[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”31088″ img_size=”900×500″ alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]The Righteous Gemstones did not look like anything I had wanted to watch. Ever. Then, one Saturday afternoon, I found myself with nothing to watch and a need for something more lighthearted than the serious shows I had indulged in lately. With only the knowledge of John Goodman as the lead and Walton Goggins’ crazier than normal hairdo, I set foot into this HBO series. Did I walk away loving it? No. Did I walk away liking it a lot more than I thought I was going to? Absolutely and the answer may certainly surprise you.
Slight Spoilers
This HBO series centers around a religious evangelical family who has turned preaching into a multi-million (dare I say billion) dollar business. Move over Elon Musk and Richard Branson, the Gemstones are the definition of insanely rich. With Goodman as the head of the family, he has his sons Jesse (Danny McBride) and Kelvin (Adam DeVine) by his side leading a megachurch. Eli (Goodman) also has a daughter Judy (Edi Patterson) who falls into a very tired “Meg from Family Guy” role. Don’t feel too bad for her, though; because her character was certainly my least favorite out of everyone else and the best part of her character arc was when her fiancé told her to shove it.
Of course, this series is an exaggeration of real-life televangelists, though; it really does provide a satirical commentary on the corruption and manipulation that goes into some of these people who only use the guise of religion to become rich off of. The family has private jets, expensive jewelry, and a massive compound where not only does everyone have their own mansions, but there’s a zoo and a theme park on-premise. It is a very luxurious life these Gemstones live, but as anyone can tell you, the higher on top you are, the more you have to fall.
Everything starts unraveling when Jesse is blackmailed. The family preaches the word of God, but Jesse is haunted by a video of him engaging in drugs, hookers, and more. This video is held over Jesse’s head and he will do anything to attempt to prevent it from ruining his marriage and his family’s reputation. Jesse’s siblings become involve and a more personal and sinister reason for the blackmail is revealed later in the season.
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What Worked in The Show
With all of the silliness and over the top-ness in the show, there are some really redeeming moments in the show. Goodman’s Eli loved his children’s mother, who passed prior to the start of the show. His adoration for her is why he works so hard and why he does what he can to try to keep his bickering kids from ripping each other apart. There’s something very authentic and tangible about Eli’s dedication to his late wife and it really is very sweet. Another endearing though the somewhat creepy relationship is the one between Kelvin and Tony Cavalero’s Keefe. Keefe is a former “Satan worshipper” who Kelvin “saved”. The friendship becomes less of preaching the “good word” and more of Keefe just needing a good friend like Kelvin. Be prepared, though; there is a lot of dick showing in this series, particularly from Keefe.
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Walton Goggins is a Treasure
The series really begins opening up when Walton Goggins’ Baby Billy Freeman steps on screen. Not only because Goggins is simply hilarious at playing an old pervert, but because he adds something extra to the story. We are given insight into how Eli’s wife was essentially torn between two men. Baby Billy was Aimee-Leigh’s brother and felt that he had “first dibs” essentially on her. Which, was why he always felt like Eli was taking her away from him. Especially when Aimee-Leigh becomes pregnant with she and Eli’s third child and must call off a tour she planned on doing with Baby Billy. A tour that would have helped Baby Billy with his financial troubles. In the end, we see Baby Billy is the real con man, whereas it seems that the Gemstones’ fortune is simply a side effect from their preaching. There is even an olive branch that Eli offers to another pastor at the end of the series that really touched upon the heart of the show.
Rating: 3.5/5
While I didn’t love The Righteous Gemstones, I recognize that it has a lot of potential and underneath the sometimes overacting, there is heart to the story of the Gemstones. Plus, I’m just looking for more Goodman and Goggins, while hoping to see Jesse repair his relationship with his estranged son Gideon.
The Righteous Gemstones was renewed for a second season. You can watch all nine episodes now on HBO.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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