The Righteous Gemstones: For Out of the Heart Comes Evil Thoughts
July 18, 2023 6:36 AM - Season 3, Episode 6 - Subscribe
I can't help but wonder how much better this series would be if the actors playing the three children were.... better actors? Specifically Adam DeVine and Edi Patterson's performances seem more suited to SNL than a show like this.
posted by onya at 6:23 PM on July 18, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by onya at 6:23 PM on July 18, 2023 [2 favorites]
I can't help but wonder how much better this series would be if the actors playing the three children were.... better actors?
Or reined in, at least. I wouldn't say DeVine is great, but I felt like he was better on Modern Family where there was less leeway for overacting.
posted by jzb at 7:50 PM on July 18, 2023
Or reined in, at least. I wouldn't say DeVine is great, but I felt like he was better on Modern Family where there was less leeway for overacting.
posted by jzb at 7:50 PM on July 18, 2023
Interesting take re: Adam and Edi. I think they are great, but maybe there is a difference in what “a show like this” means to different people. I feel like Edi’s performances in particular have been getting a lot of praise this season.
posted by snofoam at 3:48 AM on July 19, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by snofoam at 3:48 AM on July 19, 2023 [4 favorites]
I can't help but wonder how much better this series would be if the actors playing the three children were.... better actors? Specifically Adam DeVine and Edi Patterson's performances seem more suited to SNL than a show like this.
This is what I'm talking about when I say this show is what Succession wanted to be -- these people are profoundly broken in ways that we normal people cannot even comprehend. They grew up in luxury and in a subculture that most of us are only vaguely aware of the outlines of. The air-quote nuanced, human un-air-quote portrayals of similarly broken people that won Succession all its plaudits ended up hurting the story because it ended up making them into mildly odd people fighting over some regular-ass business that occasionally crept into the plotlines.
Edi and Adam act like cartoons because Judy and Kelvin would absolutely be cartoons. Jerry Falwell Jr. is cartoonishly weird, and that's only taking into account the stuff we absolutely 100 percent know to be true about him -- the rumors are weirder than anything even Danny McBride dares to put on TV.
posted by Etrigan at 6:20 AM on July 19, 2023 [7 favorites]
This is what I'm talking about when I say this show is what Succession wanted to be -- these people are profoundly broken in ways that we normal people cannot even comprehend. They grew up in luxury and in a subculture that most of us are only vaguely aware of the outlines of. The air-quote nuanced, human un-air-quote portrayals of similarly broken people that won Succession all its plaudits ended up hurting the story because it ended up making them into mildly odd people fighting over some regular-ass business that occasionally crept into the plotlines.
Edi and Adam act like cartoons because Judy and Kelvin would absolutely be cartoons. Jerry Falwell Jr. is cartoonishly weird, and that's only taking into account the stuff we absolutely 100 percent know to be true about him -- the rumors are weirder than anything even Danny McBride dares to put on TV.
posted by Etrigan at 6:20 AM on July 19, 2023 [7 favorites]
I am enjoying Edi and Adam's work this season as fucked up narcissists trying to figure out how to connect with people they love. But I can see why the performances grate on people as well.
However, I assume we can all agree that Tim Baltz as B.J. and Walter Goggins as Baby Billy continue to kill every scene.
Keefe's rocking chair was so nice, the Aimee-Leigh hologram morphing into DMX was delightfully demented, and Martin continues to be a far better person than the Gemstones deserve.
Are the Simkins ever showing back up?
posted by the primroses were over at 4:16 PM on July 19, 2023 [3 favorites]
However, I assume we can all agree that Tim Baltz as B.J. and Walter Goggins as Baby Billy continue to kill every scene.
Keefe's rocking chair was so nice, the Aimee-Leigh hologram morphing into DMX was delightfully demented, and Martin continues to be a far better person than the Gemstones deserve.
Are the Simkins ever showing back up?
posted by the primroses were over at 4:16 PM on July 19, 2023 [3 favorites]
It's a Danny McBride joint, and Edi is his secret weapon. She's magnificent.
posted by whuppy at 5:50 PM on July 19, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by whuppy at 5:50 PM on July 19, 2023 [1 favorite]
1. It feels weird to frame this as a critique of Succession. Succession is a masterpiece; The Righteous Gemstones is also fantastic. It's possible for... two shows to exist with different visions? Why turn this into some dumb Marvel vs. DC bickerfest?
2. Edi Patterson is a fucking genius, and I will brook no suggestions otherwise. Everyone on this cast is fantastic, but Judy Gemstone might be the single best character on the show.
posted by Tom Hanks Cannot Be Trusted at 4:03 AM on July 20, 2023 [3 favorites]
2. Edi Patterson is a fucking genius, and I will brook no suggestions otherwise. Everyone on this cast is fantastic, but Judy Gemstone might be the single best character on the show.
posted by Tom Hanks Cannot Be Trusted at 4:03 AM on July 20, 2023 [3 favorites]
I’m not framing anything as a critique of Succession, I’m making a critique of Succession. If you’d prefer not to compare the two shows (or compare Gemstones to SNL), you’re welcome to not do so.
posted by Etrigan at 4:38 AM on July 20, 2023
posted by Etrigan at 4:38 AM on July 20, 2023
I can't help but wonder how much better this series would be if the actors playing the three children were.... better actors?
Danny McBride shows always settle into a tone that is wholly unlike anything else on television. So, like...it works for me, I think the characters are like this intentionally, but yes, it's weird as hell. In fact, John Goodman's presence provides way more of a "normal person" ballast than we ever got on Eastbound & Down or Vice Principals. I'm happy for Danny McBride's weird tone because I can't imagine any other HBO showing that fight scene, even before the desperate ballsack grab that led to poor BJ's, well, do we call it a triumph? It led to his escape, at least.
The only thing that hasn't worked so far for me this season is the portrayal of Aimee-Leigh as a normal-ish person and a good mother. In the first season, especially after meeting Baby Billy, I figured there was some accumulated child star trauma that had contributed to the kids turning out so terribly and no one brought her faults because her death was so fresh. But...the flashback scenes in the 2nd and 3rd season suggest that Aimee-Leigh isn't any worse than, say, Amber, and probably a lot better than plenty of other megachurch leaders. And I don't want to say good things about Eli Gemstone, but he's no Logan Roy. So it is striking that the kids all turned out this bad.
I like that they're slowly teasing out the idea that Amber is the only person bringing value to the church after Eli Gemstone's retirement. I hope that's developed more (and not just in the context of Jesse feeling neglected).
posted by grandiloquiet at 3:29 PM on July 20, 2023
Danny McBride shows always settle into a tone that is wholly unlike anything else on television. So, like...it works for me, I think the characters are like this intentionally, but yes, it's weird as hell. In fact, John Goodman's presence provides way more of a "normal person" ballast than we ever got on Eastbound & Down or Vice Principals. I'm happy for Danny McBride's weird tone because I can't imagine any other HBO showing that fight scene, even before the desperate ballsack grab that led to poor BJ's, well, do we call it a triumph? It led to his escape, at least.
The only thing that hasn't worked so far for me this season is the portrayal of Aimee-Leigh as a normal-ish person and a good mother. In the first season, especially after meeting Baby Billy, I figured there was some accumulated child star trauma that had contributed to the kids turning out so terribly and no one brought her faults because her death was so fresh. But...the flashback scenes in the 2nd and 3rd season suggest that Aimee-Leigh isn't any worse than, say, Amber, and probably a lot better than plenty of other megachurch leaders. And I don't want to say good things about Eli Gemstone, but he's no Logan Roy. So it is striking that the kids all turned out this bad.
I like that they're slowly teasing out the idea that Amber is the only person bringing value to the church after Eli Gemstone's retirement. I hope that's developed more (and not just in the context of Jesse feeling neglected).
posted by grandiloquiet at 3:29 PM on July 20, 2023
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posted by Etrigan at 10:27 AM on July 18, 2023 [3 favorites]