The Righteous Gemstones Season 3 Episode 5 Review: Interlude III
Every season The Righteous Gemstones delivers a standout flashback episode, and Season 3 is no different. The Righteous Gemstones Season 3 Episode 5, “Interlude III,” sets up the feud between the Montgomerys and Gemstones while also giving us a heartwrenching look at Judy’s youth.
Casting younger versions of characters can be hit or miss, but J. Gaven Wilde and Emma Shannon as young Jesse and Judy could easily make the Hall of Fame in this category. They embody the mannerisms and inflections of their adult counterparts so well that you don’t doubt for a second who they’re supposed to be.
Younger versions of cousins Chuck and Karl as well as then-girlfriend Amber also appear, creating a past version of cousins night sans BJ and the unborn Lionel. The dynamics are all there, except Chuck and Karl’s animosity is for now just shock and awe at the Gemstones’ wild behavior that counters their strict upbringing.
It’s a joy to watch all these young actors fill in the shoes of their older counterparts, but Shannon gets the most to do as the story chooses to spotlight Judy’s erratic behavior and the isolation it causes her.
From being bullied by a crush to overhearing her parents say she has mental problems, it’s easy to feel sympathy for Judy (even if she does have mental problems, including a shoplifting addiction). Judy is an adult woman now but there’s so much of her teen girl self that’s still a part of her, something many women can probably relate to for better or worse.
Her heart-to-heart with Jesse about her anger issues is endearing, and we see that despite their differences Jesse still loves his sister and cares about her. He reassures her she’ll find someone (we know she does) and that it’s okay if she gets angry it just makes her like him and Eli.
Taking advice from Jesse might not be the best idea, but this scene reinforces what this series told us all along which is the Gemstone family succeeds because it sticks together. We even get a scene of Jesse attacking Judy’s bully which is pretty horrible but also foresight into how he handles his problems as an adult.
For the adults on the show, the fallout of the Gemstones’ Y2K get-rich scheme of selling “survival buckets” creates tension at the church and home. Not only are their parishioners angry at them for conning them, but brother-in-law Peter also spent his savings.
You’re reminded that as much as Eli in his older years is the soft heart of his family, the Gemstones stayed on top because of his shrewd business skills. It’s Aimee-Leigh who directed their moral center and it’s her perceived “goodness” that saves Eli’s attempt at talking down the protesters.
When Judy mentions that Jesse and Amber aren’t the same as their momma and daddy it’s a clear callback to what Uncle Baby Billy tells him in the present day. The Gemstones need Aimee-Leigh.
The one aspect of the episode that doesn’t land is Peter’s heel turn from emasculated husband to unhinged criminal. Sure the Gemstones aren’t innocent in all of this, but they genuinely do try to help the Montgomerys out by offering to buy back the stock.
The animosity between Eli and May-May similarly doesn’t get a lot of explanation beyond philosophical differences. Which is fine, but it’s hard to not think of May-May as a one-dimensional unlikeable shrew since all she does is berate people. She’s a different religious stereotype than the Gemstones, but a stereotype all the same.
Either way, no one is encouraging Peter to rob a bank to solve his problems! At least we get a cool origin story for his Heath Ledger Joker scar and set up for why he eventually becomes a cult leader.
Additional Thoughts:
- It pains me that young Judy’s outfit is probably back in fashion again.
- Judy accusing someone of wearing horse hair because they’re poor seems on-brand.
- I know it is a busy episode but no Y2K Baby Billy feels like a wasted opportunity!
- The show is getting a ton of use out of that monster truck this season, it’s a well-made investment by HBO.
What did you think of this episode of The Righteous Gemstones? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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The Righteous Gemstones airs Sundays at 10/9c on HBO.
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Breeze Riley
Breeze Riley is a pop culture fanatic who decided to turn her love of watching too much TV into a hobby writing and podcasting about it. Although she's a convention-going sci-fi and fantasy nerd, she's just as likely to be watching an off-beat comedy or period drama.