The Righteous Gemstones concluded its fourth and final season with its trademark mix of irreverence and heart, punctuated by an unforgettable moment: a masturbating monkey. The final scene filmed was a chaotic, comically absurd moment in a steakhouse, emblematic of the show’s unique tone, which fused crude humor with unexpected sweetness.
Danny McBride, the show’s creator and star, directed the finale and described the experience as emotionally and physically exhausting, especially after a challenging production schedule that included setbacks like Hurricane Helene. Despite the weariness, there were moments of heartfelt reflection, especially when cast members like Gregory Alan Williams expressed their gratitude to McBride.
The finale’s action centerpiece diverged from past seasons’ extravagant spectacles. Instead of plagues or pyrotechnics, viewers saw a tense, intimate confrontation as family friend Corey Milsap wounded the three Gemstone siblings. In a twist, their unlikely savior was BJ’s capuchin monkey, Dr. Watson, who retrieved a gun and helped subdue the attacker.
A Stripped-Down Reckoning Tests Faith, Legacy, and the Heart of the Gemstones
McBride deliberately chose a quieter, more personal climax to test whether the Gemstones had truly evolved. The siblings ultimately pray for Corey as he lies dying, highlighting their commitment to the spiritual mission behind their televangelist empire, stripped of showy distractions and machinery.
The Righteous Gemstones Ends with Chaos, Closure, and a Surprisingly Hopeful Final ActThe season premiere’s Civil War-era flashback — featuring Bradley Cooper as Elijah, the family’s ancestor — found its payoff in the finale. Elijah’s unlikely path to faith parallels the Gemstones’ own: flawed, roundabout, but sincere. The finale suggests that despite their greed and chaos, the Gemstones are fundamentally believers.
The pivotal events unfolded at Galilee Gulch, the Gemstones’ massive lake house. This luxurious yet neglected location, haunted by memories of their deceased matriarch Aimee-Leigh, served as both a symbol of grief and a battleground for their moral reckoning. Securing this unique location required near-miraculous timing and persistence from the production team.
Finding Love, Redemption, and Closure as the Gemstones Embrace a Hopeful Final Act
The show didn’t shy away from addressing lingering emotional threads. Eli, the Gemstone patriarch, begins a relationship with Lori, the best friend of his late wife and mother to the man who just attacked his children. The pairing offered emotional closure, helping the family symbolically move forward from its long-standing trauma.
The series wrapped not with tragedy, but with joy. The final scenes shift to Kelvin’s wedding to Keefe, marking a full-circle moment for the once-repressed youngest sibling. Every Gemstone ends up in a stable, loving relationship, a surprising but fitting conclusion for a show that always favored grace over punishment.
McBride considered more punitive endings — arrests, church downfall — but ultimately opted for something lighter and more fun. The Gemstones’ many moral failings weren’t excused, but the show chose to emphasize hope and resilience over consequences, staying true to its comedic, feel-good DNA.
With The Righteous Gemstones concluding, McBride and his Rough House Pictures team are ready to explore new stories. Their next project, an adaptation of The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires, is already in development. Though saying goodbye is bittersweet, the team is energized by the creative freedom ahead.
