Walton Goggins: From ‘White Lotus’ to Hilarious ‘Vice Principals’

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Walton Goggins delivered an outstanding act in the highly praised HBO series, “The White Lotus.” As a two-time Emmy nominee, Goggins played Rick Hatchett, an American seeking tranquility in Thailand. Much like prior seasons, the third season of “The White Lotus” was rich with surprising twists and a heart-wrenching finale for Goggins’ character and Chelsea (portrayed by Aimee Lou Wood).

After that heart-wrenching ending, a dash of humor seems necessary. Following his impressive performance, the actor has garnered even more acclaim, and he boasts an array of fantastic films and shows that can help uplift viewers from melancholy. Goggins has proven capable of handling any role thrown at him. Whether it’s portraying The Ghoul in Fallout (2024-) or Baby Billy Freeman in The Righteous Gemstones (2019-), the actor has consistently delivered outstanding performances. Among these, another HBO series, Vice Principals, stands out as particularly humorous.

In 2016, a humorously-slanted HBO original series debuted, focusing on the rivalry between two vice principals, Lee Russell (portrayed by Goggins) and Neal Gamby (Danny McBride), as they vie for the principal position at North Jackson High School following Principal Welles’ (Bill Murray) retirement to care for his ailing wife. The series continued for two seasons, wrapping up in 2017. The second season garnered exceptional praise from critics with a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and viewers gave it an 87%, a significant 23% increase over the 64% score of the first season. As we reach eight years since the series ended, it now ranks at #10 on the streaming platform. Alongside Goggins and McBride, the cast includes Busy Philipps, Shea Whigham, Susan Park, Kimberly Hébert Gregory, and many others.

What Is ‘Vice Principals’ About?

The television show “Vice Principals” on HBO primarily focuses on Neal Gamby (McBride) and Lee Russell (Goggins), both vying for the principal position at North Jackson High School. Gamby is a divorced man, serving as the disciplinary vice principal, who seeks the principal role to enforce his authoritarian ideals. The series starts off showing him struggling in life, including co-parenting with his ex-wife, Gale Liptrapp (Philipps). Gamby is a strict individual who values rules and doesn’t have much of a social life beyond work. His personal insecurities drive him to seek the leadership position, and achieving it gives him validation.

In the world of school administration, I’m Russell, a man who’s got charm dripping from every pore, but there’s an edge to me – a simmering aggression that often undermines my effectiveness as a principal. I can be as dramatic as a Shakespearean actor on stage, yet at times, I lack sensitivity and can be downright cruel.

My wife, Christine (Park), and her mother, Mi-Cha (June Kyoto Lu), are part of my life’s tumultuous tapestry. My relationship with Mi-Cha is a rollercoaster ride, to say the least. Despite my friendly demeanor, appearances can be misleading – I’m more of a wolf in sheep’s clothing, a potential threat to society’s peace.

Gamby and I form an unlikely alliance when Dr. Belinda Brown (Hébert Gregory) is offered the principal position at North Jackson High. The dynamic between us, two characters as different as night and day, makes for a captivating spectacle. It’s shows like Vice Principals, with its unhinged characters, that owe their golden comedy status to the brilliant performances of Danny McBride and Walton Goggins. Without their acting prowess, these characters wouldn’t be nearly as compelling.

‘Vice Principals’ Isn’t the First Time Goggins and McBride Have Collaborated

Apart from “Vice Principals”, Goggins and McBride have also joined forces to produce hilarious content, similar to the duo of Steve Martin and Martin Short. The comedy team is now collaborating on another HBO series called “The Righteous Gemstones”. This show debuted in 2019 and marks the third satirical comedy by McBride for HBO. The comedy series delves into the world of Christian televangelism, centering around the Gemstone family, who are famous but deeply troubled. McBride plays Jesse Gemstone, while Goggins delivers a remarkable performance as Baby Billy Freeman.

Apart from John Goodman, Adam DeVine, Edi Patterson, Cassidy Freeman, and Tony Cavalero, other notable cast members are also part of the series “The Righteous Gemstones.” The show is currently in its fourth and final season, as creator Danny McBride expressed his contentment with the project earlier this year. In a recent conversation with Variety, McBride shared his thoughts, stating:

God communicated to me that it was time to bring this story to its conclusion. The narrative in ‘The Righteous Gemstones’ this season has been satisfyingly rounded out, providing a sense of completeness to the themes, ideas, and characters. I have cherished every moment of working with this team for eight years now, and there are some amazing surprises, turns, and rewards awaiting us as we journey through this climactic final season.

Why ‘Vice Principals’ Ended After Season 2

The drawback of watching ‘Vice Principals’ is that the plot concludes after just two seasons. During its time on HBO, the series built a dedicated fanbase and thrived, but left fans curious about what transpired next. In an interview with Variety in 2016, McBride disclosed that the storyline was planned as a two-season arc, and it was never canceled by HBO.

This entire series comprises just 18 episodes, wrapping up the narrative neatly. Our intention was to create an extended film rather than a series. Essentially, it represents a single academic year with a fully-fledged storyline.

The series seems satisfyingly concluded at the end of Season 2, yet there’s an irresistible urge to witness further antics from these eccentric personalities, especially if the narrative were to carry on. Goggins and McBride together create a hilarious duo whose dynamic truly lights up the screen. Stream Vice Principals on Max.

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2025-04-17 06:02