of place on a real faith-based streaming service. In fact, if any of the three kids feel like they take a backseat this year, it’s Jesse, perhaps due to an increase in directorial duties on behalf of McBride.
While elements of the story are slower to come together — especially one involving the kids back in 2002 — “Gemstones” ultimately resolves in a deeply satisfying manner. The final season cements itself as a family-first show. Not in the sense that it’s family-friendly, although spend five minutes watching it, and you’ll know it’s never been a show to watch with the kids, but as a series about generational bonds between parents and children. Sure, the Gemstones are a deeply dysfunctional family in charge of interpreting and providing spiritual wisdom to believers who desperately need something to cling to in tough times. Or, as Jesse says late in the series, “… imperfect beings trying to become something more.” We all strive to better ourselves in the service of something beyond ourselves.
“Gemstones,” in its final episodes, posits that the work to get to that place is just as rewarding as the destination — albeit in a deeply hilarious fashion.
“The Righteous Gemstones” premieres Sunday, March 9, on HBO and Max.