
The Righteous Gemstones Season 3 Episode 4 Review: I Have Not Come to Bring Peace, But a Sword
It may be time for Jesse Gemstone to take charge if the Gemstone family is to be saved. The Righteous Gemstones Season 3 Episode 4, “I Have Not Come to Bring Peace, But a Sword,” delivers a standard installment that builds to an unexpected gut punch at the end.
Each Gemstone has their problems simmering underneath the plot that starts on a pretty positive note. Cousins Chuck and Karl get wrapped up in the spectacle of the megachurch and even stand up to their daddy Peter when he comes to apologize and win them back.
The Righteous Gemstones is not primarily a feel-good show however so things start to go downhill pretty fast. Kelvin is forced to decide about Keef’s future after a misunderstanding about the Smut-Busters causes parents at the church to want him ousted. Any Kelvin-Keef shippers will be heartbroken by this sad development and Adam Devine plays it just right that it doesn’t matter if you believe they’re just buddies, it’s just plain sad.
Jesse is shamed for his potty mouth after he’s inducted into a prestigious secret society and Baby Billy gets into his head reminding him he’ll never be his daddy. We even get a reappearance of Simpkins to rub it in Jesse’s face how much of a joke he is as the show makes great use of its revolving guest stars.
Judy probably has it worst of all, because her obsessed ex-lover starts stalking BJ and threatening Judy if she doesn’t tell the truth. If you haven’t been exposed to the zeitgeist of pickleball yet, watching Stephen wax on in gross detail about his sexual encounters and then break a guy’s nose is a great introduction to the popular sport (kidding).
All of these vignettes seem unrelated but tie together by the end.
As much as I love the Gemstones, it’s their spouses (or in the case of Keef their “best buddy,”) that regularly steal the show. You have to love BJ’s sincerity in being a progressive feminist and that Judy recognizes he’s more a man than Stephen will ever be even if she recognizes it too late.
BJ is often the butt of the joke (see Peter honking his nose on this episode), but Tim Baltz never plays him as someone to look down on. You just genuinely like him and he’s a voice of reason in the chaos.
It seems possible now, though maybe not likely, that Jesse could show some growth in this season and step up to be the leader his father expects to get this mess in order. The comedy of The Righteous Gemstones relies heavily on the siblings’ ineptitude, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for any character development.
After catching Pontius having sex with his girlfriend, Jesse gives him a big speech about how trust is a gift and keeps the house of cards standing. That monologue plays over a montage of scenes underlining his point, including Judy crying after BJ learns the truth, Keef leaving Kelvin, and the cousins stealing the compound’s stockpile of ammonium nitrate to deliver to their father after all.
Jesse Gemstone: When you allow yourself to trust another person, that takes some of the weight off. And that’s why it stings extra when that trust is betrayed.
Jesse’s words aren’t just his usual holier-than-thou bluster but a real portent of how trust is the foundation of the family and how betrayal will be its downfall. It might not mean anything to his petulant son, but it’s a clever device for the viewers.
In the time we’ve known them, we’ve seen the Gemstones get wrapped up in extortion, assassination attempts, and now domestic terrorism thanks to the cousins double-crossing them. God only knows how they’ll handle it but I’m guessing it will be in the goofiest nonsensical way possible.
Additional Thoughts:
- They missed an opportunity by not having Judy accidentally drink the paint water when she got flustered at the sip and paint class.
- Where did Keef learn Cantonese?
- More importantly, what are the rumors about Kelvin? (We can guess, but I want to hear someone say it).)
- “Sinner You Better Get Ready” is a certified bop.
- “This little Pete Davidson act you got going on don’t suit you.” How long until Pete Davidson cameos?
- Jesse tearing up at the hologram of Aimee Lee is genuinely sad.
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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