Warning: Contains SPOILERS for The Righteous Gemstones season 4, episode 9!

"Interlude IV" introduced a new candidate in the form of Michael Rooker's Cobb Milsap. While Cobb was definitely villainout, a completely different antagonist takes over in The Righteous Gemstones season 4, episode 9, with him attempting to kill the Gemstone siblings before they get to him first.

The Righteous Gemstones season 4, episode 8 seemingly wrapped up most of the show's storylines, leaving fans wondering what the finale had left. Corey Milsap killed Cobb Milsap, BJ was healed, Eli and Lori were broken up, and Dr. Watson was given away. Previous episodes concluded the Top Christ Following Man of the Year storyline, while the Vance Simkins storyline was concluded in the season 4 finale's opening scene. There seemingly wasn't much else to cover in The Righteous Gemstones' series finale, but the appearance of a new villain solved this problem.

Corey's History Of Attacking & Killing Lori's Ex-Boyfriends With Cobb Explained

He Was Involved In Cobb's Crimes

As it turns out, Corey Milsap is the villain of The Righteous Gemstones season 4 finale. Corey Milsap was originally one of the Gemstones' friends, with him even killing Cobb Milsap in The Righteous Gemstones season 4, episode 8. However, he has a mental break in episode 9, with him attempting to kill Jesse, Judy, and Kelvin. The Gemstone siblings are completely taken aback by this, not seeing his antagonistic turn coming. However, Corey reveals his backstory, explaining his true history with his sadistic father Cobb Milsap.

As it turns out, Cobb Milsap didn't act alone in his crimes. Previously, it was known that Cobb hunts down all of Lori's boyfriends or exes, with him either kidnapping them or killing them in an attempt to win her back. Jesse Gemstone discovered that this has happened several times, with him initially thinking that Lori was behind it. However, Cobb was the true culprit, as was discovered when he kidnapped Eli and Baby Billy in episode 8.

The Righteous Gemstones season 4 finale sees Corey reveal that he actually helped his father pull off the crimes. Corey went along with Cobb on several of his missions to kill Lori's exes, with him taking a more active role as time went on. Cobb's emotional and physical abuse undoubtedly played a big role in convincing Corey to do these things. Corey is ashamed of his role, believing that he can't be forgiven for his crimes, something that explains his actions later in the episode.

Why Corey Really Killed Cobb

After Years Of Abuse

Now that it is known that Corey went along with Cobb's crimes, it is a bit confusing as to why he killed Cobb in The Righteous Gemstones season 4, episode 8. However, it all makes sense considering the bigger picture. "Interlude IV" as well as episode 8 of season 4 show that Cobb was physically abusive to Corey. Cobb even slaps an adult Corey at his birthday party, and Corey refuses to do anything in retaliation. This highlights how bad Cobb's abuse was, with Corey going along with his father's killing in an attempt to win back Lori, the parental figure who actually cared about him.

However, by the time The Righteous Gemstones season 4, episode 8 rolled around, Corey had been through enough. Killing Cobb acted as a form of revenge for Corey, with him paying Cobb back for the physical and emotional abuse that he had been put through. Corey most likely wasn't interested in saving Eli or Baby Billy. After all, Corey attempted to kill Jesse, Judy, and Kelvin in the very next episode. Instead, Eli and Baby Billy's situation was probably an excuse for Corey to kill his father, with Corey being able to argue self defense.

Why Corey Tries To Kill Jesse, Judy & Kelvin In The Righteous Gemstones' Series Finale

& How They Survive

Near the end of The Righteous Gemstones series finale, Kelvin goes back inside the river home in order to change shirts. While heading upstairs, Kelvin sees the ghost of his late mother, Aimee-Leigh Gemstone. Aimee-Leigh walks into a bedroom, and Kelvin follows her. When he gets into the room, Aimee-Leigh is gone. Kelvin sees Corey's luggage, finding a gun and Elijah Gemstone's stolen gold Bible. Corey catches Kelvin, and shortly after Kelvin leaves, Corey begins trying to kill each of the Gemstone siblings.

Corey's decision to kill Jesse, Judy, and Kelvin is shocking, and luckily he doesn't succeed. Corey's actions seem to mostly be motivated by his mental break. However, he explains that he feels immense guilt over his roles in his dad's crimes. Since Jesse, Judy, and Kelvin are aware of the crimes after Corey tells them about it, he decides to kill them. When Jesse shoots Corey in the head, Corey seems to snap out of his murderous spree. He asks the Gemstone siblings to pray for him, with him dying during the prayer.

Corey's Death In The Righteous Gemstones' Finale & Its Real Meaning Explained

It Forces The Gemstone Siblings To Change

Corey's character arc is not the important one in The Righteous Gemstones series finale. Instead, Corey's death is used to complete the character arcs of Jesse, Judy, and Kelvin. Firstly, Corey's death leads Jesse, Judy, and Kelvin to forgive him. Forgiveness and redemption are major themes throughout The Righteous Gemstones, and the trio forgiving Corey after he shot them is a powerful reminder of this.

Secondly, Corey's gunfire and death finally force the Gemstones to perform their ministry together. Jesse, Judy, and Kelvin are left in charge of Gemstone Ministries throughout season 4, although their clashing egos make running the church difficult. Jesse, Judy, and Kelvin praying over Corey together is one of the first times they have sincerely performed their pastoral duties, and they do it together in the finale. Corey's death shows that Jesse, Judy, and Kelvin are actually good at their jobs, setting up their pastoral futures after the events of The Righteous Gemstones series finale.