Review: ‘The Rainmaker’ Adaptation is Good Enough to Bring Me Back to Cable

The USA Network Version of the John Grisham Best Seller Is Beating My Expectations

*** Caution: Mild Spoilers ahead***

I used to love the USA Network. It was a perfect stop in the 2000s and early 2010s with their “Blue Skies” programming. These were the campy shows like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, In Plain Sight, White Collar, Covert Affairs, and, of course, Suits. “Characters Welcome” was their theme. For some reason, they gave it all up. They went “Dark Skies” with Mr. Robot – still a huge hit – but the whimsy was gone. With their new adaptation of The Rainmaker, I can only hope they’re inching back in a direction that can appeal to the masses. I have watched the first four out of 10 episodes of Season 1 for this recap. But I mostly focus on the pilot here.

You should know that I’ve never read the book and have only seen the 1997 movie. But I will do my best not to harp on differences thus far with Francis Ford Coppola’s film, starring a pre-fame Matt Damon, Danny DeVito, and John Voight. Needless to say, there are some differences.

In the new version, our lead, law school student lawyer Rudy Baylor, is played by Milo Callaghan, a complete unknown to me. But he’s instantly a credible Rudy, even with the slightest Southern accent (though I believe he is English). He’s a good-looking kid, has a kind face – perfect for idealistic Rudy. He’s playing him with a slightly more confident “deer in headlights” than Damon did (ah, see what I did there? I promised not to compare).

Law school is nearing its end, but not before Rudy and his girlfriend, Sarah, staff a table at a “free legal help” seminar for people who can’t afford it in Charleston, SC, where this version takes place. There, they meet Dot Black, whose son Donny Ray Black died in the hospital (In this version, the Blacks are, in fact, Black. I’ll explain why I think that’s important shortly). She claims he was murdered. The hospital says he died of a drug overdose while using in the hospital. But Dot insists her son got clean and had been sober for over a year. Unfortunately, they are of no help to her, as they have to tell her that both of them will be working at Tinley Britt, the prestigious law firm that happens to represent the hospital.

On day one at Tinley Britt, Rudy readies himself in the only suit he owns, which belonged to his tragically passed older brother. He lives at home with his mom and her leech of a boyfriend, with whom Rudy gets into a physical altercation just before leaving for the office. His mom had already made clear she wants him to get his own place.

Rudy does end up in his own apartment. There, while both are getting their mail, he meets Kelly, a beautiful Latina. He introduces himself, and while she is friendly, Kelly keeps her distance. We come to learn that Kelly’s husband, Cliff, is an overly possessive abuser. In subsequent episodes, Cliff, of course, tries to intimidate a curious and protective Rudy. Kelly keeps a secret stash of cash in a bathroom drawer, which we can only assume she’s saving up to get out of Dodge. But in Episode Four, she comes to discover that Cliff has found it and taken the cash. A clash between Cliff and Rudy is inevitable.

Back to day one of work. Because of the fight, Rudy arrives late to new associate orientation with Tinley Britt’s big dog lawyer, Leo Drummond (played oh-so-Slattery-like by “Mad Men’s” John Slattery). He’s even got a bit of blood on his face and shirt. Drummond, not amused by a late-arriving rookie associate, challenges Rudy with a question: Does the system provide equal justice to all? Rudy, foolishly taking the bait, says the justice system isn’t fair to all, and cites abused women as one example that applies to. Drummond challenges back, and whether he didn’t like Rudy’s idealistic (and accurate) argument, or just the fact that he was late, fires Rudy.

He doesn’t tell his mother about the firing. She unfortunately finds out days later, when she stops by the offices of Tinley Britt to say hi. Sarah heads her off and has to deliver the unfortunate news.

Rudy, not knowing what to do, heads to the bar he was working at to pay for law school and ask for his job back. But his old boss, Prince, has another idea. Would Rudy be willing to work at a less-than-reputable law firm that he knows is hiring? Without other options, Rudy reluctantly agrees, so Prince drives him over to J. Lyman Stone & Associates. He’s not too thrilled to see they are located at an old Mexican restaurant that still has its sombrero-laden signage out front.

His partner in crime, the crafty but never-passed-the-bar associate, Deck Schifflet, is played by familiar character actor P.J. Byrne. Deck isn’t afraid to bend the rules a bit and is a committed ambulance chaser. Their boss, Jocelyn Stone, or “Bruiser,” is played by a woman in this version, Once Upon a Time’s Lana Parrilla.

Bruiser expects him to hustle for clients, and Deck takes him on rounds at the hospital, where they put business cards in the hands of every injury case they can find. But Rudy realizes something – that free from Tinley Britt, he can now represent Dot Black. He goes to her home, where she’s less than inclined to put her faith in the hands of someone that she perceives as a privileged white guy (he was, after all, going corporate when she met him. This is why I think the Black casting was effective).

But, ultimately, he persists and gets Dot to sign on with Stone & Associates. Now, do we think Sarah is happy about this? Nope. She’s still embarrassed by not only his firing, but also by the ilk he’s now associating himself with. At one point, she even tells him he has to drop this case, to which he says, “And what happens if I don’t?” I’m not sure how much longer these two have together.

Now, what I haven’t gotten to yet is a very creepy character played by the usually humorous Dan Fogler (From the Fantastic Beasts movies in the Happy Potter Universe). He plays Melvin Pritcher, who we first see fleeing his mother’s home as it burns with her inside it. Pritcher is a nurse at the hospital, and he has a penchant for poisoning and I.V. drip here or there. Certainly, he’s the one behind Donny Ray’s drug overdose.

In the episodes to come, Rudy and Deck try to build a case for Dot. Pritcher is missing, is not showing up for shifts, and is wanted for questioning. They are also looking for another nurse, Jackie Lemancyzk, who has the goods on either the hospital or Pritcher (unclear to me thus far).

Meanwhile, Sarah gets all kinds of “can you be loyal to this firm” talk from Drummond once they find out Rudy is Dot Black’s lawyer.

I’ve left plenty out for you to enjoy on your own. But for a show where you’re going to have to tolerate some ads (unless you pay for commercial-free Peacock, where it streams after each episode airs), I think it’s worth it. My only question is, if the show gets a second season, what will they do once they’ve gone past the book’s source material? I’m willing to find out.

And that’s what Todd is watching.