Photo credit: www.tvinsider.com
[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for The Righteous Gemstones Season 4 Episode 7, “For Jealousy Is the Rage of a Man.”]
In the latest episode of The Righteous Gemstones, viewers observe the contrasting dynamics between Judy (Edi Patterson) and BJ (Tim Baltz) as they navigate the challenges posed by Dr. Watson, BJ’s companion monkey.
For those who may need a recap, Season 4 commenced with BJ exploring a new interest in pole dancing. However, a mishap during a tournament left him with serious injuries, confining him to a wheelchair and dramatically altering his daily life. This challenging transition understandably took an emotional toll on BJ, but his sister-in-law Amber (Cassidy Freeman) introduced Dr. Watson in hopes of providing him support and companionship.
Initially doubtful of Dr. Watson’s efficacy, BJ’s outlook appears to have improved significantly with the monkey’s presence, particularly in the latest episode titled “For Jealousy Is the Rage of a Man.” Unfortunately, Judy hasn’t warmed up to Dr. Watson, and the feeling seems mutual, as the monkey exhibits territorial behavior, including tossing Judy’s makeup off the counter.
As the episode unfolds, BJ highlights how he has been nurturing a bond with Dr. Watson through what he perceives to be the monkey’s primary love language: physical affection. His affectionate gestures, including kissing Dr. Watson, elicit concern from Judy, who isn’t quite as enthusiastic about the interactions.
Patterson reflects positively on her experiences working with the primates, sharing, “I think we had a really positive experience with the monkeys. There were two of them. It was quite surreal to express negative dialogue while engaging with such a seemingly magical creature. Looking into their eyes created a profound emotional connection.”
She adds, “It felt like conversing with a human in some ways… Their presence is so relatable to our own that it can lead to a deep existential moment.” The monkeys, named Allie and Katie, alternated in their portrayal of Dr. Watson throughout the season.
Regarding the intimate scenes with the monkeys, Baltz humorously describes, “Kissing Dr. Watson was an experience, as the monkey would often stick its tongue into my mouth in a rather vigorous manner.” He recalls receiving guidance from the trainer on how to manage the bit of chaos that came with feeding scenes, stating, “I was advised to be cautious during feeding, as the monkey could inadvertently force the pretzel down my throat.”
Though Baltz initially underestimated the severity of this direction, his experiences validated the cautionary advice: “Before I knew it, the monkey would perform this eager feeding, first holding the pretzel with one hand before thrusting it towards my mouth. Regardless, there was a playful, mischievous side to Dr. Watson.”
While the underlying tensions involving BJ, Judy, and Dr. Watson persist, audiences can anticipate further developments as The Righteous Gemstones draws closer to its concluding episodes on HBO and Max. For deeper insights, a full video interview featuring Baltz and Patterson is available.
The Righteous Gemstones, Season 4, Sundays, 10/9c, HBO and Max
Source
www.tvinsider.com