Entertainment

Everything We Know About 'The Righteous Gemstones' Season 2

It's not coming soon -- but there could be a Gemstone Christmas special on the way!

Ryan Green/HBO
Ryan Green/HBO
Ryan Green/HBO

The Righteous Gemstones, HBO’s irreverent comedy about a very reverent family, wrapped up its first season with a bang. The series, which follows the (sometimes criminal) misadventures of a family at the head of a televangelist empire, shared a Sunday night slot on HBO with dark comedy Succession. From creator Danny McBride (Eastbound and Down, Vice Principals), The Righteous Gemstones was a fall standout — and no, not just because of the immensely catchy “Misbehavin,’” which was criminally overlooked in the recently announced Emmy nominations

While the show’s second season is still lingering in the somewhat distant future, there’s plenty to speculate about regarding The Righteous Gemstones. Here’s everything we know about Season 2. 

Has The Righteous Gemstones been renewed for Season 2?

Yes! HBO renewed the series for a second season three weeks into its first.

“I just picture this show as something a little bit bigger and wilder and more epic in the sense that we’re not calculating what the audience’s final thoughts are about these characters yet,” series creator Danny McBride told Thrillist in the wake of the Season 1 finale. “We’re just now introducing the audience to these characters. And, if I have my way, we’ll be exploring these characters for a few years to come.”

Ryan Green/HBO
Ryan Green/HBO
Ryan Green/HBO

When will Season 2 premiere?

Currently, there’s no set premiere date for Season 2. Given that Season 1 wrapped in October of 2019, it initially seemed like the show would return in Summer 2020. But the ongoing pandemic has slowed down the production. In a Deadline story from March 2020, Righteous Gemstones was included on a list of shows, including Season 2 of HBO’s Euphoria and the first season of HBO Max’s The Flight Attendant starring Kaley Cuoco, that shut down production as the coronavirus continued to spread.  

Rough House Pictures, McBride’s production company founded with filmmakers David Gordon Green and Jody Hill, is based in Charleston, South Carolina, where The Righteous Gemstones primarily shoots. In an interview from early June, writer and performer Edi Patterson revealed that the show’s second season was already written and they “shot for two days in South Carolina and had to shut down.” 

In a later interview with Gold Derby, McBride revealed that shooting won’t begin again until next year. So don’t expect to see the second season until 2021 at the earliest. 

In that same interview, McBride mentioned the possibility of a Christmas special, which the Gemstones would certainly put their own distinct spin on. But in a more recent interview from November with Collider, Walton Goggins mentioned that they weren’t able to film the Christmas special this year. “That had to wait too because of the up-tick,” he said when asked about the Gemstones Christmas special. “We were gonna do that. Maybe there’ll be a special this next year. You never know.”

Who will return for Season 2?

It’s reasonable to expect all of the Gemstones to return for a second season, with series creator Danny McBride back in the center as Jesse Gemstone, the eldest son of the family. That means more of John Goodman as Eli, the patriarch, Adam Devine as Kelvin, the family baby and, therefore, the Gemstones’ youth minster, and Edi Patterson as Judy, the middle child, as well. We’ll also likely see the return of Tony Cavalero as Keefe Chambers, Kelvin’s Satanist project, Tim Baltz as BJ, Judy’s fiancee, Cassidy Freeman as Amber, Jesse’s wife, Skyler Gisondo as Gideon, Jesse’s oldest son, and Dermot Mulroney as rival pastor Reverend Seasons. With Walton Goggin’s Uncle Baby Billy revived in the season finale, expect him to have plenty to atone for in the new season.

Given the number of flashbacks in the first season, it wouldn’t be out of reach to see more of country singer Jennifer Nettles as Aimee-Leigh Gemstone. In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Patterson mentioned that when they started shooting the second season they were on huge sets. “Like a period piece set where the whole block had been changed into another city in another time,” she said, indicating that the show will likely delve even further into the Gemstone family lore. 

We’ll also be seeing some new faces in Season 2, although there’s no definite casting information as of yet. “We just started writing Season 2, but we’re just excited to be able to dig deeper into this world and introduce you to some new characters,” McBride told Entertainment Weekly in a Season 1 postmortem. 

Ryan Green/HBO
Ryan Green/HBO
Ryan Green/HBO

What’s the plot of Season 2?

The season finale of The Righteous Gemstones didn’t leave much begging for resolution in the second season. After finally getting the full picture on what his kids have been up to, Eli fires Jesse, Judy, and Kelvin from their posts in the church. Kelvin realized that he messed up with Keefe, who succumbed to his Satanic goth circle, and goes back to reunite with him; Judy bares her past for BJ; Jesse tries to save his marriage with Amber, who stipulates that the only way that she’ll stay with him is if he manages to bring their son Gideon back from a mission to Haiti. 

Jesse fails to convince Gideon to return with him, leading to his marriage falling apart and causing him to move out of his house by the end of the episode. This is Season 2’s biggest change, aside from the fact that Baby Billy has now apparently seen the face of God (and the deceased Aimee-Leigh). Still, for the most part, everyone’s Season 1 woes have reached some level of resolution. “That is how our plan is for these seasons,” McBride told Entertainment Weekly. “Obviously, you continue the Gemstone story, but I like the idea of each of these seasons standing alone as their own work and story, so that you’re not always baiting the audience with, ‘What’s next?’ There is some level of giving people closure, and then starting again.”

McBride assured Thrillist that things are far from over from one of HBO’s most awful families. That being said, giving the Gemstone family a redemption arc isn’t necessarily a priority. “I think at this point,” McBride said, “redemption — or no redemption — isn’t even part of what the equation is.”Sign up here for our daily Thrillist email, get Streamail for more entertainment, and subscribe here for our YouTube channel to get your fix of the best in food/drink/fun.

Entertainment

Where to Celebrate Lunar New Year 2023 in Australia

And what it means to be in the year of the Rabbit.

where to celebrate lunar new year australia

Starting with the new moon on Sunday, January 22, this Lunar New Year ushers in the year of the Rabbit. We’ve put together a guide on celebrating the Lunar New Year in Australia.

What is special about the year of the Rabbit?

As you might know, each year has an animal sign in the Chinese Zodiac, which is based on the moon and has a 12-year cycle. This year, we celebrate the year of the rabbit, known to be the luckiest out of all twelve animals. It symbolises mercy, elegance, and beauty.

What celebrations are taking place and how can I get involved?

There are plenty of festivals happening all around the country which you can get involved with. Here they are per state.

New South Wales

Darling Harbour Fireworks
When: Every year, Sydney puts on a fireworks show, and this year, you can catch it on January 28 and February 4 at 9 pm in Darling Harbour.

Dragon Boat Races
When: Witness three days of dragon boat races and entertainment on Cockle Bay to usher in the Lunar New Year. The races will commence on January 27 and finish on January 29.

Lion Dances
When: Catch a traditional Lion Dance moving to the beat of a vigorous drum bringing good luck and fortune for the Lunar New Year. The dance performances will happen across Darling Harbour on Saturday, January 21, Sunday, January 22, and Sunday, February 4 and 5, around 6 pm and 9 pm.

Lunar New Year at Cirrus Dining
When: Barangaroo’s waterfront seafood restaurant, Cirrus, is celebrating the Year of the Rabbit with a special feast menu. Cirrus’ LNY menu is $128pp with optional wine pairing and is available from Saturday, January 21, to Sunday, February 5.

Auntie Philter
When: Hello Auntie’s owner and executive chef, Cuong Nguyen will be dishing out some of the most classic Vietnamese street foods with his mum, Linda. All of Philter’s favourites will be on offer, as well as Raspberry Pash Beer Slushies and other cocktails being served at the Philter Brewing rooftop bar on Sunday, January 22 and Sunday, January 29.

Victoria

Lunar New Year Festival
When: Ring in the Lunar New Year with food, music, arts, and more on Sunday, January 22, from 10 am to 9 pm.

Lunar New Year at the National Gallery of Victoria
When: Celebrate the year of the rabbit at the National Gallery of Victoria’s festival of art, food, and art-making activities for everyone from 10 am-5 pm.

Queensland

BriAsia Festival
When: From February 1-19, Brisbane will come alive with performances, including lion dances and martial arts displays. There will be street food, workshops, comedy and more.

South Australia

Chinatown Adelaide Street Party
When: Adelaide is set to hose a fun-filled day celebrating the Chinese New Year on Saturday, January 28, from 12 pm to 9 pm.

Western Australia

Crown Perth
When: Across January and February, Crown Perth hosts free live entertainment, including colourful lion dances, roving mascots, and drumming performances. The restaurants will also throw banquets and menus dedicated to the Lunar New Year.

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