Danny McBride has brought us a new HBO series called “The Righteous Gemstones.” It’s somewhat of a generational series where sons follow in the footsteps of their powerful televangelist father. The Gemstone family is famous throughout the world, and they’re also among the richest families in the business of worship. The megachurch built by Eli Gemstone, the patriarch of the clan, passes down to the sons as his wife passes and he struggles to deal with the loss of his wife. and the family ministry is put in jeopardy. There are threats around every corner, some external and some coming from disagreements within the family. If you like “The Righteous Gemstones, then here are five more shows you’re probably going to love, because they follow along with the same basic plot with a few alterations in theme and characters.
1. Succession
“Succession” is a lot like “The Righteous Gemstones in that there is the classic struggle, complete with power-plays within a very rich family, with a patriarch who has stepped aside and sons who are fighting against one another for the leadership of the family fortune. The central plot remains the same, with the necessity of saving the empire which the patriarch has established, with greed, lust and a lot of behind the back plots to thwart the protagonist. Magnate Logan Roy is preparing for his 80th birthday and it’s party-time, but the bombshell that he drops for reshaping the family empire result in a scramble for power positioning. If you’re into manipulation and drama, then you’re going to love the upcoming season of “Succession.”
2. Billions
The television series “Billions” follows the story of to powerful New Yorkers in a complicated drama centered around Attorney Chuck Rhoades and the hedge fund king Bobby, “Axe” Axelrod. The series pits the two against one another as they use their intelligence, influence, and power to gain top positioning. Both men are flawed, although brilliant, but it takes the women in their lives to keep them on track. The show is centered around conflicts over money, and although greed does play a part in the motivation, it’s more about winning and being the top dog.
3. Downton Abbey
“Downton Abbey” is a television series which made its premiere in 2011, regularly shown on PBS. The series follows the story of the Granthams, who are terribly rich and live on an amazing English estate. Their way of life is in jeopardy of vanishing. This drama covers a period of 12 years and there are plenty of scandals, heartbreaks and period of hopefulness. Romance, ambitious members of the family and a dramatic struggle that covers the family and their servants who get in on the action in a time when change is unwelcome yet inevitable. This series is filled with the dramas which take place when a very rich family’s lifestyle is threatened because of changing times. What we really like about it is that there is also a great deal of focus upon the characters who serve the family, because their lives are almost just as interesting.
4. Empire
“Empire” is a Lee Daniels and Danny Strong creation made specifically for the Fox network. The setting is in New York, although filmed in Chicago. It’s a hip hop musical series which centers around the family of the founder of a mega-entertainment company. Struggles ensue as the family vies against one another for control of the fortune generating operation. The drama is plenteous and the series is filled with manipulations, greed and behind the back action as family members go up against one another to gain control of the family business. The plot is similar to “Succession” and “The Righteous Gemstones” with a different setting and genre, but it’s every bit as much malicious and dramatic. This is a great show to watch if you like to watch rich family members take their best shots at each other.
5. Revenge
“Revenge” follows the same basic plot of rich families in the Hamptons living an extravagant lifestyle, with the exception that there is one girl who comes back from the past to exact her revenge for trying to murder her. A group of her rich boyfriend’s friends show up and viciously assault her, leaving her for dead. Years later, she returns to the rich community and those who were involved in the incident don’t even recognize her and she carefully plots how to return the favor and take out her revenge upon them. This is perhaps the most dramatic of all five of the television series which focus upon the lifestyles of the very rich, their sense of entitlement and believe that they can do anything that they want and get away with it, and Jen’s resolve to show them that there are consequences for every action. This thriller is riveting and it will keep your attention focused on the series, and leave you wanting more with each closing episode.
Final thoughts
If you’re really enjoying “The Righteous Gemstones,” but you’re looking for another series to fill an hour of time, these five bear some remarkable similarities that will give you a strong dose of hijinx and drama that can only happen when there is a family fortune at stake, and unscrupulous characters who will stop at nothing to gain control. Of the five, “Revenge” will take you to slightly darker places, but we find ourselves rooting for Jen as she attempts to right the wrongs which have been done to her. It’s tougher to be sympathetic for the other characters in “Empire,” “Billions,” “The Righteous Gemstones” and “Succession,” because they’re at a far better advantage and most of the drama they struggle through is of their own making.
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