The Righteous Gemstones Review: For He Is a Liar and the Father of Lies (Season 2 Episode 3)
People trying to solve cases they shouldn’t is usually a bad idea. That’s especially true when it comes to the Gemstones. Jesse and his siblings try to figure out what happened the night of Thaniel’s murder on The Righteous Gemstones Season 2 Episode 3, “For He Is a Liar and the Father of Lies.”
Maybe the Gemstones listen to too many true crime podcasts or maybe it’s just their typical hubris, but they seem very confident in their investigation skills.
In reality, most of the information they find comes courtesy of other people stumbling across it. It’s Gideon that finds the box of news clippings revealing Eli’s past as an enforcer.
BJ’s dramatic retelling of him watching Eli ominously riding the roller coaster over and over is probably the closest the episode comes to embracing noir (unless you consider Junior’s “hairdresser” friends as femme fatales). Tim Baltz makes the most out of every one of his too few scenes on The Righteous Gemstones even if means having to strap on some rollerblades.
There aren’t as many secondary plots on this episode for the show to play around with so most of the jokes come from the investigation. Only Murders in the Building this is not, but the Gemstones share a similar enthusiasm and incompetence.
Everything happening throughout the episode leads up to the big confrontation with Eli. That’s when the show does what it does best, which is to take the most ridiculous turn possible.
Eli indeed suspects Junior may have done it, which explains why he avoids his calls, but Eli wasn’t involved. That doesn’t explain all the blood.
What does explain it is that Eli was visiting a lady friend and decided to try out “manscaping,” leading him to injure himself and drench his pants in blood. It’s another scene told through flashbacks and just as cringeworthy as anything else the show does.
Unlike his children, Eli isn’t shameless and shows some embarrassment about the situation. Although John Goodman is best known as a comedic actor, he gives the most grounded performance on the show even when he’s talking about accidentally cutting his genitals.
The fact it sounds completely made up yet rings so true speaks to the show’s relationship with absurdity. Of course, the kids are more appalled that their daddy would see someone other than their long-dead mother than they are about him possibly killing someone.
In their immaturity, they see murder as more acceptable than their dad wanting to have a sex life.
On a more ominous note, Junior tells Eli if he isn’t his friend he’s going to be his enemy. Eric Roberts is downright sinister as Junior, void of any of the humor the rest of the cast imbues into even their darker scenes on The Righteous Gemstones.
It creates a level of tension that the other plots can’t because the stakes feel so much higher. Sending him away seems like a huge misstep for someone normally as smart as Eli.
The most concerning Gemstone on this episode isn’t Eli though, it’s Kelvin. His God Squad is becoming a borderline cult as he tightens the reigns in an attempt to establish his true alpha status.
Kelvin has always been insecure, so it’s no surprise that one of his disciples challenging him makes him lash out. It’s not even that surprising that he forces them to do insane stunts like forming a human pyramid or literally bearing a cross.
What is unnerving is the fact no one around him seems to pay close attention to what he’s doing until Eli gets served with a lawsuit. Sure the others make jokes at his expense, but none of them try to intervene.
For such a close-knit family none of them seem to really know each other. Secrets are what caused so much friction in Season 1, and it seems like it will be their downfall once again.
If this season is all about uncovering the real Eli, maybe it’s time for the siblings to also face some uncomfortable truths about themselves.
Additional Thoughts:
- I don’t know if the touchscreen sauce dispenser at Fancy Nancy’s exists in real life but I really need it to.
- After accusing his grandaddy of killing Thaniel, I’m interested to hear more from Pontius in this season. And for them to address that bleached hair.
- Do we think Jesse has ever actually watched a Ken Burns documentary?
- Why is Judy carrying around a magnifying glass? The fact no one even comments on it makes the gag even better.
- It’s been too long without Baby Billy. Thank goodness he’s back for Episode 4.
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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Breeze Riley
Breeze Riley is a pop culture enthusiast who decided to turn her love of watching too much TV into a hobby writing about it. Although she's a convention-going sci-fi and fantasy nerd, she's just as likely to be watching an off-beat comedy or period drama. She is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic.