Warning: Contains SPOILERS for The Righteous Gemstones season 4, episode 7!
In the latest episode of The Righteous Gemstones (Season 4, Episode 7), Baby Billy Freeman embarks on a whimsical new venture, showcasing the unique comedic brilliance of Walton Goggins. Since his debut, Goggins’ portrayal of Baby Billy has delivered numerous laughs, and this episode pushes his character into unprecedented comedic territory, cementing why audiences have grown to love him so dearly.
Walton Goggins Takes on a Role of Dual Ages
The Hilarious Conundrum of Baby Billy & Teenjus
The character of Baby Billy Freeman is notably older than Walton Goggins, who plays him. While Baby Billy’s exact age is ambiguous, it can be inferred that he is in his 70s, as suggested by the aging of other Gemstone family members. On the flip side, Goggins, at age 53, takes on the intriguing challenge of embodying a character that is nearly two decades older than himself. This age gap adds a hilarious layer to his performance, accentuated by his distinctive white hairpiece and aging props.
In this episode, Baby Billy makes a surprising choice: he decides to assume the leading role in his own television series, Teenjus, which humorously revolves around a teenage Jesus. This twist reveals a complex layer to Goggins’ performance as he now plays a septuagenarian portraying a character who is significantly younger, intensifying the comedy within the storyline.
The Unique Requirement of De-Aging in Teenjus
A First for Walton Goggins in The Righteous Gemstones
Given the absurdity of a 70-year-old playing a teenage Christ, it seems unlikely that Baby Billy can convincingly embody his role without assistance. The high-budget production of Teenjus could allow for cutting-edge visual effects, meaning that digital de-aging technology could be utilized over casting a different actor.
This would mark a notable first for Goggins in this series; he has not yet undergone digital de-aging like his co-star John Goodman did during his portrayal of a younger Eli Gemstone in the “Interlude”episodes. If Teenjus necessitates technologically advanced methods for Goggins’ character representation, it would bring an innovative twist to the comedic landscape of The Righteous Gemstones.