The final season of HBO's The Righteous Gemstones has officially begun, and the excitement is palpable as fans bid farewell to the eccentric Gemstone family in this fourth and final installment of the series. The show has been a comedic exploration of wealth, faith, and family dynamics since its release, and it continues to dazzle audiences with outrageous storylines and unforgettable characters.
Created by Danny McBride, who also plays the role of Jesse Gemstone, the final season premiered on March 9, 2025, with new episodes releasing each Sunday until the series finale on May 4, 2025. Each episode promises to delve deeper into the chaos that is the Gemstone family, who run a megachurch while navigating their own tangled relationships.
“I think every project you take on — if you’re choosing the right projects — does shape you,” McBride said in a recent interview with Blavity’s Shadow and Act. He emphasized the significance of pushing creative boundaries and challenging oneself as a storyteller and performer. “We’re constantly trying to bite off themes or bite off stories or put ourselves in positions … that maybe we haven’t done before.”
In this final season, the intricate relationships among the Gemstones come to the forefront, particularly between Judy Gemstone (Edi Patterson) and her husband BJ Barnes (Tim Baltz). “I always think of Judy and BJ as being the real deal and very in it to win it,” Patterson commented, indicating that despite the turbulence their relationship has experienced, including Judy's affair in Season 3, their love remains strong. Baltz echoed this sentiment, stating, “...they're true blue, they're really in love with each other.”
Additionally, the series offers insights into the friendship between Kelvin Gemstone (Adam Devine) and Keefe Chambers (Tony Cavalero). Devine remarked, “Tony and I are just good pals,” highlighting the chemistry that has grown both on and offscreen. Cavalero added, “I think Adam knows this, but ... we’re just so very lucky. It’s so special and it, like, evolved for us.”
As the season unfolds, the show introduces several plotlines filled with surprises and conflicts. In Episode 3 titled “To Grieve Like the Rest of Men Who Have No Hope,” Jesse plans retaliation against rivals invading Gemstone land while dealing with new challenges, including his private prayer spaces, known as prayer pods, which hilariously backfire. The witty satire reflects not only the absurdities of the Gemstone lifestyle but also the amalgamation of faith and business.
A subplot emerging this season involves BJ's unexpected new hobby—pole dancing. Initially a storyline involving both BJ and Judy, it was restructured after Patterson suffered an injury during rehearsals. “By the third lesson, I showed [the choreographer] what I could do — wasn’t a lot, guys,” Patterson explained. Despite the setback, BJ embraces pole dancing, creating a hilarious turn of events within the storyline.
Another intriguing aspect of this season centers around Elijah Gemstone's gold-plated Bible, which plays a major role in the overarching mystery. The Bible was stolen from the Gemstone family home in 2002, as revealed in a Nightmare sequence experienced by Kelvin. “The robbery of the Gemstones' gold-plated Bible isn’t brought up again … but it will undoubtedly reappear later in the season,” a journalist noted, leaving viewers wondering who the masked figure behind the theft might be.
The final season promises plenty of high-stakes drama, laughter, and cliffhangers, fitting for a series that has become a beloved fixture of television comedy. As fans gear up for the final episodes, one thing is clear: the Gemstone family saga encapsulates the complex intertwining of love, loyalty, and hypocrisy within the framework of faith.
As the series hurtles toward its conclusion, Episode 4, titled “He Goeth You Into Galilee,” will be available on March 30, 2025, bringing viewers more escapades from this dysfunctional, yet hilariously captivating family. For those looking to catch up on the wild ride of hilarious misadventures at Gemstone Ministries, The Righteous Gemstones continues to be a fantastic testament to the comedic brilliance of McBride and his ensemble cast.
