WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for The Righteous Gemstones seasons 1-3 & season 4, episodes 1-3.
HBO’s celebrated comedy seriesThe Righteous Gemstoneshas provided many laughs and memorable moments since it premiered in 2019. With its fourth and final season well underway, the series finale is set to be released on HBO and MAX on July 21, 2025. Series creator Danny McBride has played an integral part inThe Righteous Gemstonescastas Jesse Gemstone alongside his immature yet hilarious siblings, Judy (Edi Patterson) and Kelvin (Adam Devine). At the head of it all is John Goodman’s Dr. Eli Gemstone, the face of the Gemstone family church.
Many fans ofThe Righteous Gemstoneswould agree thatthe HBO comedy series one-ups itself with each new season. After a gripping season 1 story that saw Gideon (Skyler Gisondo), the oldest son of Jesse and Amber (Cassidy Freeman) betray his family only to return, season 2 found its footing with increased roles for hilarious supporting characters such as Keefe (Tony Cavalero), BJ (Tim Baltz), andUncle Baby Billy (Walton Goggins). Season 3 raised the stakes with a villainous estranged family member, Peter Montgomery (Steve Zahn), while season 4 started incredibly strong with an unexpectedBradley Cooper guest appearance.
10Season 2, Episode 2
“After I Leave, Savage Wolves Will Come”
This early season 2 episode was a standout due to its various guest appearances, which included Joe Jonas, Jason Schwartzman, and recurring season 2 cast member Eric André.André was one of the most hilarious parts ofThe Righteous Gemstonesseason 2and some of his best character highlights can be found in episode 2, “After I Leave, Savage Wolves Will Come.”
John Goodman & Megan Mullally’s Righteous Gemstones Season 4 Roles Serve As A 42-Year Reunion For A Surprising Franchise Collaboration
The fourth and final season of HBO’s comedy series The Righteous Gemstones has been full of surprises, including a reunion between two major actors.
With an unforgettable horror-like ending with all the dead bodies and the Gemstones siblings slipping around in blood, episode 2 was equally hilarious and shocking. Jesse, Kelvin, and Judy being unable to figure out how to close their Tesla doors as they attempt to escape is definitely a season 2 highlight. Later,the Gemstone siblings think Eli killed Schawrtzman’s journalist character, Thaniel Block, when he returned home covered in deer blood.
9Season 1, Episode 9
“Better is the End of a Thing Than Its Beginning”
Jesse’s marriage with Amber is on the ropes at the end ofThe Righteous Gemstonesseason 1, which sends Jesse to Haiti to try and bring Gideon back home. Baby Billy goes full villain mode after finding $3 million of Gemstone money and trying to make a break for it with Tiffany. After Eli and the Gemstone siblings confront him,Billy is miraculously struck by lightning.Billy claims that while he was unconscious, he saw his sister, Eli’s dead wife, Aimee-Leigh in Heaven, who asked him to forgive Eli. Kelvin also saves Keefe from returning to a life of Satanism.
8Season 3, Episode 3
“For Their Nakedness Is Your Own Nakedness”
Commonly referred to as the “Cousins night” episode,The Righteous Gemstonesseason 3, episode 3 opens strong with Baby Billy singing at the Gemstones' new Zion resort. Meanwhile, Amber pushes her “System” relationship kit on BJ, who is still unaware of Judy’s sexless affair with the tour guitarist Stephen.The unveiling of the Redeemer monster truck was another high point of the episodeas Jesse bullies his cousins, Karl and Chuck Montgomery.
Keefe’s fire show is unforgettable before the first round of “Bible Bonkers”, which gets interrupted when Karl chokes and spits into BJ’s face.
Kelvin and Keefe start their latest venture by buying out sex shops to get their products “off the streets.” Kelvin invites Keefe to his family dinner, hilariously saying, “Those inbreds aren’t worthy of your sausage dip.“Baby Billy comes up with and pitches his game show, “Baby Billy’s Bible Bonkers"as the Gemstones kids review it likeShark Tankpanelists. Keefe’s fire show is unforgettable before the first round of “Bible Bonkers”, which gets interrupted when Karl chokes and spits into BJ’s face. This leads to the cousins finally having fun together.
7Season 2, Episode 7
“And Infants Shall Rule Over Them”
The Righteous Gemstonesseason 2 was much more action-packed than season 1. One of the most memorable scenes was Eli getting shot in a drive-by shooting, which was later revealed to be orchestrated by Eric André’s Lyle Lissons. Season 2, episode 7 “And Infant Shall Rule Over Them” chronicles the aftermath of Eli getting shot, starting witha great opening montage and a hilarious puking scene between the Gemstone siblings.
What Happened To Elijah Gemstone’s Golden Bible In The Righteous Gemstones?
The Righteous Gemstones season 4 premiere introduced the oldest Gemstone in series history, Elijah Gemstone, who stole a miraculous gold-plated Bible.
Kelvin deals with his thumbs after Eli breaks them, revealing part of his wrestling backstory. Season 2, episode 7 has some of the best Tiffany moments, such as finding out she can’t read and learning about Baby Billy’s other son, Harmon. In the end, Kelvin’s prayer brings Eli back to life, and there’s a really entertaining and adrenaline-pumping ending with anintense shootout and an awesome Gideon motorcycle chase scene.
6Season 3, Episode 6
“For Out of the Heart Comes Evil Thoughts”
The Righteous Gemstonesseason 3, episode 6 is a serious contender for being the funniest episode of the entire series. After BJ blows off some steam rollerblading, Jesse shockingly gives his cousins the keys to his Redeemer, while Kelvin has to carry on with his youth group without Keefe. There’sa hilarious scene in which Jesse and Kelvin “overpower Judy with repetition"to get her to “take the L” against Stephen.
Jesse also teaches BJ how to punch, which leads to him hilarious getting his ass kicked against a butt-naked Stephen.
One of the most legendary moments ofThe Righteous Gemstonescan be found here:the Aimee-Leigh hologram DMX malfunction. Jesse also teaches BJ how to punch, which leads to him hilarious getting his ass kicked against a butt-naked Stephen. Kelvin also has an all-timer line: “I’ve got more talent in my pubes than you do in your entire being.”
5Season 1, Episode 8
“But the Righteous Will See Their Fall”
The Righteous Gemstonesseason 1, episode 8 is arguably the best of the first season. Baby Billy and Tiffany find the $3 million cash that Scotty stole from the Gemstone Vault. Tiffany accidentally shoots and kills Scotty after he crashes into them while making his escape.
Jesse reveals the hidden camera footage of him and his friends doing drugs and spending time with a sex worker, leading to Chad’s hilarious line, “It’s CGI, baby.“Judy is arrested after having a full-blown “Karen” public meltdown, while Jesse gets shot by Amber in the leg, and Kelvin tells off Keefe. All this ends in a fantastic montage with “Oh Lord” by Geordie playing in the background.
4Season 2, Episode 9
“I Will Tell of All Your Deeds”
Macaulay Culkin has a great cameo as Baby Billy’s adult son Harmon in the last two episodes of season 2. He even punches him in the face in the previous episode. The truth about how Schwartman’s journalist character Thaniel dies is finally revealed in the season 2 finale, showing that André’s Lyle was behind the explosion.
The Righteous Gemstones Season 4 Repeats An Eli & Jesse Problem From Season 2
The Righteous Gemstones season 4, episode 2 is focused on Eli Gemstone’s love life, repeating a storyline from The Righteous Gemstones season 2.
One of the best season 2 lines can be heard here by one of Lyle’s goons, “With a grenade, all the evidence gets blown up in the blast.” André’s villain arc is exposed and brought to justice, Joe Jonas returns for the opening of Andre and Jesse’s resort, andTiffany has Baby Billy’s son in a porta potty, ending with the wolves closing in on Lyle.
3Season 3, Episode 7
“Burn for Burn, Wound for Wound, Stripe for Stripe”
The Righteous Gemstonesseason 3 features Steve Zahn’s great villain, Peter Montgomery, who reaches a new low by kidnapping the Gemstone siblings. Judy gets kidnapped as the Redeemer crushes her car, one of the best scenes in the series. Eli hilariously won’t pay the ransom, while Baby Billy asks Eli about supporting Bible Bonkers if Jesse gets killed. The Gemstone kids are forced to deliver a horrendous sermon in front of Peter’s militia, who deliver an expected chorus of “All The Gold In California.” Karl calls Mae Mae to bust the Gemstones out andGideon saves the day in the Redeemer.
2Season 4, Episode 1
“Prelude”
Forever remembered as the “Bradley Cooper episode”,The Righteous Gemstonescame out incredibly strong with its fourth and final season premiere. Although “Prelude” is wildly different and more serious than allThe Righteous Gemstonesepisodes before it, it’s a feat of visual storytelling andadds compelling backstory to the Gemstones' family history.
“Prelude” reveals how Eli’s Civil War-era ancestor Eli, a crook, imposter, and murderer, ended up finding a life and career in God-worshipping.
“Prelude” reveals how Eli’s Civil War-era ancestor Eli, a crook, imposter, and murderer, ended up finding a life and career in God-worshipping. Cooper is exceptional as always and makes up for the fact that the normal Gemstones crew doesn’t appear at all in the episode. Come awards season,Cooper andThe Righteous Gemstonesshould gain some serious 2025 Emmy buzz.
1Season 3, Episode 9
“Wonders That Cannot Be Fathomed, Miracles That Cannot Be Counted”
The Righteous Gemstonesseason 3 finale starts with a New Year’s Eve 1999 flashback, which includes a crazy orgy scene between Baby Billy and Dusty. Chuck later sets off a bomb that blows the glass off a store and returns to apologize to Jesse. With the Montgomery cousins back on the Gemstones' good side, the ultimate biblical battle takes place ina game of “Bible Bonkers” on the biggest stage as Baby Billy’s TV host dreams come true.
How Did Aimee-Leigh Die In The Righteous Gemstones?
The Righteous Gemstones hinges on the death of Aimee-Leigh, and here is how she died, when she died, and how it continues to impact the show.
The Gemstones vs. Simkins “Bible Bonkers” game brings the entire season to a satisfying conclusion. Peter Montgomery threatens to set off another bomb after thinking Chuck had died, only to discover the truth. Another act of divine intervention occurs with a locust attack as Peter makes the ultimate sacrifice after setting off his own bomb with a dead man’s switch. Gideon reveals he wants Eli to be his mentor before a hilarious “Redeemer” ending toThe Righteous Gemstonesseason 3 as Aimee-Leigh’s ghost looks on with a smile.
