Christianity is a fundamental part of the lives of many. While it’s never been without controversy, the paths it creates for one to follow can be paramount to their very existence. Whether you live in fear of your God or follow their image in the name of love, everyone explores their own religion in unique ways. One particular avenue of Christianity exists deep within the United States in the form of televangelism. Through lavish sets and expensive orchestras, the word of God is blasted out to millions around the country. This is where The Righteous Gemstones comes in. In this piece, We’ll explore the Gemstone family and how this HBO comedy condemns the avenue of Christianity they reside in and all the corruption that surrounds it.
Spoilt Rotten
The Righteous Gemstones follows the trials and tribulations of the Gemstone family as they manage their media empire. Eli Gemstone (John Goodman) is the father of three children, Jesse (Danny McBride), Judy (Edi Patterson), and Kelvin (Adam DeVine). While these siblings may promote unity and love under God’s guiding hand, their toxicity begins to show once they leave the stage. From name-calling to physical attacks on one another, their dysfunctional relationship comes at odds with the image Eli Gemstone wishes for them to follow.
A massive part of The Righteous Gemstones is the journey these siblings take to eventually take over the empire Eli Gemstone created. In many ways, Eli has laid the groundwork for the Gemstone name to continue on for decades to come. However, the lack of unity and the toxicity that follows these siblings at every turn becomes their downfall. Much like Succession, another HBO drama, this is a story about entitlement and how it rots one’s self to the core.
Misbehavin’
Throughout the series, we’re treated to entire episodes devoted to telling us the story of the Gemstone Empire and how it all began. As the present time shows the Gemstones living without Aimee-Lee Gemstone (Jennifer Nettles), we see a family that’s broken and deep in grief. Perhaps where the show shines best is how it creates a certain sympathy for each of its characters no matter how cruel they seem. While the Gemstones find profit in the exploitation of religion, as human beings, they’re incredibly complicated and not the super villains that any other show could make them seem.
Aimee-Lee in her early days is seen as a woman with good intentions and her loss breaks the hearts of many close to the Gemstones. As the younger siblings and even Eli go deeper into the corruption of their religion, it paints a heartbreaking image that hits even when the laughs are plentiful. For all the faults that the Gemstones have both personally and politically, their sinful ways still act as a heartbreaking reflection of what they’ve become. The chance to do something good lived and died with Aimee-Lee and the Gemstones deep down know this.
Freeman’s Gap
The Righteous Gemstones explores the corruption of one’s religion through the family relationships we form and “Baby” Billy Freeman (Walton Goggins) is a keen example of that. As the sister to Aimee-Leigh and the brother in law to Eli, Baby Billy quickly becomes a central part of the Gemstone family. In many ways, he’s a living embodiment of the deceitfulness and greed that the whole family represents. Billy is an opportunist and seeks constant validation of his past fame. As time continues on and those around him either pass away or lose what they once were, there’s a certain sadness to Baby Billy that extends to the show entirely.
The word of God is something that each and every member of the Gemstone family claim to take seriously. However, the facade of their empire quickly begins to show. Baby Billy in some ways comes across as the most honest from how outwardly manipulative he quickly becomes. As we watch the Gemstones place themselves in a false reality where their misdeeds are in the same of God. In the end, Baby Billy is a manipulator and a scammer but he’s also the most refreshing character because deep down, he’s likely aware of his own behavior.
Final Thoughts
The Righteous Gemstones is a comedy from Danny McBride that offers the same juvenile comedy that he and his writing team are so good at. However, it’s also a layered perspective of how religion is corrupted by those who choose to twist it. No matter how good the intentions might be at first, turning the word of God into theatrics never leads to anything good. As the series approaches its third season, it does so as an increasingly intelligent perspective of religion. It’s unafraid to critique those very systems but it’s also unafraid to show it’s ultimately human beings who choose to break it down. The words of God are there in writing. It’s up to the individual to decide what to do and in the case of the Gemstones, their decisions don’t lead to anything good.
The Righteous Gemstones is now streaming on Max in the US and NOW in the UK. Check out our review of Season 3 here!
