According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 0.304 million household viewers and gained a 0.1 ratings share among adults aged 18–49.
At the compound, a recovered Eli (John Goodman) praises his family for their actions, which motivates Kelvin (Adam DeVine) to confront the God Squad, managing to lift the heavy cross despite his broken thumbs and disbands them.
Eli confesses that Marsh threatened his family and that Roy killed him, and Junior believed that he helped him escape to Bolivia.
[1] In its original American broadcast, "The Prayer of a Righteous Man" was seen by an estimated 0.304 million household viewers with a 0.1 in the 18-49 demographics.
"[4] Scott Tobias of Vulture gave the episode a 4 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "The Righteous Gemstones is a show about American grifters, converting faith into cash through grotesque Sunday spectacles and an array of branded revenue streams, all in service of a family that amasses sins like miles on their private jets.
"[6] Dylan Roth of The New York Observer wrote, "All season on The Righteous Gemstones the family has been learning hard lessons and confronting their own selfishness and immaturity.
This week's episode, 'The Prayer of a Righteous Man', feels like graduation day, not just for the younger Gemstones but for patriarch Eli and Uncle Baby Billy, who each confront the sins of their past.
"[7] James Preston Poole of Full Circle Cinema gave the episode a perfect 10 out of 10 rating and wrote, "'The Prayer of a Righteous Man' is as strong a case as any for creators Danny McBride and Jody Hill as genuine television auteurs.
The Righteous Gemstones has a level of control with character works, gags, action, drama, and even a tinge of horror and profundity that makes it the most exciting show of this era of television.