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The following contains spoilers for The Righteous Gemstones Season 3, Episode 9, "Wonders That Cannot Be Fathomed, Miracles That Cannot Be Counted," now streaming on Max.

Throughout Season 3 of The Righteous Gemstones, it feels like a big tragedy is due. Peter Montgomery (Eli's brother-in-law) was ramping up his militia, stealing material from the Gemstone estate to make bombs. To top it off, he even kidnapped Jesse, Judy and Kelvin, demanding a ransom, only for that to fall apart.

The failed ransom results in Peter's own army booting him and his son, Chuck, thinking they're incompetent. This builds to scary consequences in the season finale, "Wonders That Cannot Be Fathomed, Miracles That Cannot Be Counted," which depicts Peter seeking revenge, and the militia going off on their nationalist terror mission. Luckily, the show subverts expectations and crafts a happy ending, which feels like it could have been a series finale.

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Warning: This article contains spoilers for the first two seasons of The Righteous Gemstones.Heaven is shining down on The Righteous Gemstones, HBO’s rowdy comedy about a televangelist southern family who put the Roys of Succession to shame. You may have wondered how the heck this inventive series from creator Danny McBride was going to top itself after season two’s calamities. There was that Zion’s Landing debacle, spiritual wonderland that it was. How about that twist of the Cycle Ninjas becoming part of Kelvin (Adam DeVine) and Keefe’s (Tony Cavalero) youth fitness program? Megachurch Lyle (Eric Andre) getting eaten by wolves? Holy hell. What next?

Plenty. Season three aims… well, if not higher, then high enough. It's fun, often hilarious, offbeat, and engaging. And while the third outing may recycle some of its own familiar tropes — how many more people can come after The Gemstones, after all?...

Last month, HBO said goodbye to two of its signature series: “Succession,” a tale of three born billionaires vying to replace their aging patriarch; and “Barry,” an action comedy that unlocked new levels of ambition in its star-auteur, Bill Hader. Fans — and, one presumes, the network — were left with a vacuum the next seasons of “The White Lotus” and “House of the Dragon” are too far off to fill. Fortunately, a show that combines the best of both its erstwhile peers returns June 18 for a third season. “The Righteous Gemstones” remains consistent in its outrageous opulence and crude humor, but its latest chapter is unusually well timed.

Like “Succession,” “The Righteous Gemstones” follows a family poisoned by wealth and power at a crucial inflection point; like “Barry,” the show has a visual panache that defies our expectations for a half-hour comedy. But unlike either show, “The Righteous Gemstones” resists the...