Prayers for Bobby

If you want a drama that takes its characters as seriously as its plot, Prayers for Bobby is available in the US on Hulu and Lifetime Movie Club right now. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. An 8/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Sigourney Weaver's performance alone is worth the time investment. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Hulu.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Prayers for Bobby earns its spot. Prayers for Bobby takes its time building the world its characters inhabit, and the patience pays off. Bobby Griffith was his mother's favorite son, the perfect all-American boy growing up under deeply religious influences in Walnut Creek, California. Bobby was also gay. Struggling with a conflict no one knew of, much less understood, Bobby finally came out to his family. Sigourney Weaver and Henry Czerny lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2009. Prayers for Bobby resists tidy resolutions in a way that respects how messy real consequences actually are. The hit rate here is high enough that skipping ahead never feels like an option.

Drama fans who appreciate slow-burn storytelling will feel right at home with Prayers for Bobby. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Sigourney Weaver is the centre of it, and it is one of their strongest performances on record. The patience it asks of you early on is paid back with interest.