If you’ve been following the messy, gold-plated lives of the Gemstone family, you know that the season 3 premiere, "For I Know the Plans I Have for You," was basically a masterclass in chaotic sibling energy. Eli Gemstone has finally stepped back, leaving his three narcissistic adult children to run the empire. Predictably, they’re doing a terrible job. But beyond the main trio’s bickering, the Righteous Gemstones season 3 episode 1 cast introduced some heavy hitters that totally shifted the show's DNA.
Honestly, the casting for this show has always been elite.
Danny McBride, Edi Patterson, and Adam DeVine are the core, obviously. They’ve perfected that specific brand of "rich kid who thinks they're a genius but is actually a disaster." But this season, the stakes feel different because the new faces aren't just guest stars; they’re the catalysts for the entire season’s conflict.
The Core Family is Back (and Failing Upward)
Let's look at the "Unholy Trinity" first. Danny McBride returns as Jesse Gemstone, the eldest brother who is desperately trying to be a "main decider" while wearing outfits that cost more than most people's houses. He’s joined by his wife, Amber Gemstone, played by Cassidy Freeman. Amber is often the brains of the operation, though in this premiere, she’s more focused on her "System Solutions" marriage counseling than Jesse’s constant power plays.
Then you’ve got Judy Gemstone, played by the incomparable Edi Patterson. Judy is fresh off a tour and acting weirder than usual—which is saying a lot. We find out pretty quickly she’s been having an affair with a crew member named Stephen, played by Stephen Schneider. Her husband BJ (Tim Baltz) is still the family’s favorite punching bag, blissfully (or maybe willfully) unaware of the drama.
Adam DeVine is back as Kelvin Gemstone, who has traded in his "God Squad" musclemen for a group called the "Smut Busters." It’s exactly what it sounds like: a group of guys buying out adult bookstores to "save" the community, which just results in the shops making a massive profit and restocking immediately. Tony Cavalero returns as Keefe, Kelvin’s devoted, semi-reformed satanist best friend, who is still looking at Kelvin with an intensity that is both hilarious and genuinely sweet.
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And of course, John Goodman is Eli Gemstone. He’s trying to enjoy retirement by joining the "Cape and Pistol Society," but his kids' incompetence keeps dragging him back into the mud.
The Massive Season 3 Newcomers
The biggest buzz around the Righteous Gemstones season 3 episode 1 cast involves the Montgomery family. This is where the show gets its edge this year.
Kristen Johnston joins the cast as May-May Montgomery. We first see her in a flashback to the year 2000 at a monster truck rally, where she attacks Aimee-Leigh (Jennifer Nettles) with a wrench. It’s a wild introduction. In the present day, May-May shows up at Eli’s book signing looking like she’s lived a very hard life. By the end of the episode, we get the big reveal: May-May is Eli’s sister.
"You've got a sister, Eli. And she's a nutjob." — Basically everyone's reaction.
Along with May-May comes her ex-husband, Peter Montgomery, played by Steve Zahn. Zahn is playing a doomsday-prepping, gun-toting militia leader. He doesn't have a massive amount of screen time in the first episode, but his presence looms large over the season. He represents the "wrong" side of the religious tracks—the extremist, anti-government side that the Gemstones usually try to pretend doesn't exist.
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We also meet their sons, the "Montgomery boys":
- Lukas Haas as Chuck Montgomery
- Robert Oberst as Karl Montgomery
They’ve essentially been "kidnapped" by their father's ideology, and May-May is desperate for Eli to help get them back.
The Rival Preachers and Racing Legends
Because the Gemstones are losing followers, they have to suck up to their wealthy benefactors. Enter Shea Whigham as Dusty Daniels, a legendary race car driver who looks like he’s made of old leather and spite. Whigham is wearing a mountain of prosthetics here, and it’s incredible.
Dusty is thinking about jumping ship to a younger, "cooler" church run by the Simkins. The Simkins are the perfect foil to the Gemstones because they actually seem to like each other. The Righteous Gemstones season 3 episode 1 cast features a great lineup for this rival family:
- Stephen Dorff as Vance Simkins
- Iliza Shlesinger as Shay Simkins
- Gogo Lomo-David as Craig Simkins
They’re polished, they’re fast, and they make Jesse, Judy, and Kelvin look like absolute amateurs. Watching Jesse try to race Vance in a stock car—and fail miserably because he can't even get the car to start—is a highlight of the premiere.
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Why This Cast Works So Well
What makes this specific ensemble work isn't just the famous names. It’s the history. The show uses flashbacks (starring J. Gaven Wilde as young Jesse and Adelyne Spoon as young Judy) to build a foundation for why these people are so broken.
When you see Kristen Johnston’s May-May screaming about the Gemstones' "facade," it feels real because the show has spent two seasons showing us exactly how fake they are. The addition of Steve Zahn and the militia plotline adds a layer of genuine danger that the show usually reserves for its season finales.
Quick Reference: Minor and Recurring Returns
While the big names get the headlines, the supporting cast is what fills out the world.
- Gregory Alan Williams is back as Martin, Eli’s stoic right-hand man.
- Skyler Gisondo returns as Gideon Gemstone, Jesse’s son who is now working as Eli’s driver (after a failed stuntman career in Hollywood).
- Walton Goggins makes his usual scene-stealing appearance as Uncle Baby Billy. He’s still with Tiffany (Valyn Hall), and they’re still trying to figure out how to monetize their strange existence.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re looking to dive deeper into the world of the Montgomerys and the Gemstones, here is what you need to keep an eye on as you continue through Season 3:
- Watch the Flashbacks: Pay close attention to the 2000-era scenes. They explain the rift between Eli and May-May better than any dialogue in the present day.
- Look for the Stunt Work: Since Gideon is a stuntman, many of the action sequences this season are actually plot-relevant.
- Track the Simkins: The rivalry with the Simkins church isn't just a one-episode gag; it drives the competitive spirit that eventually forces the Gemstone siblings to (sorta) work together.
The Righteous Gemstones season 3 episode 1 cast set the stage for what many consider the funniest season of the show. Between Steve Zahn's intensity and Kristen Johnston's desperation, the "holy" family has never been in more trouble.
Check out the rest of the season on Max to see if the Gemstone kids actually manage to save the church or if they'll just keep buying out sex shops until the money runs out.