The Righteous Gemstones has returned for its highly anticipated fourth and final season, with the premiere episode of Danny McBride’s acclaimed comedy series airing on Sunday. It’s been almost two years since we last followed the escapades of the extravagant megachurch pastors, and Season 3 provided significant character growth for the Gemstone siblings: Jesse (McBride), Judy (Edi Patterson), and Kelvin (Adam DeVine). With Eli (John Goodman) stepping back from church leadership, the Gemstone siblings are compelled to unite, and Season 3 culminates in their reconciliation with the previously estranged Montgomery family. From thrilling monster truck rallies to a Bible-themed game show, let’s revisit some unforgettable highlights from the hilariously unpredictable third season as we gear up for the show’s grand finale.
Jesse Struggles for Authority as Eli Steps Back from Church Leadership
As the eldest sibling, Jesse takes on the challenge of leading the family business as their father steps away from church duties. However, he finds it difficult to earn the respect he desires, leading to conflicts with his siblings about who should assume control. Without Eli’s commanding presence, the Gemstone family’s popularity begins to falter, which prompts Dusty Daniels (Shea Wigham), a professional race car driver and significant financial supporter of their church, to exclude the Gemstones from his will and redirect his allegiance to their rivals, the Simkins family. This shift in loyalty amplifies the pressure on Jesse to prove his leadership abilities.
The other ministers within the church are unimpressed by the Gemstone siblings’ attempts at leadership, and Jesse’s frustration spills over into his family life. He reprimands Amber (Cassidy Freeman) for focusing too much on promoting The System, her at-home relationship counseling program, rather than being present for the family. In addition, he coerces their eldest son Gideon (Skyler Gisondo) into taking on responsibilities as Eli’s driver during his recovery from a neck injury, while he becomes increasingly critical of their second son, Pontius (Kelton DuMont), for his laziness and attempts to mimic Pete Davidson.
Uncovering the Roots of the Gemstone/Montgomery Family Feud Through a Flashback Episode
Each season of The Righteous Gemstones features a dedicated flashback episode that enriches the current storyline and relationships. Season 3’s flashback, titled “Interlude III,” delves into the origins of the Gemstone-Montgomery feud that has persisted for over two decades, originating during the Y2K scare. Here, we meet Eli’s sister May-May (Kristen Johnston), her husband Peter Montgomery (Steve Zahn), and their two sons, Chuck (Lukas Haas) and Karl (Robert Oberst). As the Y2K deadline approaches, Eli and Aimee-Leigh (Jennifer Nettles) sell doomsday survival kits to their flock, including a substantial purchase of $25,000 made by Peter without May-May’s knowledge. When Peter later seeks financial assistance from Eli, May-May uncovers the truth and is furious, believing Eli has duped them and many others. In a desperate attempt to recover his losses, Eli resorts to robbing a bank, resulting in a police officer’s death and a gunshot wound to his cheek.
The major conflict of Season 3 is ignited by Peter’s release from prison, where May-May turns to Eli for support after Peter recruits Chuck and Karl into his doomsday prepper militia, the Brothers of Tomorrow’s Fires. Following an FBI raid on their compound, Chuck and Karl reach out to the Gemstones for help, who, at Eli’s insistence, reluctantly provide them refuge. This pivotal flashback episode illustrates the deep-seated resentment Peter harbors towards the Gemstones, primarily fueled by financial grievances and the way they accumulated their wealth, which has long divided the family.
The Gemstones Face a Kidnapping Plot and a Swarm of Locusts
In a dramatic twist, Peter seeks vengeance by orchestrating the kidnapping of the Gemstone siblings, demanding a ransom of $15 million from Eli for their release. Eli, believing Peter would never resort to violence against his own children, hesitates to comply with the ransom demand. Tensions rise when one of Peter’s followers threatens to kill one of the siblings. During this intense moment, Jesse, Judy, and Kelvin engage in a heartfelt conversation about their fears and the possibility of losing one another. However, their cousin Karl secretly reaches out to May-May, who arrives to assist in their escape. Gideon, having secretly followed May-May to the compound, heroically intervenes when Peter, Chuck, and the militia threaten them, utilizing The Redeemer—Jesse’s monster truck—to wreak havoc on the compound.
Throughout Season 3, Uncle Baby Billy (Walton Goggins) attempts to re-involve himself in the church after growing disillusioned with his job at the Gemstones’ resort, Zion’s Landing. In the climactic season finale, Jesse gives the green light for Baby Billy’s Bible Bonkers, a Family Feud-style game show, and the Gemstones go head-to-head against the Simkins siblings for Dusty’s support. As the game unfolds, Peter arrives in a van filled with explosives, intent on destroying the church, but a massive swarm of locusts unexpectedly engulfs the building. Following the chaos, Peter experiences a change of heart and apologizes to the Gemstones, although he inadvertently triggers the bomb’s timer and flees to prevent casualties. Despite struggling in the game show, Jesse helps Dusty after he’s knocked down, showcasing a moment of unity amidst the turmoil.
In an unexpected turn of events during the Season 3 finale, the Gemstones attend a funeral, but it’s not for Peter; it’s for Dusty. Jesse’s act of kindness leads Dusty to bequeath his estate to the Gemstones upon his passing. Additionally, Peter is revealed to have survived the explosion, albeit with an amputated leg. The finale concludes on a heartwarming note as Gideon expresses his desire to preach, leaving viewers with a touching scene of the Gemstones and Montgomerys coming together as a family.
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