The Righteous Gemstones: Season 1

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Generally favorable reviews based on 20 Critic Reviews

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Generally favorable reviews based on 26 Ratings

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6.7

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6.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 26 Ratings

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The Righteous Gemstones: Better Is The End Of A Thing Than Its Beginning

Now Playing: The Righteous Gemstones: Better Is The End Of A Thing Than Its Beginning

Season Details & Credits

HBO | Season Premiere Date: August 18, 2019

Summary: The world of a famous televangelist family led by Eli Gemstone (John Goodman) and his grown children: Jesse (Danny McBride), Judy (Edi Patterson) and Kelvin (Adam Devine), is explored in this comedy from McBride.

Genre(s): Comedy, Drama

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E9. Better Is the End of a Thing Than Its Beginning
Air Date: October 13, 2019
tbd
S1:E8. But the Righteous Will See Their Fall
Air Date: October 6, 2019
tbd
S1:E7. And Yet One of You Is a Devil
Air Date: September 29, 2019

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Critic Reviews

Uncle Barky Ed Bark

Aug 15, 2019

The Righteous Gemstones is hallelujah-worthy for its performances, energy, comedy, dramedy and occasional little heart tugs. Read full review

IndieWire Ben Travers

Aug 14, 2019

The lack of searing commentary is a bit of a letdown looking back over the first six episodes, but there’s still potential. Putting characters first is rarely a bad idea with ongoing TV series, and McBride ensures viewers will want to keep coming back just to see more of what this cast can do. Read full review

The Daily Beast Nick Schager

Aug 19, 2019

Where the series ultimately thrives, though, is in its characterizations, which transform in unexpected ways over the course of the first six episodes (which were all that was provided for press). Read full review

Brian Patchett

Aug 12, 2019

Gemstones' subtler moments work better than its bold strokes. Read full review

The Guardian Rebecca Nicholson

Feb 5, 2020

For the bulk of this opener, The Righteous Gemstones hovers cautiously, without ever quite finding the strength of its voice. But it clearly has the potential to be much more. I’m praying for these Gemstones to shine. Read full review

Hank Stuever

Aug 16, 2019

While “The Righteous Gemstones” does indeed partake in some rather low-hanging fruit as it mocks the megachurch milieu (where the prosperity gospel rains its flashiest blessings upon those who preach it), it occasionally hints at some stronger potential. Mostly the show comes off as an unfinished, vaguely Coen brothers-flavored gumbo of broad stereotypes, violent occurrences and snakey retributions among a family whose holiest instincts were long ago subsumed by their contempt for one another. Read full review

Judy Berman

Aug 15, 2019

When [John Goodman] gets the spotlight, there are hints of the show The Righteous Gemstones could’ve been. Read full review

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User Reviews

JambiShine

Aug 22, 2019

Great pilot episode. Looking forward to what this trio and supporting cast can do.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

geewah

Jan 11, 2021

Danny McBride doesn't go outside his comfort in this moderately funny series. Has some real funny moments but often to few and far between. John Goodman & Edi Patterson are the standouts.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

moonman1994

Aug 19, 2019

A solidly amusing pilot episode. The Righteous Gemstones is an enjoyable parody of televangelists with a lot of potential. Current rating based only on the first episode. I'll update the score and provide more details as the season progresses.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

GrantD243

Oct 14, 2019

Danny McBride's shows all have a similar vibe, but while Vice Principals was a high point for his career The Righteous Gemstones brings him back down to the mediocre level of East Bound and Down. It has funny moments, but this show is largely take it or leave it. You might enjoy it, but youDanny McBride's shows all have a similar vibe, but while Vice Principals was a high point for his career The Righteous Gemstones brings him back down to the mediocre level of East Bound and Down. It has funny moments, but this show is largely take it or leave it. You might enjoy it, but you aren't missing out on much if you pass on it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

dernspirit

Aug 30, 2019

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The plot is amazing, but the way it is told is really uninteresting because of character narratives that are outdated.
I have no feeling for the four main characters. They are not convincing.
The ton of the first two episodes seems to be a mix of comedy and something serious : are the characters supposed to be funny ? or taken seriously ? The mix is so much more well done in Succession and VEEP.

SPOILERS

McBride (Jesse Gemstone) is the wrong actor for this role. I don't believe in this character. He lacks of seriousness, always playing with funny attitude (accent) and movements (hands on hips).
He is supposed to have this beautiful wife, but when they are both in the scene , it's like they don't even believe their characters are married. It is all very overplayed like a outdated comedy (the scene were Amber G, Jesse's wife (Cassidy Freeman) asks only to him to remove his shoes).
The character narrative is so not interesting. He is being blackmailed because of a video where he takes cocaine and he's with prostitutes. I mean... is this why I watch a show about big church in the US ? to see another bad guy cheating on his wife and taking drugs ? what ? you say this is the main plot of the tv show ? uuurgh ! I don't find it funny or interesting, ... I don't care !

The sister, Judy and the other brother, Kelvin Gemstone, played by Edi Patterson and Adam Devine are maybe more convincing, because they have a little more interesting narrative (Judy is confronted to her sexist family and Kelvin on the verge of his coming out). But again, isn't it a little bit easy and déjà-vu ?

I will decide at the third episode if there is enough hope to continue...… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

NavyBean

Aug 19, 2019

How does Danny McBride keep getting work? Same freakin' character as Eastbound and Down, VPs and every other angry, dumb hick he's played for his entire career. Oh look! McBride plays another fleshy loudmouth with a bad haircut who curses when he needs a punchline! Yes! I couldn't get enoughHow does Danny McBride keep getting work? Same freakin' character as Eastbound and Down, VPs and every other angry, dumb hick he's played for his entire career. Oh look! McBride plays another fleshy loudmouth with a bad haircut who curses when he needs a punchline! Yes! I couldn't get enough it on his other crappy shows. What another refreshing change for the yelling "comedian" who has been mislead that his take on anything is worth telling the world about. WTF, HBO! Is McBride related to Mr. HBO?… Expand

3 of 8 users found this helpful35