The Righteous Gemstones – Season 1 Review

The Righteous Gemstones is a Danny McBride show, someone who I’ve never really found funny. After finishing Gemstones, I tried watching Eastbound & Down next, and McBride’s narcissistic shtick was pretty much the same. It actually works here, though, because it clashes so elegantly with the religious personas he and his family members are trying to put on. This initially felt like it could’ve been a “Breaking Bad for televangelists,” given that the first episode ends with Jesse (McBride) purposefully running over people with his car. That was a great hook, but the main thread isn’t the blackmailing storyline so much as it is just general family dysfunction. The Gemstones, as it turns out, aren’t necessarily criminals. They just don’t always practice what they preach.

Thus, the show is more about lampooning hypocrisy than it is lampooning religion. The season ending with Jesse in Haiti—picking up a shovel to help dig a trench without so much as a word—made me rethink the negative review I was formulating mid-season. It was a really strong finale that shows these characters do have room to grow. Well, except for Judy, who is maybe beyond repair. But I love that the wildcard character was given to an actress for once, as Edi Patterson does a great job in being so hilariously intense and inappropriate. She is definitely the highlight. I also thought Adam Devine was perfectly cast as the pastor meant to appeal to the youth. Like McBride, his usual acting doesn’t do it for me, but The Righteous Gemstones seems to be where these types of personalities can finally shine.

Reviewer

Clark
I love gaming so much, I wrote a book about it.

Published by

Clark

I love gaming so much, I wrote a book about it.