"The Righteous Gemstones" stands as a boisterous satire, skewering the unholy alliance between capitalism and religion, alongside the quintessential American vices of greed, hypocrisy, vulgarity, idiocy, violence, and macho boasting. Yet, amidst its scathing critique, the series also presents a surprisingly heartfelt exploration of family values, albeit twisted and degraded, within a family whose dysfunction knows no bounds. Among the Gemstones, no sin is beyond redemption; perhaps the frequent indulgence in vice has rendered them all judgement-proof. Who among them can cast the first stone, when they are all so deeply immersed in sin?
In the show's inaugural season, Gideon Gemstone returned from Hollywood's glitz to orchestrate a blackmail racket (later evolving into a heist) targeting his brother Eli's ministry, and now chauffeurs him around. Their father, Jesse, cheated on their mother, paying the price with a bullet through his buttocks and anus, yet they now monetize their reconciliation story, selling tips to married Christians for a cool $500 apiece. While the Bible advocates patience and swift forgiveness, the Gemstones excel only in the latter, their anger a fleeting emotion. The season opener flashbacks to Eli's sister May-May bashing his beloved wife Aimee-Leigh on the head with a wrench, an act seemingly worthy of eternal estrangement. Yet, when May-May seeks Eli's help in present times, he cannot abandon her, even venturing into a hostile militia camp to reconnect with his nephews. Among the Gemstones, no slight or betrayal is grave enough to sever ties permanently. It's almost fitting that these habitual sinners are also the staunchest believers in redemption.
Upon the new season's premiere, I drew parallels between the Gemstones and the Roys from "Succession," noting their shared familial dynamics, ambitions, and audience appeal, yet emphasizing their worlds' impossibility of converging at social gatherings. The Gemstones embody nouveau riche hicks, whereas the Roys are urban snobs with old money. However, witness the Gemstone siblings and their spouses at Cousins Night, sipping cocktails and exchanging snarky jibes about their ill-mannered relatives Chuck and Karl, and one might mistake the scene for a Wambsgans gala. How do these hayseeds navigate such elite waters? ("I feel like I'm at the zoo, watching gorillas get a bath," muses Judy.) And what of Karl's unruly pubic hair? (BJ, in a rare and delightful put-down, exclaims, "Holy smokes, what's cooking under Karl's trunks?!") Money has transformed the Gemstones into symbols of grotesque affluence, blending Bible thumping with ostentatious excess, evidenced by their monster trucks and gold-trimmed private jets. Yet, they too can adopt a snobbish air.
As Cousins Night approaches, the Gemstone siblings find themselves utterly disinclined to socialize with the Montgomeries. They are irritated by Chuck and Karl's constant griping about their luxurious accommodations in their father's mansion, where they luxuriate in plush bathrobes. Eli endeavors to persuade them to embrace their first cousins as kin and ensure their comfort, but his efforts are interrupted by a sight that leaves them amused: Chuck and Karl peering out from the upstairs windows and ducking down in a manner reminiscent of the "Haunted Mansion" ride.
Later, Kelvin scoffs at Chuck and Karl, describing them to Keefe as "diarrhea people," unworthy even of Keefe's beloved warm sausage dip. However, an unforeseen incident at the party proves to be a turning point in their relations. Karl's inadequate chewing results in a piece of food getting stuck in his throat, prompting a collective effort from the Gemstones and Chuck to save the strapping man. This simple, heartfelt moment of unity in the face of potential disaster unlocks a deeper understanding of family for all involved. As always, the siblings are merely slow to appreciate that their father's wisdom was spot on.
Elsewhere, a breathtakingly inspiring cold open reveals Baby Billy's return. Once a rising televangelist star, he now finds himself in a humble position, albeit not as dire as peddling COVID-fighting elixirs from a hitch-trailer, but far removed from the glory of his childhood fame. His current engagement involves performing 24 shows daily at the pool lounge at Zion's Landing, where he dons a sequined costume adorned with an aquatic clamshell theme, seemingly belonging more in Reno's most desolate casino than this serene setting.
His job isn't half bad, residing in the penthouse with Tiffany and their son Lionel, sipping on complimentary piña coladas. Yet, the clever opening hints at his discontent, toggling between the allure of swooning fans hanging on his every word and the stark reality of "basic Christian sun bums" executing cannonballs in front of him.
Upon returning to the penthouse, Billy informs Tiffany, "Every celebrated individual understands that genuine fame is a journey with various stops along the popularity express." While he holds a grain of truth, perhaps he overlooks that renowned careers generally plateau after a couple of decades, rather than experiencing perpetual highs and lows, and his own stardom has yet to span an extensive period. Amusingly, Billy latches onto the first thing his eyes alight upon: an antique episode of Family Feud, hosted by Richard Dawson, who had a quaint habit of planting kisses on the lips of every female contestant. He ponders recreating the same format but with Bible trivia, omitting the catchphrase "survey says," as there is but one correct answer.
When Billy and Tiffany pitch their concept to the Gemstone siblings' panel, the props are nothing short of spectacular—oh, the Baby Billy doll, a marvel to behold! Yet, it's a resounding rejection from all three, who struggle even to articulate the show's title, "Baby Billy's Bible Bonkers," let alone doing it thrice rapidly. Their mock pilot during Cousins Night, albeit a commendable proof of concept, is swiftly overshadowed by Karl's choking scare. Undeterred, Billy assures Tiffany on their way back, "They'll jump at Bible Bonkers now." It wouldn't be unprecedented for the Gemstones to yield to one of their own whims.
