Summary
BJ (Tim Baltz) and Judy (Edi Patterson) have a contentious married life inThe Righteous Gemstones, so in season 4, I really want to see them actually work as a couple.The Righteous Gemstonesfollows the titular Gemstone family, who are successful televangelists. The show comes fromthe creators ofEastbound and DownandVice Principals, and as a huge fan of those series, I could not wait for the next Jody Hill/Danny McBride project. I never would have guessed they’d explore the world of televangelism, but I’m delighted they did.
The show features an exceptionally funny cast, including Edi Patterson as Judy Gemstone, the overlooked middle Gemstone child, and Tim Baltz as BJ Barnes, Judy’s sensitive husband whom the Gemstones, including Judy, treat poorly.I’ll admit that BJ’s terrible attempts to ingratiate himself with the family and his wife make me laugh, but that doesn’t mean I want to see the two split up. There’s an emotional core to these awful characters and I would love to see their relationship shored up inThe Righteous Gemstonesseason 4.
Edi Patterson also starred in Danny McBride and Jody Hill’sVice Principalsas Jen Abbott.
The Righteous Gemstones: The Worst Thing Each Main Character Has Done
The Gemstone family preaches a lifestyle they don’t live in The Righteous Gemstones. These are the worst things they’ve ever done.
BJ’s Fight With Judy’s Lover Stephen Is The Most Intense I’ve Ever Seen On TV
Stephen And BJ’s Fight Leaves Them Both Bloody And Bruised
In season 3, episode 6, “For Out of the Heart Comes Evil Thoughts”, BJ finally learns that his wife had an affair with Stephen (Stephen Schneider), the guitarist from her band, while they were on tour. BJ, of course, goes rollerblading to sort out his problems and for a while I was laughing to myself, realizing that once again BJ was going to let Judy walk all over him. However, Jesse (McBride) encourages BJ to confront Stephen about the infidelity, and sowasn’t I surprised to then see BJ sneaking into Stephen’s house.
This isThe Righteous Gemstones, however, and things are not going to go as planned, starting with BJ walking in on Stephen pleasuring himself while fully nude. The new BJ doesn’t care though, and he walks up to his wife’s lover and delivers… well, a pitiful punch to the face.Cue a completely naked Stephen graphically beating BJwith a brass knuckle, headbutting him, and throwing him through a latticework. I’ve watchedEastboundandVice Principlesand those shows, along withGemstones, like to shock audiences with violence.
As Stephen stands over BJ telling him to go home, BJ, with a last-ditch effort, reaches up and grabs Stephen by a very sensitive area, yelling in triumph as he throws Stephen down and beats him unconscious.
Despite their comic bent, the violence is purposefully visceral and gruesome. BJ getting thrashed is intense, but it all pays off in the end. As Stephen stands over BJ telling him to go home, BJ, with a last-ditch effort, reaches up and grabs Stephen by a very sensitive area, yelling in triumph as he throws Stephen down and beats him unconscious. BJ, who never stands up for himself, finally follows through. Baltz talked to theNew York Timesabout the scene,
“There were a lot of little very quick decisions that either injured us, or barely avoided injury/ That’s the most intense day of work I’ve ever had.”
Their efforts paid off, and it’s a suitably memorable sequence. Despite the violence, I pump my fist when I watch BJ take action and stop finally being such a pushover.
BJ & Judy Survived An Affair (And Locusts) & Are In A Good Place For The Righteous Gemstones Season 4
Judy And BJ Recommit To Their Relationship In The Season 3 Finale
At the end of season 3, a literal plague of locusts descends on the Gemstones during the taping of theirBible Bonkersgameshow. The set is destroyed, and a few people are even killed. After surviving the ordeal, BJ and Judy recommit to each other and are last seen driving the Redeemer monster truck together.
I think, as far asThe Righteous Gemstonesgoes, their relationship is in a good place for season 4. You can see that what the couple has gone through has made their marriage stronger. There may be some trust lost between them, but they both have been more honest with each other inThe Righteous Gemstonesseason 3, and it’s from that honesty that I expect their marriage to look a lot healthier in season 4.
The Righteous Gemstones
Cast
The Righteous Gemstones follows the story of a renowned televangelist family, embroiled in a legacy marked by deviance, greed, and charitable acts, all under the guise of religious devotion. Released in 2019, the series explores their complex dynamics and the challenges they face in maintaining their public image.
