The Righteous Gemstones Review: Better Is the End of a Thing Than Its Beginning (Season 1 Episode 9)
To fix all of the pain inflicted, it would take a divine intervention on The Righteous Gemstones Season 1 Episode 9, “Better Is the End of a Thing Than Its Beginning.”
Bringing each character to their lowest point, and countering that with Aimee-Leigh’s passing and the outrage over the bee is the perfect way to encapsulate the Gemstone family: they are outraged when the smallest of things do not go their way. It’s a larger comment on how they want to be in control, but something out of their control will always put them in their place as still human, after all.
photo: Ryan Green/HBO
Edi Patterson and the writers manage to make Judy Gemstone a magnificent mess that works so beautifully on the show. Her story of sexually assaulting her professor and kidnapping his child is done in this strangely upbeat tone, where she somewhat understands what she’s done, but is spinning it in a tragic tone as though she’s robbed of a lover.
The Righteous Gemstones takes these horrible character traits and turns them into darkly comedic undertones that speak to not only these characters’ disregard for others, but makes them strangely compelling fools that almost don’t know any better despite their social standing.
The back and forth game between Judy and BJ is this absurd power dynamic, as though BJ will not accept Judy unless it’s on his terms, but no one really changed the toxic problems of the relationship that caused the rift in the first place. But it’s a testament to both Patterson and Tim Baltz that it still feels natural (but very strange) all the same.
Kelvin’s turn to the dark side, which is more just finding his emotions unchecked, is a fun way to take Adam DeVine’s character. He’s been largely reactionary to everything this season, and so rescuing Keefe helps stabilize his character and show what truly matters to him. It’s the most proactive he’s been, and lets him face the satanists again, which is always a fun world to explore on the show.
photo: Ryan Green/HBO
Jesse’s confession during The Righteous Gemstones Season 1 Episode 8, “But The Righteous Will See Their Fall,” leaves him as the most vulnerable of the Gemstone children, effectively losing his family. He is putting in the effort, but it comes too late. He’s taken everything for granted, and lost it in the process. But the message is that he is trying, which is certainly something.
The final moments of the episode are rather optimistic for the show, despite the damage done. Jesse realizing his mistakes and turning to the same missionary work as Gideon to atone for his sins is certainly a happy ending, showing there is still growth for him. It’s something Danny McBride’s shows have excelled at, creating difficult characters that, despite their stubbornness, do find their way over time.
Turning to help out others and bond with Gideon and repair their relationship is a noble effort. It may not fix the damage done, but it’s a start to Jesse’s redemption.
The confrontation with Baby Billy does offer some more growth for the Gemstone clan. It is divine intervention after all (or Baby Billy holding metal up during a thunderstorm) that finds closure and forgiveness coming out of them, especially in Eli. The bee returns, too, and this time, with enlightenment and calmness in their hearts, they do not swat it away.
photo: Ryan Green/HBO
There are a couple of ways to interpret the presence of the bee: is it simply a bee, is it Aimee-Leigh’s spirit, or is it a religious symbol of gentleness and the sting is the sting of justice? The sting does awaken Baby Billy from his thunder-induced comatose state and he sees the light of sorts, so perhaps it is justice. He turns to tent revival preaching, so it’s possible he sees the error in his ways, as do the Gemstones.
But there will always be the possibility that it’s all temporary, and that as Eli’s sermon says, being human means making mistakes. Maybe this is only the beginning of the Gemstones making mistakes, and they will need to learn some more along the way.
The Righteous Gemstones Season 1 Episode 9, “Better Is the End of a Thing Than Its Beginning,” finds a reckoning through the Gemstones trying to get back what’s truly important to them. For Judy, it’s BJ. For Kelvin, it’s Keefe. For Jesse, it’s his humility and Gideon. It’s a more optimistic tone, but the pain along the way remains in all of them.
Doing right by the family can only help them so far. Doing right beyond themselves will be the real step forward. The finale is a wonderful reminder that The Righteous Gemstones is one of the weirdest and hysterical shows on television, and that this character-driven comedy is deceptively deeper than initially believed.
Some stray thoughts on the episode:
- Kelvin’s view of potentially being Jesus is a rather strange avenue, and I really hope it’s explored during the second season. It comes out of nowhere and could lead down some crazy paths.
- BJ’s breaking and entering of the Gemstone property finally gives us a glimpse of the theme park, including worrying statues of Jesse, Kelvin, and Judy hanging around. A funny aside and background joke becoming a fun addition for the finale helps show how absurd their enterprise is, and more of that would go a long way.
What did you think of this episode of The Righteous Gemstones? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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The Righteous Gemstones airs Sundays at 10/9c on HBO.
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Kevin Lever
Kevin Lever has been following television closely for most of his life, but in starting to cover it, he has grown a further appreciation. He strives to give the blockbusters their due, and give the lesser known shows a spotlight to find more fans.