The Righteous Gemstones’season 4 premiere is the show’s riskiest episode yet, and while it was a huge gamble for Danny McBride, I couldn’t be more impressed with how it paid off.The Righteous Gemstonesis a comedy series, and while it is full of crude humor and low-brow gags, that hasn’t stopped it from employing some excellent filmmaking techniques and dramatic storytelling.The Righteous Gemstonesis entering its final seasonwith season 4, and while there is only a limited amount of time left with the show’s main cast, the premiere episode did something wildly different.
The Righteous Gemstonesseason 4 will be closing the show out, putting an end toDanny McBride’s third HBO series. After the end ofThe Righteous Gemstones' successful third season, the possibilities for the show’s future seemed endless. The main cast ofThe Righteous Gemstonesis beloved, and the series had become one of the most popular and acclaimed series on HBO. Thus,the announcement thatThe Righteous Gemstonesseason 4 would end the show was surprising for many fans, and it only made season 4’s wild premiere episode even riskier.
The Righteous Gemstones' Season 4 Premiere Doesn’t Include Any Returning Characters Or Cast Members
To the surprise of many,The Righteous Gemstonesseason 4, episode 1 doesn’t include any returning characters or main cast members. Thecast ofThe Righteous Gemstonesis what makes the show, with Danny McBride, Walton Goggins, Edi Patterson, and the rest of the show’s fantastic actors bringing the beloved characters to life. SinceThe Righteous Gemstonesended in July 2023, it has been over a year and a half since the Gemstone family has been seen. However, without warning,The Righteous Gemstonesseason 4, episode 1 decided not to bring any of the characters back.
Bradley Cooper’s The Righteous Gemstones Season 4 Role Explained: Who He Plays & Why He’s So Important To The Gemstone Family’s Story
The Righteous Gemstones season 4 shockingly starred Bradley Cooper as Elijah Gemstone, Eli’s Civil War ancestor who was a con man turned chaplain.
Instead,The Righteous Gemstonesseason 4, episode 1, “Prelude,” took place in the year 1862, more 160 years before the show’s main timeline. “Prelude” tells the story of Elijah Gemstone, a criminal con-man who murders a priest and steals his tithe and golden Bible. After hearing that the Confederate Army is paying chapalins $50 a week, Elijah takes up the identity of the priest he murdered and joins the Civil War. Rather than featuring the main cast,“Prelude” stars Bradley Cooper as Elijah Gemstone, with the episode also featuring Jim Cummings, Josh McDermitt, and more.
Despite Having An Entirely Different Cast, “Prelude” Is Now One Of The Righteous Gemstones' Best Episodes
It Is Unique & Fantastic
Upon hearing about “Prelude’s” changes, some fans of the HBO show may have been hesitant to welcomeThe Righteous Gemstonesseason 4, episode 1with open arms. However, now that “Prelude” is out, it is clear that it is one of the best episodes ofThe Righteous Gemstones. Despite having an entirely new cast, “Prelude” manages to draw viewers in and tell a captivating prequel story. Bradley Cooper is fantastic as Elijah Gemstone, with him giving a uniquely dramatic performance in a show filled to the brim with over-the-top comedic performances.
“Prelude” is also a thematically perfect way to kick offThe Righteous Gemstones' final season. The series has been all about redemption throughout its three previous seasons, and “Prelude” manages to perfectly distill this down into a single episode through Elijah Gemstone’s arc. The episode also highlights how imperfect people are often used for good things.This is a theme that has not only been present throughoutThe Righteous Gemstones, but also throughout the Bible that has inspired the show’s televangelist world.
“Prelude” Raises The Stakes For The Righteous Gemstones Season 4’s Final “Interlude” Episode
If “Interlude IV” Even Happens
While “Prelude” was a fantastic episode, it raises the stakes forThe Righteous Gemstonesseason 4’s “Interlude” episode. All three seasons ofThe Righteous Gemstoneshave used their fifth episodes as prequels, showing the main Gemstone cast before the death of Aimee-Leigh. “Interlude,” “Interlude II,” and “Interlude III,” are widely praised as the best episodes of the show, but since the show is ending, “Interlude IV” will be the last one.
The Righteous Gemstones' Family Tree Explained
The titular family in The Righteous Gemstones is massive, and here is a full breakdown of the Gemstone, Freeman, and Montgomery family tree.
“Prelude” has already kicked off the final season ofThe Righteous Gemstoneswith a fantastic prequel episode, raising the bar for what “Interlude IV” will have to do. Although it hasn’t even been confirmed that “Interlude IV” will be happening, it is expected based off the previous three seasons. If this is the case, thenThe Righteous Gemstonesseason 4 only has three more episodes to get viewers in the mood for another prequel.
The Righteous Gemstones
Cast
The Righteous Gemstones follows the story of a renowned televangelist family, embroiled in a legacy marked by deviance, greed, and charitable acts, all under the guise of religious devotion. Released in 2019, the series explores their complex dynamics and the challenges they face in maintaining their public image.
