Prelude

This episode was so good and so far removed from the present life shenanigans of the Gemstones that if I wasn't the one to actually press play on it I would've sworn it's a different series.

In this "Prelude" you see a man go from a malfeasant and a swindler to someone that's still holds the same attributes honestly, but with a newfound will for self discovery and a curiosity to actually step into the shoes of the man he was impersonating. All set during de civil war era, which was surprising considering we never got that far back with none of the previous flashbacks.

Is this still a comedy; the answer is yes, gallows humor if you will.

I hope for more of this from the writers.

One of the things i've always loved about The Righteous Gemstones is their flashback episodes. They don't always make sense at the time but with time they will show you why it's important. A lot went on in this one. We see, what i can assume is, the origin of the Gemstones and their involvement in religion. We also get a few glimpses of this gold bible. I think we're going to see a lot about how these origins and family heirlooms play a role in our modern day Gemstones' lives. While a serious episode, it really sets the tone that this season is going to be bigger and better than the rest. The Gemstones are going out with a bang.

One of the best episodes in television. Had all the context of 3 full seasons but it being a prequel makes it a standalone work of art. Bradley cooper is outstanding but I think also clearly a fan of the show. It nails the gemstone family culture of truly religious but also incredible salesman.

Unsure if the warfare was historically accurate but I'm currently not worried about researching. It was great regardless

I saw this was the 3rd or 4th ranked episode of the show, which shocks me because it's one of my favorite episodes of any show I've ever watched.

It could be recency bias. This is knee jerk, but wow.

The acting was pretty solid. But honestly, that's not the main reason I tune in to this show. For me, it's all about those dysfunctional, spoiled evangelical brats and, of course, Baby Billy! I came for the laughs and the absurd family dynamics, not for dramatic moments filled with gore and heavy backstory.

This episode felt like it had a lot of potential as a flashback, but it stretched out for an entire episode! I was hopeful it would connect the dots between the past and the present-day Gemstones, maybe give us some juicy insights into their chaotic family history. But as I watched, it became pretty clear that this backstory didn't really add much to character development. Instead of enhancing the storyline, it kinda dragged on.

I found myself waiting and waiting for the show to get back to the good stuff-the hilarious antics and the crazy family feuds. It felt like the episode left behind the very things that make The Righteous Gemstones so entertaining.

It's no wonder this episode felt flat and dead. The dynamic between Jesse, Judy, and Kelvin is what really brings this show to life. The absurdities they go through while managing their mega-church empire provide the perfect playground for comedy and satire.

I get that sometimes shows want to dive deeper into backstories, but when it takes the entire episode, it can take away from the humor and charm we're all here for. There's an art to balancing moments of drama with the hilarious chaos that defines this series, and this episode felt a bit off. It's like I was left waiting for the punchline, and it just never landed.

That said, I'm still optimistic the next episodes will steer us back toward that mix of humor and heartfelt moments that made this show a fan favorite. The characters are fantastic, and their interactions are where the magic happens. I just want to see more of that wild, chaotic family fun that makes us laugh and cringe at the same time.

Naturally, you watch Gemstones to get a laugh. However, it always provides its best when it goes back in time to understand why things are the way they are. In that sense, this episode is a true gemstone. Somehow, McBride is able to get some humor about the tragedy of the civil war, while making you feel the tragedy that it was and how tragedy can create faith. In that sense, we can understand faith and how powerful and sticky it is. This episode makes me hope that some day McBride would work on the subject of war and human nature.

In sum, just excellent work. Maybe McBride's best episode across all of his series.