The Righteous Gemstonesseason 4’s premiere episode was a massive risk, and while it continued one of the show’s most beloved trends, it did so with a huge twist.The Righteous Gemstonesis one of the most beloved HBO shows that is still airing, with it being one of HBO’s most critically acclaimed comedy series of all time. ThroughoutThe Righteous Gemstones' four seasons, the Danny McBride series has established a lot of familiar trends.The Righteous Gemstonesseason 4, episode 1continues one of the most popular ones, although it does so in a unique way.
The Righteous Gemstonesseason 4 is finally here, with it continuing the story of Jesse, Judy, Kelvin, and the rest of the characters in the wake of Eli’s retirement at theend ofThe Righteous Gemstonesseason 3.The Righteous Gemstonesseason 4 will be the final season of the hit series, with it coming to a close after the newest batch of episodes. Fans of the series now know that season 4 will be the last time that they get to spend with the beloved cast of characters featured inThe Righteous Gemstones,making this premiere choice all the more shocking.

Every The Righteous Gemstones Season Has A Prequel Episode (But Season 4’s Takes Place Earlier Than Ever Before)
It Is Set During The Civil War
The Righteous Gemstonesseason 4, episode 1 continues one of the best trends in the show’s history, with it kicking off the final season with a prequel episode.Prequel episodes have become a staple ofThe Righteous Gemstones, with all three of the prior seasons having them. “Interlude,” “Interlude II,” and “Interlude III” are considered to be some ofThe Righteous Gemstones' best episodes, with each of them exploring the Gemstone family decades before the show’s main timeline. Since these episodes are so great, news of season 4 starting with a prequel may have at first seemed exciting.
10 Best Shows Like The Righteous Gemstones
The hilariously raunchy HBO series from Danny McBride currently airing its second season shares several components with other notable comedies.
However,The Righteous Gemstonesseason 4, episode 1, “Prelude” is a massive deviation from the show’s previous prologue episode. Firstly, “Prelude” takes place far earlier than ever before. “Prelude” takes place in Virginia, 1862. The episode centers around the Civil War, with it followingBradley Cooper’s Elijah Gemstoneas he kills a priest, takes his identity, and joins the Confederate army as a chaplain. Every other prequel episode inThe Righteous Gemstonesat least took place in the lifetimes of the main characters, making “Prelude’s” 1862 setting a huge twist.

Season 4’s Civil War Prequel Is The Season’s Premiere Rather Than The 5th Episode
Changing The “Interlude” Formula
Another major change forThe Righteous Gemstonesseason 4’s “Prelude” is its placement within the season. The aforementioned “Interlude” episodes were all released halfway through their respective seasons. Episode 5 of eachThe Righteous Gemstonesseason was the “Interlude” episode, breaking up the first half and the second half of the story. This came to be expected fromThe Righteous Gemstones, with many fans of the series expecting the pattern to hold true in season 4, with a potential “Interlude IV” being the fifth episode.
Instead, “Prelude” was the premiere ofThe Righteous Gemstonesseason 4, with this being another major twist for the show. After over a year and a half without seeing any ofThe Righteous Gemstonescast, many fans were excited to spend more time with Jesse, Judy, Kelvin, Baby Billy, and the rest of the gang.The season premiere being a prequel episode wasn’t announced before its release, meaning that it shocked many viewers. Although “Prelude” has been praised by fans and critics alike, it was a risky move to kick the season off with it.

Will The Righteous Gemstones Season 4 Have Its Own Interlude Episode?
Casting Calls Provide A Hint
The inclusion of"Prelude" makes things interesting forThe Righteous Gemstonesseason 4, raising questions about if the season will have its own “Interlude” episode. It is possible that “Prelude” could take the place of “Interlude IV,” with the rest of the season going uninterrupted.
What Happened To Elijah Gemstone’s Golden Bible In The Righteous Gemstones?
The Righteous Gemstones season 4 premiere introduced the oldest Gemstone in series history, Elijah Gemstone, who stole a miraculous gold-plated Bible.
Only the titles of the first fourThe Righteous Gemstonesseason 4 episodes have been released, leaving the slot that “Interlude IV” would probably fill a mystery. It seems as if the show is intentionally attempting to keep this fact a mystery, with many fans speculating on the topic after the release of “Prelude.” A casting call forThe Righteous Gemstonesseason 4 also referenced a flashback to 2002, with this being evidence for another “Interlude” episode (viaallcasting). However, this will remain a mystery until HBO announced more info aboutThe Righteous Gemstonesseason 4.