The Ultimate Season of 'The Righteous Gemstones' Proclaims Immorality while Attracting Faithful Audiences of Christians
In the fiery finale of "The Righteous Gemstones," the infamous HBO series known for its unholy blend of sex, violence, and nudity courtesy of Walton Goggins, the outrageous antics of the Gemstone family continue. But for show creator and star Danny McBride, the goal has always been to connect with religious viewers, even as he acknowledges his crude humor might not be for everyone.
"I hoped people who were religious would watch it," McBride told The Associated Press. "Ultimately, they would understand that this isn't making fun of them, but it's probably making fun of people they identify and are annoyed by."
Growing up in a devout Christian household in the South, McBride's early experience with religion would later inspire his satirical take on modern evangelical megachurches. Although he no longer considers himself a believer, McBride remains intrigued by the culture of prosperity and power embodied by these congregations.
"I felt like it was reflective of America in a way that everything is sort of turned into a money game," he said. "The idea that like we could take something like religion and ultimately turn it into a corporation."
While the series is filled with vulgar displays of wealth and power struggles among the Gemstone family, McBride insists that the satire extends to hypocrites and people who say one thing but live another. Celebrity preachers like Joel Osteen, T.D. Jakes, and Justin Bieber's pastor Judah Smith have long faced criticisms of using their fame and wealth to contrast their messages.
For Deon Gibson, a graphic artist who used to work for pastor Paula White before she became the head of Donald Trump's White House Faith Office, the show nails the Megachurch experience. "Aside from the Hollywood theatrics, it is spot on," he said. "The conversations they have, the switching around of power and positions."
McBride admits the subject matter is tough to satirize, considering the viral videos that often surface showing equally extravagant stunts and concert-like events at church. "My biggest fear would be that we would put stuff in the show and then like months later before the show comes out you would like see a church actually doing something we were doing," McBride said. "You're like, 'I just hope people don't think we're ripping them off.'"
Despite the controversy, "The Righteous Gemstones" also touches on more tender themes, such as Kelvin's struggle with his queer identity and his relationship with his partner. "I hope that some kids who feel hopeless and they're battling over whether they're gay or not, that this gives them a sense of hope that you can come out and be accepted by your family, by people within your church," Devine said.
For some, the show's depictions of the Megachurch world may be a tough pill to swallow. "But I like the show because I saw both sides. I saw that side of the ministry corruption, but at the end of the day, they were people," Gibson said. "They were regular people who just got caught up in the fame and the money." So here's to the final season of "The Righteous Gemstones," a series that leaves no sacred cow ungored and no taboo unbroken.
- Danny McBride, having grown up in a devout Christian household, found inspiration for his satirical take on modern evangelical megachurches in his later years.
- Beyond its violent and sexual content, "The Righteous Gemstones" aims to critique hypocrites and people who say one thing but live another, evident in the portrayal of celebrity preachers.
- In the world of tech and entertainment, McBride fears that his show's content could inadvertently be imitated by real-life churches, as extravagant stunts and concert-like events within religious institutions have become increasingly common.
- "The Righteous Gemstones" addresses more tenderness in its storyline, such as Kelvin's struggle with his queer identity, offering a sense of hope and acceptance to those grappling with similar issues.
- Analyzing the series, Deon Gibson, a former graphic artist for a prominent evangelical leader, sees it as an accurate representation of the Megachurch experience, complete with the switching around of power and positions within these congregations.
