On Sunday night, Max’s “The Righteous Gemstones” came to an end after four gloriously hilarious — and often surprisingly moving — seasons, with series creator Danny McBride providing one of the most satisfying finales in recent memory. Like the series as a whole, the finale walked the line between lunacy and poignancy, ultimately leaving its dysfunctional evangelists in a place of peace and resolution without sacrificing the outrageous laughs for which the series has become known.

McBride had mixed feelings about ending the series. “Even as I approached this season, I wasn’t sure if I was going to make it the final season or not,” McBride told IndieWire’s Filmmaker Toolkit podcast. “This is a very awesome show to be able to work on. It’s in my backyard. I love all the people I’m working with. But as I started looking for ideas for this season, it was...