The Righteous Gemstones is entering its final season with season 4, and while there is only a limited amount of time left with the show's main cast, the premiere episode did something wildly different.

The Righteous Gemstones season 4 will be closing the show out, putting an end to Danny McBride's third HBO series. After the end of The Righteous Gemstones' successful third season, the possibilities for the show's future seemed endless. The main cast of The Righteous Gemstones is beloved, and the series had become one of the most popular and acclaimed series on HBO. Thus, the announcement that The Righteous Gemstones season 4 would end the show was surprising for many fans, and it only made season 4's wild premiere episode even riskier.

The Righteous Gemstones' Season 4 Premiere Doesn't Include Any Returning Characters Or Cast

It Instead Focuses On The Civil War & Bradley Cooper

To the surprise of many, The Righteous Gemstones season 4, episode 1 doesn't include any returning characters or main cast . The cast of The Righteous Gemstones is what makes the show, with Danny McBride, Walton Goggins, Edi Patterson, and the rest of the show's fantastic actors bringing the beloved characters to life. Since The Righteous Gemstones ended in July 2023, it has been over a year and a half since the Gemstone family has been seen. However, without warning, The Righteous Gemstones season 4, episode 1 decided not to bring any of the characters back.

Instead, The Righteous Gemstones season 4, episode 1, "Prelude," took place in the year 1862, more 160 years before the show's main timeline. "Prelude" tells the story of Elijah Gemstone, a criminal con-man who murders a priest and steals his tithe and golden Bible. After hearing that the Confederate Army is paying chapalins $50 a week, Elijah takes up the identity of the priest he murdered and s the Civil War. Rather than featuring the main cast, "Prelude" stars Bradley Cooper as Elijah Gemstone, with the episode also featuring Jim Cummings, Josh McDermitt, and more.

Despite Having An Entirely Different Cast, "Prelude" Is Now One Of The Righteous Gemstones' Best Episodes

It Is Unique & Fantastic

Upon hearing about "Prelude's" changes, some fans of the HBO show may have been hesitant to welcome The Righteous Gemstones season 4, episode 1 with open arms. However, now that "Prelude" is out, it is clear that it is one of the best episodes of The Righteous Gemstones. Despite having an entirely new cast, "Prelude" manages to draw viewers in and tell a captivating prequel story. Bradley Cooper is fantastic as Elijah Gemstone, with him giving a uniquely dramatic performance in a show filled to the brim with over-the-top comedic performances.

"Prelude" is also a thematically perfect way to kick off The Righteous Gemstones' final season. The series has been all about redemption throughout its three previous seasons, and "Prelude" manages to perfectly distill this down into a single episode through Elijah Gemstone's arc. The episode also highlights how imperfect people are often used for good things. This is a theme that has not only been present throughout The Righteous Gemstones, but also throughout the Bible that has inspired the show's televangelist world.

"Prelude" Raises The Stakes For The Righteous Gemstones Season 4's Final "Interlude" Episode

If "Interlude IV" Even Happens

While "Prelude" was a fantastic episode, it raises the stakes for The Righteous Gemstones season 4's "Interlude" episode. All three seasons of The Righteous Gemstones have used their fifth episodes as prequels, showing the main Gemstone cast before the death of Aimee-Leigh. "Interlude," "Interlude II," and "Interlude III," are widely praised as the best episodes of the show, but since the show is ending, "Interlude IV" will be the last one.

"Prelude" has already kicked off the final season of The Righteous Gemstones with a fantastic prequel episode, raising the bar for what "Interlude IV" will have to do. Although it hasn't even been confirmed that "Interlude IV" will be happening, it is expected based off the previous three seasons. If this is the case, then The Righteous Gemstones season 4 only has three more episodes to get viewers in the mood for another prequel.