The Righteous Gemstones Season 4 Episode 8 recap: A dark twist unites the families before the finale

The Righteous Gemstones (Image via Youtube/@HBO)
The Righteous Gemstones (Image via Youtube/@HBO)

The highly regarded American dark comedy series The Righteous Gemstones continues to captivate its audiences as it follows an affluent yet deeply dysfunctional family of televangelists.

While building their religious empire, the Gemstones struggle with corruption and personal issues, and hidden scandals behind closed doors. The show's witty humor, eccentric characters, and scathing criticism of faith and greed have earned it a reputation over the years.

The show has an enduring ensemble cast and a complex narrative that examines the conflict between ambition and familial loyalty. They play members of the flawed but endearing Gemstone family. The Gemstones' meticulously constructed image is revealed to have additional layers each season.

The family's growing internal strife reached a boil in Season 4, Episode 8, "On Your Belly You Shall Go.” This episode was released on Sunday, April 27, 2025. To prepare for an explosive finish, the Gemstones faced betrayals, tested loyalty, and challenges to their televangelist heritage in this pivotal episode.


More about The Righteous Gemstones Season 4 Episode 8

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HBO premiered The Righteous Gemstones in August 2019. Up to Episode 8 of Season 4, tensions within the Gemstone clan remained high and in "No Room for the Inn," Episode 7, Jesse, Kelvin, and Judy were coping with growing personal and professional problems and while attempting to establish his authority within the church, Jesse struggled with internal doubts.

Judy's reckless actions put the family's frailties in jeopardy. Moral temptations that challenged Kelvin's stance were presented to him. Each character's stakes were raised in the episode, which also prepared the audience for pivotal conflicts.

In The Righteous Gemstones Season 4, Episode 8, “On Your Belly You Shall Go,” things get very serious and in that episode, they find out Cobb is a dangerous man who hurt and killed people, including someone named Mitch. Just when it looks like Cobb might win the fight, his son Corey shows up, stabs him, and throws him into the water with the alligators.

This moment changes everything. With Cobb gone, the Gemstones and the Milsaps start to come back together. Eli may even get back together with Lori. There’s also hope that the stolen golden Bible will return to the family. The episode ends with big emotions and sets up a powerful final episode.

The program consistently struck a mix between profound emotional depth and ludicrous hilarity. The Gemstones' empire, founded on a carefully designed facade, began to disintegrate as internal turmoil worsened. With its cutting narrative, "On Your Belly You Shall Go" brought each character to the brink of disaster.


Cast of The Righteous Gemstones Season 4

The cast of the Righteous Gemstones has been a major factor in its popularity from the beginning and Jesse Gemstone, the ambitious but insecure eldest son competing for control of the family business, is portrayed by Danny McBride and Eli Gemstone, the father played by John Goodman, finds it more difficult to uphold the family's customs.

Edi Patterson plays Judy Gemstone, whose impetuous actions and emotional instability often lead to catastrophe, and Adam Devine plays Kelvin Gemstone, the youngest sibling who struggles to recognize and accept responsibility.

Edited by Ranjana Sarkar