Warning: Contains SPOILERS for The Righteous Gemstones season 3!
The Righteous Gemstonesis nearing its end with the release of season 4, and ahead of the show’s climactic final season, here is what happened at the end ofThe Righteous Gemstonesseason 3, explained.The Righteous Gemstonesis Danny McBride’s third TV show with HBO,with it following up onEastbound & DownandVice Principals. The beloved comedy series tells the story of the televangelizing Gemstone family, with season 3 introducing an all new branch of the Gemstone family, raising the stakes within the core Gemstone family, andsetting upThe Righteous Gemstonesseason 4.
The Righteous Gemstonesseason 3 introduces the Montgomery family, with Steve Zahn’s Peter Montgomery acting as the main antagonist of the season. Peter is the brother-in-law of Eli Gemstone and the leader of a far-right Christian militia,with his followers having their eyes set on the heathenous Gemstone family. Headed into the final two episodes ofThe Righteous Gemstonesseason 3, Eli, Judy, and Kelvin have been kidnapped by the Montgomerys, the Gemstones' church has lost their biggest donor, and Baby Billy Freeman’s game show is almost here, with all of these stories colliding in the finale.
What Happens In The Righteous Gemstones Season 3’s Ending
The Gemstone Family Gets A Rare Happy Ending
After Jesse, Judy, and Kelvin escape Peter Montgomery’s facility, they reunite with Eli, with Eli telling the siblings that they are going to run the church together. However, Peter isn’t done with the Gemstones yet, with his son and Chuck driving a monster truck full of explosives to the Gemstone Salvation Center. There, the Gemstones are competing against the rival Simkins family in Baby Billy Freeman’s Bible trivia game show, Baby Billy’s Bible Bonkers. The winner will get the allegiance of Dusty Daniels, a NASCAR driver who used to be one of the Gemstones' most generous donors.
While Peter and Chuck blow up the first truck, Peter rigs another truck to explode, with him arriving at the Salvation Center. Once there, a massive swarm of locusts invade the studio,destroying the game show set and forcing everyone to flee. Jesse rescues Dusty, earning his allegiance for the Gemstones, while Peter realizes his wrongdoings and apologizes to Eli. However, Peter accidentally sets off the car bomb while killing a locust, with him sacrificing himself by getting in the truck and driving away.
The Righteous Gemstones: Main Characters Ranked By Wealth
In a world defined by wealth and extravagance, The Righteous Gemstones set the gold standard, but there’s a hierarchy even within the family.
Dusty Daniels dies soon after, with him leaving his estate to the Gemstones. It is then revealed that Peter survived the explosion, with him becoming a changed man. Gideon tells Eli that he is interested in preaching, and the entire Gemstone family spends the day crushing things with the monster truck, endingThe Righteous Gemstonesseason 3.
What Does The Plague Of Locusts Actually Mean?
Is It An Act Of God?
The plague of locusts seen inThe Righteous Gemstonesseason 3 finale seemingly comes out of nowhere,with it being one of the biggest head-scratchers from the finale. While locusts are common in South Carolina, whereThe Righteous Gemstonestakes place, this plague can be seen as an act of God, tying into the Biblical themes of the show. It can either be seen as a punishment for the Gemstones and the Montgomery family, or a moment of divine intervention designed to bring the family back together ahead ofThe Righteous Gemstonesseason 4’s story.
The Gemstones Escape The Compound & The Montogmerys Are Redeemed
Peter Sacrafices Himself For The Gemstones
Two of the biggest recurring themes throughoutThe Righteous Gemstonesare forgiveness and redemption, with both of these Biblical themes being present at the end ofThe Righteous Gemstonesseason 3. Throughout season 3, the Gemstone siblings are furious with Eli due to his handling of their succession at the church and the ransom situation. However, they forgive Eli by the end of the finale, with him highlighting how the situation forced the trio to work together for the first time.
Meanwhile, the Montgomery family, who were the main villains of season 3,found redemption in the finale. Peter’s decision to sacrifice himself by driving the explosive truck away from the Salvation Center is what gave Eli the sign to forgive him. This isn’t the first time that a villain has been redeemed at the end of a season, with Baby Billy finding redemption afterThe Righteous Gemstonesseason 1.
Why The Gemstones Decide Not To Cheat On Baby Billy’s Bible Bonkers
It Shows That They Have Truly Changed
The financial support of Dusty Daniels is on the line during Baby Billy’s Bible Bonkers, which is whyBaby Billy attempts to give the Gemstone siblingsthe answers ahead of the show. However, they refuse to take them. While this may seem out of character for the siblings, it highlights how they’ve changed for the better. Firstly, it shows that they are willing to be honest, better people even in the face of such stakes.It also shows that they actually have become confident in their Biblical knowledge, which previously seemed like an afterthought to Jesse, Judy, and Kelvin.
The Real Meaning Of The Righteous Gemstones Season 3’s Ending
It Has Some Biblical Themes
The Righteous Gemstoneshas some surprisingly Biblical themes considering the comedic and profane nature of the show. Season 3’s ending isall about redemption, forgiveness, and honesty, with both the Gemstones and the Montgomery family doing things wrong. The radical militia approach to faith of the Montgomery family and the profiteering, commercialized approach to faith demonstrated by the Gemstones is not the correct way according toThe Righteous Gemstonesseason 3. Instead, they need to focus more on being humble, forgiving, and loving, traits that everyone should aspire to.
How The Righteous Gemstones Season 3 Sets Up Season 4
The Final Season Is Almost Here
The Righteous Gemstonesseason 3 may be over, but its ending sets up the story of the upcoming fourth season. Now that Eli has seemingly retired, season 4 will give a lot of focus to Jesse, Judy, and Kelvin’s attempts to run the church.Season 4 will see the trio have to prove themselves worthy of succeeding Eli, with them again attempting not to crash and burn the Salvation Center. They aren’t the only Gemstones moving up in the world of preaching, however, as season 4 will likely follow up on Gideon’s requests to become Eli’s protégé.
The Righteous Gemstones: The Worst Thing Each Main Character Has Done
The Gemstone family preaches a lifestyle they don’t live in The Righteous Gemstones. These are the worst things they’ve ever done.
It is also likely that the Montgomery family will return inThe Righteous Gemstonesseason 4, continuing a trend of previous villains. Baby Billy Freeman became a main cast member after being one of the main antagonists of season 1. Since the Montgomery family has reunited with the Gemstones, it would be weird for them to not be around, with them likely being part of the supporting cast inThe Righteous Gemstonesseason 4.
