Danny McBride has a way of making us love people who are, objectively, the worst. We’ve watched the Gemstone family survive assassination attempts, sibling rivalries that involve monster trucks, and the constant threat of their own staggering incompetence. Now, everyone is asking about The Righteous Gemstones Season 4 episodes and whether the show can possibly get any weirder after that Season 3 finale.
It’s been a minute since we saw the dust settle on the Chuck and Karl situation. Honestly, the way Season 3 ended felt almost... wholesome? Eli is retired, mostly. The kids are actually working together. But if you know McBride’s writing, you know peace is just a setup for a much louder, more expensive disaster.
Where the Gemstones Season 4 Episodes are Heading
Production for the new season finally kicked off in South Carolina around mid-2024. If you’ve been following the local casting calls in Charleston, you know they were looking for the usual suspects: "upscale church-goers," "rough-around-the-edges types," and people who look like they belong in a megachurch choir.
HBO officially renewed the series right before the Season 3 finale aired. They knew they had a hit. The viewership numbers were climbing, and the critical reception was basically glowing. But here is the thing: the stakes have to shift.
In the first season, it was about blackmail. Season 2 gave us the "Cycle Ninjas" and Eli’s dark past. Season 3 was the "Smutty" militia and the literal plague of locusts. For the Righteous Gemstones Season 4 episodes, the rumor mill—and a few hints from executive producer David Gordon Green—suggests we might be looking at the family trying to go "global" or perhaps dealing with the inevitable fallout of Eli truly stepping away from the pulpit.
The Casting Shakeups and Familiar Faces
You can’t have the show without the core trinity. Danny McBride (Jesse), Edi Patterson (Judy), and Adam DeVine (Kelvin) are all locked in. John Goodman is returning as Eli, though his role has evolved into this sort of "weary king" figure who just wants to play with his grandkids and avoid being murdered by his extended family.
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Walton Goggins is the wild card. Uncle Baby Billy is arguably the best character on television, and after the success of Fallout, Goggins is busier than ever. However, he’s been vocal about his love for the "Baby Billy’s Bible Bonanza" era, and he’s expected to be a major part of the upcoming episodes. Expect more singing. Probably more "health elixirs" that are definitely just sugar water.
Breaking Down the Potential Episode Count
While HBO hasn't dropped the specific titles for every single one of The Righteous Gemstones Season 4 episodes yet, the pattern is pretty predictable. Seasons 1 through 3 all hovered around the nine-episode mark.
- Usually, we get a double-sized premiere or at least a very dense setup episode.
- There is almost always a flashback episode (the "Interlude" episodes) that explains why everyone is so traumatized.
- The finale usually involves a massive set piece—think the Zion landing or the monster truck rally.
The "Interlude" episodes are usually the highlights of the season. They give us a glimpse of Aimee-Leigh Gemstone, played by Jennifer Nettles. Even though she’s dead in the current timeline, her presence hangs over the family like a sequined ghost. Expect Season 4 to dig deeper into the 1990s or perhaps the early 2000s to show us exactly how the empire solidified before the cracks started showing.
Is the Formula Changing?
Some fans are worried the show might get repetitive. How many times can Jesse cheat or Judy scream something vaguely illegal at BJ? But the brilliance of the writing is in the evolution. By the end of last season, Jesse actually showed some leadership. Kelvin and Keefe finally addressed the giant, muscular elephant in the room.
The conflict in the new episodes will likely stem from the "cousins." The Montgomery family (Steve Zahn and Kristen Johnston) added a grit that the show needed. Even if they aren't the primary antagonists this time, the "prepper" mentality they introduced changed the DNA of the show. It’s not just about flashy suits anymore; it’s about survival.
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Why the Delay?
You might be wondering why we haven't seen the episodes yet. The 2023 strikes pushed everything back. Writers' rooms were dark for months. Then the actors' strike happened. This created a massive logjam in Hollywood, and since The Righteous Gemstones relies on a very specific filming window in South Carolina to get that sweltering, humid aesthetic, they had to wait for the right cycle.
Basically, they started filming in the spring of 2024. Most HBO comedies of this scale have a 6-to-9 month post-production turnaround. This puts the release of The Righteous Gemstones Season 4 episodes squarely in the late 2025 or early 2026 window.
The BJ Factor
Let’s talk about BJ. Tim Baltz has turned a secondary character into the heart of the show. His "adult baptism" and the subsequent fight with Stephen were peak comedy. In Season 4, BJ is no longer the outsider. He’s in. He’s wearing the rompers. He’s part of the inner circle. Seeing him navigate the actual power struggles of the church is going to be a highlight.
Judy Gemstone is also at a crossroads. After her "affair" (if you can call it that) and her subsequent breakdown, she’s trying to be a better wife. Sorta. It won't last. It never does. The comedy comes from the failure of their "good" intentions.
What to Watch While You Wait
If you’re itching for that specific Danny McBride brand of chaos, there are a few things to keep you occupied. Obviously, Vice Principals and Eastbound & Down are in the same universe of "confidently incorrect men."
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- The Rough House Catalog: Check out other projects from Rough House Pictures (McBride, Green, and Jody Hill).
- The Soundtrack: Re-listen to "Misbehaving." It’s a masterpiece of irony.
- Rewatch Season 3: Specifically the episode "Interlude III." It contextualizes everything Eli did for his sister.
Practical Steps for Fans
To stay ahead of the curve on The Righteous Gemstones Season 4 episodes, you should follow the right channels. Don't just rely on random "leak" accounts on X (formerly Twitter).
Check the South Carolina Film Commission's updates. They often list when major productions are wrapping. Keep an eye on the social media of the main cast; Edi Patterson often posts behind-the-scenes glimpses that hint at new filming locations.
The most important thing is to manage expectations on the release date. HBO usually trailers their big comedy blocks a few months out. Once you see a "Coming Soon" teaser that features a golden private jet or a very expensive-looking Jesus statue, you’ll know the countdown has actually started.
Get ready for more "Baby Billy’s Bible Bonanza" and the inevitable collapse of the Gemstone legacy. It’s going to be glorious. It’s going to be loud. And it’s definitely going to involve some very questionable fashion choices.
Next Steps for Gemstones Fans:
- Sign up for HBO/Max press alerts to get the official premiere date the second it’s announced.
- Monitor Charleston-area local news for filming sightings, which usually indicate the scale of the new season’s set pieces.
- Review the Season 3 finale to refresh your memory on the Montgomery family’s current status, as they are likely to remain a lingering influence.