Critic’s Rating: 3.25 / 5.0
3.25
The Righteous Gemstones has traded hilarity for more serious storytelling, and I’m unsure whether it’s working.
The series has long engaged audiences because of its knack for changing things up, and The Righteous Gemstones Season 4 Episode 3 did it again.
The addition of Megan Mullally as Lori Milsap has been interesting because she’s supposed to be Aimee-Leigh’s ride-or-die.
((Connie Chornuk/HBO ))
Still, it’s now more apparent than ever that she has this self-serving reason for shacking up with her deceased friend’s husband.
Bringing in the incomparable Seann William Scott as Lori’s son, Corey, was a stroke of casting genius.
((Connie Chornuk/HBO ))
There’s much about the Milsap family that we don’t know, and I couldn’t help but wonder if a reveal is in store that Lori and Eli’s sexual chemistry began while Aimee-Leigh was still in the land of the living.
The ultimate betrayal would be if Kelvin, Jesse, and Judy learned that somehow Corey was their half-sibling.
The Righteous Gemstones Dials Back the Laughter
I mean, look at how Corey ripped away at the family. He has all the makings of being a Gemstone, so if he isn’t, props to the creatives for making this happen because I can’t help but question if he will be revealed as a long-lost sibling.
Could you imagine the kids’ reaction to learning there’s a fourth one? The trio already tries to outdo one another, so they would buckle under the pressure of adding another sibling to the mix.
((Connie Chornuk/HBO ))
The truth is that Corey seems pretty genuine in terms of his willingness to say what’s on his mind, as evidenced by his pointing out the undeniable connection between his mother and Eli.
He did say some wicked things to Jana, but my best guess is that he thought it was par for the course compared to what the other three said about everyone.
There’s so much we don’t know about this family, and now that Lori’s true motivations have been unearthed, it remains to be seen how she’ll make her mark on them.
Kelvin, Jesse, and Judy won’t stand for her taking their mother’s place, but after hearing how lonely their father has been, they should at least have a little more grace with her.
((Connie Chornuk/HBO ))
Lori’s aim appears to be to take Aimee-Leigh’s place in the family, which could also include her being the sole singer on the show going forward.
There’s a lot to be gained from her perspective by taking over where Aimee-Leigh left off, both in the family and in the church, but will Eli be able to put her master plan together before it’s too late?
His connection with her blinds him, and I imagine she’ll find a way to drive a wedge between him and his children because she won’t want anyone in his ear.
Lori Could Derail the Family
It’s amazing how I went from being pro-Lori to having it out for her when it became apparent that she could destroy the family.
((Connie Chornuk/HBO ))
Sadly, she may not be the only one destroying the family.
Jesse has had these moral questions about his place in the world over the years, but his decision to send his goons after Vance Simpkins’ churches is a big flaw.
A little bit of competition is healthy, but Vance was so cocky toward Jesse that I couldn’t shake the feeling he knew that Jesse would react with fire and fury.
So far, the final season is about challenging the status quo. If Vance somehow manages to obtain video footage or concrete evidence of who torched his church, it will blow back spectacularly on Jesse and, by extension, the rest of the Gemstones.
(Connie Chornuk/HBO )
There must be some ever-changing dynamics to showcase what could go wrong for the family, and I firmly believe that the churchgoers questioning what they know about the Gemstones is a fantastic way to do that.
Since Simpkins is stationing his ever-growing wealth of churches next to everything Gemstones-related, there should also be a scene involving the Gemstones watching their own people turn their back on the church and go to the competition.
The only way to get there is to have a massive scandal that shakes up everything and puts the Gemstones on the outside looking in with the public.
Then there’s the BJ of it all. Throughout the series, he’s been all over the place, and I’ve questioned whether he’s unfortunate or if some of it’s part of an elaborate act.
(Connie Chornuk/HBO )
His accident was both embarrassing and shocking, and it really highlighted how Judy views her husband, which should come into focus in the next batch of episodes.
She’s always leaping to his defense and undermining him, which I don’t think BJ has ever truly liked.
Will BJ and Judy’s Marriage Survive?
Now that his accident has landed him in a wheelchair, he’ll be questioning his next moves, and I’m getting the impression that he’ll want to branch out and away from the family later in the season.
He’s far from a follower and wants to carve out his own path, but Judy continually pops up and causes problems due to her jealousy and savior complex.
(Connie Chornuk/HBO )
We’ve already seen the full spectrum of their marital strife, but something has to give to bring their relationship full circle.
That’s all I got, The Righteous Gemstones Fanatics!
What are your thoughts on Lori being portrayed as a wannabe wanting to take Aimee-Leigh’s place? Do you think there’s any possibility that Corey is Eli’s son?
What’s your take on Jesse going above and beyond to take down Vance? Will it come back to haunt him?
Hit the comments below.
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