Prelude (The Righteous Gemstones)

Plot

In Virginia 1862, Minister Abel Grieves delivers a sermon condemning the war and northern aggression. After the congregation leaves, a man who had slept in the church mocks Grieves for using donations for personal gain, then pulls out a pistol and kills him. He robs the money and Grieves's gold-plated Bible. Outside, Confederate soldiers confront him, as Grieves had been assigned as military chaplain for their division.

Learning he would be paid $50 a month, the man returns to the church, changes clothes with Grieves, smashes Grieves's face with a collection plate, and writes to the congregation that he was robbed by a man named Elijah Gemstone, taking over Grieves's identity. Three weeks later, Elijah serves as chaplain, though his Captain questions his alcoholism and gambling. Elijah passes time cheating at card games with sleight of hand, hiding proceeds in a box.

He delivers a short, weak first sermon. A soldier named Ned Rollins recognizes him from before the war; Elijah tackles him and kneels on his throat, but Ned proposes they cheat Major McFall in a card game. They succeed, but Elijah strangles Ned to death, feeling he cannot take a risk, and dumps his body in a locked casket; Ned is declared a deserter. The next day, the cavalry is intercepted by Union soldiers.

Elijah prays desperately. He and other survivors are taken to be executed, but Elijah is spared because he is a man of God, though his box of money is seized. Ordered to lead the Confederate soldiers in prayer, Elijah begins a sermon that shifts into an emotional speech, understanding the importance of religion to the soldiers. They are executed by firing squad, and Elijah walks away.

Using a cart, he takes the fallen soldiers back to the Confederate outpost, declaring that God spared him. That night, shaken, he reads the gold-plated Bible for the first time, reading the Book of Genesis aloud.

Production

The episode was written by executive producers John Carcieri, Jeff Fradley, and series creator Danny McBride, and directed by McBride. This was Carcieri's 18th writing credit, Fradley's 12th, McBride's 27th, and McBride's fifth directing credit. Bradley Cooper guest stars as Elijah Gemstone. McBride wanted to make an episode set far back in the past, but writers worried the audience would feel "bummed" not to see any series characters.

He felt it was a "tall order" since fans had waited over a year for the new season. They sought someone with charisma and charm who could hold the entire episode on their shoulders, and Cooper was a name McBride came up with. Cooper had not watched the series before casting and decided not to watch it in preparation, not wanting to be influenced. McBride was satisfied with his performance, saying Cooper felt like a Gemstone regardless.

McBride grew up in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, where there was much Civil War action, and he found old bullets in his backyard. He said he had always been fascinated with history and thought it fitting to tell a story about where the Gemstones came from for the final season. He explained Elijah's point: imperfect people are often chosen to spread the word, and anyone can find their way if they want to. The episode was filmed in less than 10 days.

McBride noted that despite its period setting, it might not be the most expensive episode of the series; everything was daylight dependent except for a handful of scenes, and they had to be super efficient.

Reception

In its original American broadcast, the episode was seen by an estimated 0.291 million household viewers with a 0.06 in the 18-49 demographics, a 35% increase in viewership from the previous episode. The episode received mostly positive reviews from critics. Matt Schimkowitz of The A.V. Club gave it a "B" grade, writing that it sets in motion everything seen thus far on the show, offering a more somber and reflective tone showing the roots of the family tree.

Scott Tobias of Vulture gave a perfect 5-star rating, praising the level of craft and calling the series rare in that "cinematic" is a proper descriptor, highlighting a dynamic tracking shot and a montage set to Waylon Jennings's "Goin' Down Rockin'." Paul Dailly of TV Fanatic gave a 3.75-star rating, noting that standalone episodes are good but the season premiere lacked the pizazz of other episodes with little-to-no laughs. Keeley Brooks of Show Snob wrote that the episode paves the yellow brick road of the Gemstone legacy and that if the series keeps up the antics and family dynamics, the final season should deliver.