The Righteous Gemstones (2×08) The Prayer of a Righteous Man Review

For our review of the last episode of The Righteous Gemstones, click here.

Synopsis: As the dust settles back at the compound, Jesse, Kelvin, and Judy consider where they stand. Baby Billy reconnects with a figure from his past. (HBO)

This penultimate episode begins with a history lesson from the past as more information is revealed with how Glendon actually received all of his money that was propositioned to Eli those many years ago. More importantly, it set the table for how the rift began between Junior and Glendon Marsh leading to even more questions on how or why Junior might be after Eli. Back in the present, several of the cycle ninjas, having been captured after their attempt on Eli’s life at the hospital did not go as planned, are in custody but unwilling to talk.

Once Eli assumes his mantle as the family leader, the Gemstone’s shared victory becomes short-lived as the siblings are thrust back into their own individual issues that were put on hold and are now left to solve them. Baby Billy is undergoing a crisis of conscience that is ultimately leading him back to the source of his original fear – Harmon’s home, BJ and Judy are forced to make a decision with their faux-parenting of Tiffany Freeman, Kelvin is searching for a way to reclaim his throne atop the muscular men, and Jesse tries to calm Amber down after experiencing a taste of power during Eli’s absence. In short, everything is starting to fray once more with the Gemstones. However, things are slightly different this time as the Gemstones display internal growth in order to handle each of their problems. Kelvin, having finally received the validation from his father he so desperately craved, underwent the trial of the cross in order to reclaim his seat as the leader with the God Squad only to then issue a decree for the existing members to get out as they were no longer needed. Of course, it was always Kelvin’s house and he could’ve asked them to leave at any time, but in true Gemstone fashion, he had to make it weird first.

Eli’s validation also extended to Jesse as well who was the de facto leader during Eli’s recovery and whose actions and decisions helped keep the family from any further harm. This was not lost on his father and in a moment of truthfulness it was revealed that Jesse’s desire to lead the Gemstone family was in no hurry as that experience was not enjoyable in the least. As a result, Eli agrees to help with the financial investment with the Lissons for the Christian resort and ultimately reveals the entire truth to his family about Junior, Glendon, and the Exodus. This admission brings the entire Gemstone family together and correcting all of the previous in-fighting and establishing a unified front for the fight ahead. However, Eli possessed one last trick up his sleeve as he decided to confront Junior in person and reveal the truth about his father’s murder. Surprisingly, Junior completely understood the actions taken against his father because as we see in the beginning they were enacted on him as well. But these admissions of the truth start to chip away at a further mystery of who actually commissioned the cycle ninjas to kill Eli when Junior states it was not him leaving us to wonder up until next week’s finale who did.

But the Gemstone family were not the only ones on a path of healing and redemption as Baby Billy finally faced his son, Harmon, now a husband and father himself. As the two reconnect, Baby Billy is finally able to admit his cowardice that allows him to move beyond his past transgressions in hopes of becoming a better father this second time with Tiffany. With Baby Billy’s story, it’s not so much time that is able to heal all wounds, but a firm closed-fist punch to the face that jumpstarts the path to forgiveness.

Things are looking good for the Gemstone family as they head into the final episode of season two. In their own ways, they have each shown a level of character growth that would have never been believed based on earlier in the season. Their newfound outlook will ultimately be tested as the cycle ninjas are still out there and looking to finish the job.

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