The Righteous Gemstones

The cinematography, music and Cooper’s performance are all outstanding, and if the episode doesn’t have you kneeling at the Gemstone altar, nothing will.

Season 4 isn’t just The Righteous Gemstones’ final season; it might also be the funniest season to date. The writers know their characters better than ever before, and the actors are more settled into those roles. Every episode has a handful of belly laughs from all over the spectrum of the show’s signature comic sensibility.

To the very end, The Righteous Gemstones remained true to itself — while never forgetting that it’s a comedy, going balls-out with its humor at the right moments. (Sometimes quite literally, thanks to Goggins.) The only difference with these final episodes is that like its characters, it grew up just a little bit along the way.

The show isn’t making new points about the hypocrisy of for-profit worship. It just underscores them in ever more audacious ways: with monster-truck rallies and racing cars and episode-length flashbacks and a poolside music video starring Walton Goggins’ veneered crooner Baby Billy dressed as a giant oyster.

Pompous, self-serving behavior is a common trope in McBride’s acidic brand of comedy, but The Righteous Gemstones showcases a depth and maturity by spending more time excavating the foundation of this ever-expanding evangelical empire.

This is a decent show that could quickly become good or even great. All the pieces are there, even if McBride seems to be struggling at the beginning to put them together into one convincing sermon. Still, I wouldn't blame anyone for coming back every Sunday.

When [John Goodman] gets the spotlight, there are hints of the show The Righteous Gemstones could’ve been.

Danny McBride at his comedic best, John Goodman is not mailing in his performance either— very clever writing thus far, and hopefully it can continue.

The first season was pretty great but it has been on a slow decline since.I would have loved tosee Vice Principles go 4 season and The Righteous Gemstones wrap things us after season 2. Season 4 is kind of a **** real story beats, at least any that are interesting. Kelvin Gemstone character is obnoxious. This character suffers from the same issue as the Mac character in Always Sunny....coming out as gay really doesnt work well. They ramp up the gay stereotypes to 11 just for what **** sure. The best character Baby Bill, was absolutely hilarious in the beginning, but became an over the top annoyance much like Stifler in AmericanPie.

The show is far too sympathetic of these scumbags. They are portrayed as kind and heartfelt. Sure they are selfish and stupid, but they are also lovable in a way that is off putting and starts to feel soap operatic. Also, more jokes beside men screaming and cussing might be interesting....? But that's kinda all the creators are interested in. The whole thing falls apart midway through the first season. This is classic dude bro nonsense for fairly typical Americans. In all it's efforts to be raw, or ****'s pretty much mainstream blandness. The over praise is just due to it's lazy appeal. This show will vanish as soon as it's seen. It is vapid.

They forgot to write jokes. Most of the time is spent reigning in the scope of the characters, their massive houses, and the stadium-sized mission of their work. Precious little time is left over for a **** joke here and there, the occasional personality quirk. I think writing a show with this sized universe makes a writer nervous that if they focus on a scene that they'd be neglecting something else. With so much to space to handle, precious detail of what makes a show good is lost.

So so so so so bad. Oh look, kinda funny clothes. Oh look, kinda funny haircuts. Oh look a gay-subtext group without the courage to actually say anything truthful or insightful about it. Not a single laugh in the first three episodes. Smug, "look-at-how outrageous we are" insider crap that's hysterical to the writers of the show. They can't believe how funny they are. Only Danny McBride couldn't make a hyena laugh. I swear he has pictures of HBO's wife. How the hell does he keep getting work? I watch this with spite in my heart and I love/hate every minute of it. Never again! More please! Hate you, McBride.