Synopsis
The Righteous Gemstones is a black comedy crime television series created by Danny McBride that premiered on August 18, 2019, on HBO. The series follows a famous and dysfunctional family of televangelists. It stars Danny McBride, John Goodman, Edi Patterson, Adam DeVine, Cassidy Freeman, Tony Cavalero, Tim Baltz, Skyler Gisondo, and Walton Goggins.
Cast and Director
The cast of The Righteous Gemstones includes:
- Danny McBride as Jesse Gemstone, the eldest son of Eli Gemstone and the heir apparent to the Gemstone family’s megachurch empire.
- John Goodman as Eli Gemstone, the patriarch of the Gemstone family and the head of their megachurch empire.
- Edi Patterson as Judy Gemstone, the middle child of Eli Gemstone and a devout Christian.
- Adam DeVine as Kelvin Gemstone, the youngest child of Eli Gemstone and a charismatic youth pastor.
- Cassidy Freeman as Amber Gemstone, Jesse Gemstone’s wife and the mother of his two children.
- Tony Cavalero as Keefe Chambers, Jesse Gemstone’s best friend and a member of the Gemstone family’s security team.
- Tim Baltz as BJ Honeybear, Jesse Gemstone’s cousin and a member of the Gemstone family’s security team.
- Skyler Gisondo as Gideon Gemstone, Jesse Gemstone’s son.
- Walton Goggins as Baby Billy Freeman, Eli Gemstone’s estranged brother-in-law and a rival televangelist.
The series is directed by Danny McBride, David Gordon Green, Jody Hill, and Mark Mylod.
Story Plot
The Righteous Gemstones follows the Gemstone family, a famous and dysfunctional family of televangelists. The family is led by Eli Gemstone, a charismatic preacher who has built a multi-million dollar empire from his megachurch. Eli’s children, Jesse, Judy, and Kelvin, are all involved in the family business, but they are also all deeply flawed individuals. Jesse is a hot-headed preacher who is always looking for a fight. Judy is a devout Christian who is struggling to find her place in the family. Kelvin is a charismatic youth pastor who is more interested in partying than in preaching.
The Gemstones are constantly under attack from outsiders, including rival televangelists, journalists, and even the IRS. But the biggest threat to the family comes from within, as the Gemstones’ own greed, ambition, and hypocrisy threaten to tear them apart.
Critical Response
The Righteous Gemstones has received critical acclaim for its sharp writing, dark humor, and performances. The series has a 90% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus reading: “The Righteous Gemstones is a sharp, hilarious, and darkly twisted satire of the world of televangelism, with a stellar ensemble cast led by Danny McBride.”
Life Lessons
The Righteous Gemstones is a satire, but it also offers some valuable life lessons. The series shows us the dangers of greed, ambition, and hypocrisy. It also shows us the importance of family, faith, and forgiveness.
Here are some specific life lessons that can be learned from The Righteous Gemstones:
- Don’t let greed and ambition consume you.
- Be true to yourself, even if it means going against your family.
- Forgive those who have wronged you, even if they don’t deserve it.
- Never give up on your dreams, no matter how difficult they may seem.
Conclusion
The Righteous Gemstones is a funny, dark, and thought-provoking series that offers some valuable life lessons. If you’re looking for a show that will make you laugh, cry, and think, then you should definitely check out The Righteous Gemstones.