There are Gemstones you didn’t know existed in the latest edition of “The Righteous Gemstones.”
There are also plenty of guest stars who want access to the televangelists’ honeypot.
The first family of "Righteous Gemstones" from left, Edi Patterson, Danny McBride and Adam DeVine.
Are they sincere? Or do they just want the spoils? That’s the question threading through the fourth and final season of the outrageous comedy, created by star Danny McBride.
When the season begins, we get an entire episode without the first family of Christian grift. It’s an prologue set during the Civil War that shows how the empire – complete with gold Bible – got started. The preamble is fun, but what you really want are the familiar faces. They land in the second episode (complete with jetpacks and a tribute to their late mother).
Then, it’s just a matter of dealing the cards, seeing who’s trying to steal their thunder and marveling at the brave way Walton Goggins approaches Baby Billy Freeman, the Porter Wagoner-like relative who’s more daring (and scene-stealing) than any of them and unafraid to call out other charlatans.
Walton Goggins plays Baby Billy Freeman in "The Righteous Gemstones."
He’s staging a big birthday tribute to Aimee-Leigh but he really needs her husband, Eli Gemstone (John Goodman), to make an appearance. Unfortunately, he’s wrapped up in retirement and unwilling to budge. What gets him to move is an old friend (nicely played by Megan Mullally) who has designs on her own place in the non-dinner-theater world of entertainment.
While Season Four is stuffed with four-letter words and nudity, it doesn’t skimp on commentary, particularly when attention turns to the “Top Christ Following Man” competition. Kelvin (Adam DeVine) is in the running but realizes he has to have a “story” that will top the other candidates – including rival Vance Simkins (Stephen Dorff).
The series plays with the scenario and wraps it up in a way that should please the faithful.
From left, Edi Patterson, John Goodman, Danny McBride and Adam DeVine star in "The Righteous Gemstones."
Goggins gets ample opportunity to let his freak flag fly and introduces a Teen Jesus TV show (“Teenjus”) that he thinks will bring another generation to the strip-mall church empire.
“The Righteous Gemstones,” however, hits a high when it’s in the family compound and B.J. (Tim Baltz) needs an emotional support animal. The helper – a monkey -- is extremely good (and capable of more cringe than the show’s first family).
While “Gemstones” doesn’t bite the religious hand quite the way it did in previous seasons, it does conclude without a big sermon. Aimee-Leigh might have delivered the message in song. But the way Jesse, Judy and Kelvin do it is quite good – and just the farewell we need until they return with a big “Gemstones” movie.
“Teenjus”? We can hardly wait.
“The Righteous Gemstones” airs on HBO.
