Very few creatives have made quality comedy television series. Classics from folks like Larry David and Garry Shandling and old-school favorites from Lucille Ball are harder to come by. Among modern comedic television voices, one of the biggest must be Danny McBride. Besides his work with filmmakers like Seth Rogen and David Gordon Green, McBride has carved a niche in comedic television. Shows like Eastbound and Down and Vice Principals grew a beloved fanbase. His 2019 series The Righetous Gemstones helped stoke the fire, creating one of McBride’s funniest series yet.
Now concluding its last season, The Righteous Gemstones hopes to go out on a high note in wild and interesting directions. At its core, this season focuses on closure and love for the Gemstone clan. This includes Eli (John Goodman) finding peace and maybe love with someone in his life (Megan Mullally), along with her son (Sean William Scott), which comes with its challenges. Meanwhile, the Gemstone kids all deal with different kinds of love themselves. Judy (Patti Harrison) and BJ (Tim Baltz) prove their devotion to each other after a tragic but comical accident. Kelvin (Adam Devine) and Keefe (Tony Cavalero) look to start a life together, and Jesse (Danny McBride) looks to balance his family life (and building relationships with them) with his work responsibilities.
Like any Righteous Gemstones season, the stories are front-loaded with various plots. Also co-written by McBride, some plots get more room to breathe than others. McBride, Harrison, and Devine are equally strong in these central roles. In season four, it is similarly hilarious simply seeing them exist. Each performer knows how to strike a balance between vulgarity and humanity. They all say outrageous things, which comes from a severe emotional insecurity. In contrast, the performances don’t offer anything we haven’t seen before comedically, but serve as a fitting send-off for this talented trio of performers. The season’s standouts have to go to John Goodman and Walton Goggins.
Goodman’s portrayal here feels different than in previous seasons. With Eli’s retirement from church life, there’s an unfiltered quality. Such a quality arguably delivers some of the series’ most shocking and funniest moments. Yet simultaneously, there’s a warmth that feels entirely different. Like many characters this season, Eli is looking for companionship and closure. Throughout, every smile also hides a layer of hidden pain and longing. It’s a compelling turn that feels different than what audiences may expect from this character. It is an interesting balance to the other performance in season four that packed a punch.
Considered by many as the strongest of the series, Walton Goggins’ Baby Billy Freeman is a laugh riot. Goggins is having a great year between this and HBO’s The White Lotus season three. In this fourth season of Gemstones, Goggins’ clearly understands Freeman’s intention as a character. He is a chaotic neutral in the series, always providing the right laugh at the right time. Yet at the same time, he is looking to leave a legacy for his loved ones. Goggins sells that humility (hidden behind layers of insults) that we haven’t seen from this character. It’s a welcome characterization similar to Goodman, adding depth to the characters’ journeys.
With the strengths of those performances aside, The Righteous Gemstones fourth season is far from perfect. The issue here involves certain subplots involving Sean William Scott, Michael Rooker, and pastor rival Stephen Dorff. Both parts attempt to offer a more dramatic heft with funny moments. It’s an interesting gamble that regrettably does not pay off as intended on screen. The same can be said for the Gemstone children, particularly Skyler Gisendo’s Gideon. It’s not that these actors are bad, but their stories either feel archetypal or simply nonexistent. It wastes capable actors with unfortunately lackluster material.
That is not the fault of these actors, or even the writing of season four itself. The issue, unfortunately, falls into one problem: timing. After four seasons, the sentimentality feels sudden and late. As someone who has watched The Righteous Gemstones from the beginning, I find what is done in season four admirable. The problem is that this level of sentimentality feels sudden. It’s a messy conclusion that feels, in some cases, like a different show altogether.
I would like to clarify that criticism. While watching, that warmth on screen is emotionally compelling. It sells the heart it strives to deliver, and the actors can sell it. Looking back after the season, it feels like an unexpected tonal shift. It can be best summarized as a piece of a puzzle that “fits” but not seamlessly. It almost feels like it has been jammed in, making the finished picture a pretty sight. But if you look closely, the seams can be seen as cracked and tattered. Granted, sometimes the best artwork can be a bit messy, but beautiful to the eyes of the beholder.
If you enjoy The Righteous Gemstones, this season will give you everything you want. It will deliver the humor and character interactions one looks for in this series. Those interactions and plots go through a lot at the wall and unfortunately, it does not all stick. Thankfully, the series preestablished goodwill makes this an enjoyable experience regardless. One could argue that, like in any family, closure does not come in a tidy package. Instead, it’s a sprawling process that takes time. The Gemstone clan got that closure, and as messy as it was, it still proved challenging to say goodbye as a viewer.
All four seasons of The Righteous Gemstones are now streaming on max.
Learn more about the show, including how to watch, on the max website.
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