Actor and 2-time Emmy nomineeWalton Gogginsis currently starring in two of the biggest television series of 2025 that air back-to-back on HBO’s coveted Sunday night primetime spot. HBO typically releases new episodes of their most celebrated shows between 9 and 10 PM EST on Sunday nights. Recent series to air during that time includeSuccession,House of the Dragon,The Last of Us, andThe Penguin.The White LotusandThe Righteous Gemstonescurrently fall into that esteemed category.
The White Lotus, which is in its third season set in Thailand, currently airs at 9 PM EST on HBO and MAX. Following its weekly episodic premieres are new episodes ofThe Righteous Gemstones, which is at the start of its fourth and final season, at roughly 10 PM EST. WhileThe White Lotusis a mostly anthropological series with some character and story overlap,The Righteous Gemstonesis a more traditionally chronological drama/comedy series. Both offer highly entertaining blends of comedy and drama and interestingly both star Walton Goggins.
Walton Goggins Is Ruling HBO Sunday Nights Right Now With The White Lotus & The Righteous Gemstones
Goggins Plays Two Very Different Characters In HBO’s Top 2 Series Of March 2025
Goggins, known for his celebrated performances inJustifiedandFallout, stars inThe White Lotusseason 3andThe Righteous Gemstonesseason 4, which are currently released back-to-back on HBO on Sunday nights.The White Lotuscurrently has the 9 pm EST slot followed byThe Righteous Gemstoneswith the 10 pm EST release slot immediately following the conclusion of each new episodeThe White Lotus. Goggins is an integral part of both series, which each feature an outstanding ensemble cast.
Goggins has been a renowned character actor for decades, which is proven by hisstandout performance in Amazon Prime Video’sFallout. Goggins has also starred in a handful of Quentin Tarantino films, such asDjango Unchained(2012) andThe Hateful Eight(2015). He earned Emmy nominations for his lead and supporting roles in Fallout and Justified, respectively. Some of hisother notable works includeSons of AnarchyandThe Shield.
His Rick Hatchett is cool, mysterious, and potentially dangerous, while his Baby Billy Freeman is much older, unpredictable, and hilarious.
Although hischaracters are very different in both of HBO’s current primetime series, Goggins is a standout in both. His Rick Hatchett is cool, mysterious, and potentially dangerous, while his Baby Billy Freeman is much older, unpredictable, and hilarious.
Rick Hatchett & Baby Billy Freeman Are Completely Different Characters For Walton Goggins
Goggins Puts On A Clinic Of Character Work In Both HBO Series
The impressive disparity between Baby Billy and Rick certainly highlights Goggins' acting range, especially watching both HBO series back-to-back on Sunday nights. Going from thereserved Rick to the over-the-top Baby Billy makes for a surreal viewing experience. However, Goggins is so exceptional in both that viewers are rarely ever distracted by the double dose of his appearances.
“Lochlan Was Too Into That Kiss”: The White Lotus Season 3 Looks Like It’s Doing The Ratliff Story I’ve Been Worried About Since Episode 1
That bizarre incestuous kissing scene between the Ratliff brothers, Lochlan and Saxon, in The White Lotus season 3 confirms many viewers' worst fears.
Goggins has been a part ofThe Righteous Gemstonessince season 1, which premiered in 2019, while he is part of a mostly brand-new ensemble inThe White Lotusseason 3. While Rick does have some wild moments inThe White Lotus, Baby Billy’s unhinged heavier inThe Righteous Gemstonesmakes his character much more wacky. Still,Walton Gogginsputs on a clinic in character acting in both series, blending comedy and drama with effortless effect.
