Summary

• Judy and BJ's marriage has its ups and downs, but their journey in season 3 shows them recommitting to each other.
• Despite some trust issues and past struggles, BJ and Judy's honesty has made their relationship stronger for season 4.
• The violent and shocking moments in The Righteous Gemstones may surprise, but BJ's growth and standing up for himself are rewarding.

BJ (Tim Baltz) and Judy (Edi Patterson) have a contentious married life in the creators of Eastbound and Down and Vice Principals, and as a huge fan of those series, I could not wait for the next Jody Hill/Danny McBride project. I never would have guessed they'd explore the world of televangelism, but I'm delighted they did.

The show features an exceptionally funny cast, including Edi Patterson as Judy Gemstone, the overlooked middle Gemstone child, and Tim Baltz as BJ Barnes, Judy's sensitive husband whom the Gemstones, including Judy, treat poorly. I'll it that BJ's terrible attempts to ingratiate himself with the family and his wife make me laugh, but that doesn't mean I want to see the two split up. There's an emotional core to these awful characters and I would love to see their relationship shored up in The Righteous Gemstones season 4.

Edi Patterson also starred in Danny McBride and Jody Hill's Vice Principals as Jen Abbott.

BJ's Fight With Judy's Lover Stephen Is The Most Intense I've Ever Seen On TV

Stephen And BJ's Fight Leaves Them Both Bloody And Bruised

In season 3, episode 6, "For Out of the Heart Comes Evil Thoughts", BJ finally learns that his wife had an affair with Stephen (Stephen Schneider), the guitarist from her band, while they were on tour. BJ, of course, goes rollerblading to sort out his problems and for a while I was laughing to myself, realizing that once again BJ was going to let Judy walk all over him. However, Jesse (McBride) encourages BJ to confront Stephen about the infidelity, and so wasn't I surprised to then see BJ sneaking into Stephen's house.

This is The Righteous Gemstones, however, and things are not going to go as planned, starting with BJ walking in on Stephen pleasuring himself while fully nude. The new BJ doesn't care though, and he walks up to his wife's lover and delivers... well, a pitiful punch to the face. Cue a completely naked Stephen graphically beating BJ with a brass knuckle, headbutting him, and throwing him through a latticework. I've watched Eastbound and Vice Principles and those shows, along with Gemstones, like to shock audiences with violence.

As Stephen stands over BJ telling him to go home, BJ, with a last-ditch effort, reaches up and grabs Stephen by a very sensitive area, yelling in triumph as he throws Stephen down and beats him unconscious.

Despite their comic bent, the violence is purposefully visceral and gruesome. BJ getting thrashed is intense, but it all pays off in the end. As Stephen stands over BJ telling him to go home, BJ, with a last-ditch effort, reaches up and grabs Stephen by a very sensitive area, yelling in triumph as he throws Stephen down and beats him unconscious. BJ, who never stands up for himself, finally follows through. Baltz talked to the New York Times about the scene,

"There were a lot of little very quick decisions that either injured us, or barely avoided injury/ That’s the most intense day of work I’ve ever had."

Their efforts paid off, and it's a suitably memorable sequence. Despite the violence, I pump my fist when I watch BJ take action and stop finally being such a pushover.

BJ & Judy Survived An Affair (And Locusts) & Are In A Good Place For The Righteous Gemstones Season 4

Judy And BJ Recommit To Their Relationship In The Season 3 Finale

At the end of season 3, a literal plague of locusts descends on the Gemstones during the taping of their Bible Bonkers gameshow. The set is destroyed, and a few people are even killed. After surviving the ordeal, BJ and Judy recommit to each other and are last seen driving the Redeemer monster truck together.

I think, as far as The Righteous Gemstones goes, their relationship is in a good place for season 4. You can see that what the couple has gone through has made their marriage stronger. There may be some trust lost between them, but they both have been more honest with each other in The Righteous Gemstones season 3, and it's from that honesty that I expect their marriage to look a lot healthier in season 4.