Review of <i>The Righteous Gemstones</i> , Season 4, Episode 1, “Prelude”

The show follows a dynasty of megachurch, prosperity gospel televangelists at the height of their wealth and fame.The showrunners devote the entire first episode of the final season ("Prelude") to the story of Elijah Gemstone (played by Cooper), the great, great, great . . .grandfather of the main characters of the show.The Righteous Gemstones is a send up of religion in America more broadly and televangelism in particular.The episode traces the entwinement of religion and money back to the story of a grifter become chaplain.Clips of this episode will no doubt make the rounds among chaplains online and eventually end up as funny illustrations in the courseware at the U.S. Army Institute for Religious Leadership.There is certainly a wealth of whatnot-to-do fodder to be had here.Beneath the veneer of funny anecdotes of what it looks like to be a bad chaplain, important questions emerge.