Why Are You Like This, Danny McBride?

I’m guaranteed two things every time I sit down to watch The Righteous Gemstones: gut-busting laughs and repeatedly asking myself, “Why are you like this, Danny McBride?” Though I’m aware it takes a village to make any project work, I can’t help but place the responsibility for last night’s new level of raunchy insanity squarely on the series’ creator and star. The show’s never been shy when it comes to sex or nudity—though we’ve gotten several helpings of the Bible Bonkers in Uncle Baby Billy’s pants in only a few episodes, so I’m assuming McBride’s planning on having this season go out in full debaucherous style—but I wasn’t prepared for what awaited on the other side of that bedroom door:

Eli Gemstone and Lori Milsap, engaged in an enthusiastic 69.

Eli’s adult kids weren’t prepared, either (“Where was your nose, Daddy?!”). Of course, this now leaves me with several questions, including how did John Goodman react to this scene in the script and is there any chance it was documented? As for Megan Mullally, I can only imagine her hopping on top of her colleague with the same business-minded professionalism of a buzzed co-ed approaching a mechanical bull installed in a seedy bar.

Such is the show’s gift, however, that despite those three dingus’ disgusted yells of, “Daddy came, Daddy came!” we can still feel a bit of emotional resonance over their fear of being left to carry on the memory of their mother. Jesse may be middle-aged, but his “We don’t want you to forget about Mama” gives the tender vulnerability of a kid whose cherished mental picture of his parents is on the verge of ruin. It’s a touching moment that’s incredibly and brilliantly tempered by Eli plucking a hair out from between his teeth (sensational acting decision by Goodman).

Plot-wise, this season is far more muted compared to previous ones, but there’s more than enough time for things to take a turn. Even if we don’t get the blockbuster-level action that we’ve grown accustomed to, I’m sure McBride’s set up plenty of other devices. Judging from last night, they might just be of the adult variety, that’s all.

Kaleena Rivera is the TV Editor for Pajiba. She can be found on Bluesky here.