WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for The Righteous Gemstones seasons 1-4.

HBO's celebrated comedy series The Righteous Gemstones has come to an end after 36 episodes across four seasons from 2019 to 2025. Created by Danny McBride, the comedic mind behind other HBO hit series such as Eastbound & Down and Vice Principals, The Righteous Gemstones has largely satirized a televangelist family led by Eli Gemstone, a fictional world-famous preacher. While the series has always used religion, particularly Christianity in the United States, as more of a backdrop for its comedic plot, it has also smartly looked into broader issues regarding family disputes, generational wealth, and even repressed sexuality.

The Righteous Gemstones is a true comedy series thanks to its naturally funny characters, led by McBride's Jesse, Adam Devine's Kelvin, and Edi Patterson's Judy Gemstone. Perhaps the best character in the series is Walton Goggins' scene-stealing Uncle Baby Billy, who is always up to some sort of money-making scheme after feeling cut out of the family once his sister and Eli's wife, Aimee Leigh, ed away. The Righteous Gemstones is full of hilarious moments, scenarios, and one-liners, thanks to its expanding list of guest stars over the years. Still, somehow, it always found a way to capitalize on its most meaningful moments.

4 The Righteous Gemstones Season 4

Elijah's Golden Bible Returns To The Gemstones

The Righteous Gemstones season 4 got off to an incredible start with a completely unexpected "Prelude" episode set in the mid-1800s, starring Bradley Cooper as Elijah Gemstone, Eli's distant relative. It added some fantastic context to how the Gemstone family got into the "religion" business in the first place, with an original story that was born in blood. After the miraculous "Prelude", which instantly became one of the best episodes of The Righteous Gemstones of all time, the season returned to the present day to carry the series to its end.

Compared to previous seasons, The Righteous Gemstones season 4 didn't have as many action sequences or as intense stakes as the others.

The remainder of The Righteous Gemstones season 4 was solid and had some hilarious moments, particularly BJ's pole-dancing accident that led to the arrival of the helpful monkey Dr. Watson, whom Judy becomes jealous of. That said, after introducing the new Milsap characters of Lori, Corey, and Cobb, it felt like the series was simply running out of steam. Kelvin and Keefe finally got their happy ending, and the season 4 finale arguably felt underwhelming, leaving plenty of loose ends and unanswered questions regarding some of its best characters, like Baby Billy and Gideon.

Compared to previous seasons, The Righteous Gemstones season 4 didn't have as many action sequences or as intense stakes as the others. The main story arc of the Gemstone kids is to push Lori away from Eli, only for them to come around and welcome her back in, which was fine but ultimately a bit flat. Uncle Baby Billy's "Teenjus" stint was hilarious, although a bit directionless. Dr. Watson saving the day in the finale was also very clever. However, as great as Seann William Scott is as Corey, his villain's motivations aren't nearly as strong as past antagonists.

3 The Righteous Gemstones Season 1

Gideon Betrayed The Gemstones To Spite Jesse

The Righteous Gemstones pilot episode was a clever and killer way to introduce the world to the dysfunctional Gemstone family. The blackmailing scheme that was played against Jesse, in part by his own son, Gideon, was instantly gripping and allowed viewers to easily fall into the world of the story. It also introduced Eli as an imperialistic businessman underneath his preacher persona, interested in expanding his empire more than playing nicely with other religious figures in the community. There's a bit of an engaging Succession element to the first season of The Righteous Gemstones.

The familial divides between fathers and sons are felt most strongly in The Righteous Gemstones season 1, although they're present throughout most of the series.

In typical Righteous Gemstones style, the final few episodes of season 1 really start to ramp up and become fantastic television. The scene in which Tiffany accidentally kills Scotty / The Devil after he stole millions from Eli will always be one of the most memorable moments in the entire series. Baby Billy and Tiff make a run for it with the stolen cash, only for Baby Billy to be struck by lightning and miraculously survive, claiming he had seen his sister Aimee Leigh during that brief moment he had apparently been dead.

The familial divides between fathers and sons are felt most strongly in The Righteous Gemstones season 1, although they're present throughout most of the series. Eli is embarrassed and often fed up with his three adult-sized children, which trickles down into Jesse's missteps as an overbearing father on Gideon and eventually Pontius. The Gemstone kids are also most involved in Eli's televangelist performances in season 1, which makes for some memorable scenes. Jesse patching things up with Gideon was a great note to end the season on.

2 The Righteous Gemstones Season 2

Eric André Was A Great Addition To The Series

Compared to season 1, The Righteous Gemstones season 2 had far more adrenaline-pumping and action-packed scenes. Comedian Eric André was a fantastic addition to the cast and was one of the highlights of the season as the villainous Lyle Lissons. Season 2 also expanded its cast to include Jason Schwartzman, Jessica Lowe, Eric Roberts, and even Joe Jonas playing himself. Some of the ing characters, mainly Keefe and BJ, developed more into true staples of the extended Gemstone family and became even funnier characters.

The Righteous Gemstones season 2 became a different show from the slower-paced season 1 and set a new tone for the rest of the series.

The Righteous Gemstones season 2 also arguably has the best "Interlude" episode in the series, which took place on Christmas in 1993 and offers some additional backstory on Baby Billy back when Aimee Leigh was still alive. Season 2 also introduces Eli's interesting backstory as a wrestler whose signature move was snapping the thumbs of his enemies, which he shockingly does to Kelvin. It also featured the shocking cliffhanger of Eli getting shot by the mysterious bikers, who ended up just being some teenagers hired by Lyle.

Season 2 also featured the unhinged moment in which Amber shoots Jesse in the leg as he runs away from her in their front yard. Ultimately, Gideon becomes a hero as he races after the bikers who come to finish Eli off at the hospital, causing a mesmerizing shootout. The Righteous Gemstones season 2 became a different show from the slower-paced season 1 and set a new tone for the rest of the series. There's certainly a case for it being the best of the four seasons.

1 The Righteous Gemstones Season 3

Steve Zahn & "Bible Bonkers" Were Clear Highlights

The Righteous Gemstones season 3 has arguably the greatest story arc of the series. Steve Zahn and Shea Whigham are great additions to the cast, the former as Peter Montgomery, Eli's estranged brother-in-law, and the latter as race car driver Dusty Daniels. The entire Montgomery crew, which includes Eli's sister May-May and her two sons, Chuck and Karl, was well-developed and all played an integral role in the story, which reached new levels of intensity after the Gemstone kids all get kidnapped at the end of the season.

The Righteous Gemstones season 3 is ultimately the most full-bodied, well-developed, and hilarious season of the acclaimed HBO comedy series.

Season 3 features some of the greatest Baby Billy moments, including his iconic "Bible Bonkers" game show, which debuts during the "Cousin's Night" episode that results in Karl choking and vomiting on BJ's face. Amber also has much more of a role in season 3 than in season 4 as she pushes her new marriage "System" on the Gemstone's TV channel. BJ, however, is at an all-time high of hilarity after discovering that Judy was cheating on him with a guitarist from her road show named Stephen. BJ attacks Stephen at his home, only to get leveled by a butt-naked Stephen in one of the series' all-time funniest moments.

The Righteous Gemstones season 3 also has arguably the best ending of any season as well, which includes a biblical swarm of locusts, Peter sacrificing himself after accidentally setting off his own bomb, Gideon rescuing Jesse, Kelvin, and Judy with the Redeemer monster truck, and Aimee Leigh's ghost appearing to watch her family with a smile. The Righteous Gemstones season 3 is ultimately the most full-bodied, well-developed, and hilarious season of the acclaimed HBO comedy series.