During the 1990s and early 2000s, it seemed like there was always a new film adaptation of a John Grisham novel coming out, as he had become well-known for providing Hollywood with compelling legal dramas. Whether you were catching A Time to Kill, The Runaway Jury, or The Pelican Brief in the theaters, you knew you were in for a thrilling ride. A few of his books have also been adapted for television, including The Client (which aired from 1995 to 1996) and The Firm (a one-season series from 2011). But it’s The Rainmaker, a new iteration of one of Grisham’s most famous works that has been a huge streaming hit, and has already been renewed for a second season.
What Is ‘The Rainmaker’ About?
The Rainmaker, which premiered on the USA network on August 15, follows a young man named Rudy Baylor (Milo Callaghan) who has just finished law school. Along with his girlfriend, Sarah Plankmore (Madison Iseman), the two eager lawyers start work at a prestigious law firm run by the legendary legal shark, Leo F. Drummond (played by Mad Men alum, John Slattery). On their very first day, Rudy ends up becoming enemies with Leo, and is harshly fired. He doesn’t want to give up his dream of becoming a lawyer though, so he ends up joining forces with the rag-tag team of J. Lyman Stone. His new boss, Jocelyn “Bruiser” Stone (played by Once Upon a Time‘s Evil Queen, Lana Parilla), is a great legal mind in her own right — she just happens to have a lot less polish than Leo. The law firm is not what you would necessarily call respectable (they’re operating out of a rundown former Mexican restaurant), but they take on clients that might not fit in at a wealthy firm but still need help.
Rudy quickly lands his first client, a woman named Dot Black (Karen Bryson), who claims that the hospital where her son died is covering up something. Her son had a long history with addiction problems, and the hospital insists that he died of a drug overdose. But Dot knows her son, and says that he was clean at the time he went into the hospital. She senses something nefarious has gone down. Rudy, Bruiser, and their right-hand man, Deck Shifflet (P.J. Byrne) start to investigate and discover that the hospital is represented by none other than Leo’s firm. Rudy must go up against his girlfriend, Sarah, and Leo in court, as well as do his best to uncover the truth of what actually happened to Dot’s son. Leo has unlimited resources, but Rudy makes up for it with his passion and fighting spirit. The case unfolds throughout the season, with plenty of intriguing plot points along the way, but Rudy’s fight for justice is what makes this show so fun to watch.
‘The Rainmaker’ Is a Fun, Fast-Paced Legal Thriller
As the first season plays out, there are lots of twists and turns in the storytelling, as Rudy and his buddies look into what the hospital might be covering up. A fascinating character named Melvin Pritcher (Dan Fogler) is also introduced, and his connection to Dot’s son helps shape the narrative. Rudy also strikes up a friendship with a mysterious woman living in his building, and this storyline injects even more compelling drama to keep things interesting. Throughout it all, Rudy remains a protagonist that you can’t help but root for. All of these threads tie together and raise the stakes so that every one of the 10 episodes feels like a heart-pumping, must-watch.
The Rainmaker might not have an impressive track record with critics (its Rotten Tomatoes score is a little dismal), but it totally tracks that the series has an 87% audience score on the site. There are aspects of the show that feel a bit predictable, but it’s still definitely worth binge-watching. This drama doesn’t require you to think too hard, and sometimes you just need to watch a feel-good show where you hope the good guy is going to triumph in the end. Plus, there are a lot of major changes from the novel and from the 1997 film starring Matt Damon (Mickey Rourke played Bruiser in that one), so even if you’ve partaken in those projects, this version still has plenty to offer.
‘The Rainmaker’s Solid Performances Make This Legal Drama a Fun Watch
What elevates The Rainmaker from a simple legal procedural are the impressive performances from the cast. Slattery is a perfect villain, who brilliantly creates Leo as the embodiment of why people hate lawyers so much. Slattery makes it easy to detest the slimy and manipulative Leo, but his stellar acting also makes it so you can’t wait to see him pop up on your screen again. Parilla is also outstanding as Bruiser; she expertly portrays the savvy, street-smart lawyer who uses her charm and beauty to get what she wants (on her own terms, of course). The show especially crackles with the scenes that bring these two actors together. Leo and Bruiser clearly have a complicated history, and Slattery and Parrilla nail their characters’ rivalry and animosity towards each other.
But it’s not just these well-known actors who bring The Rainmaker to life. Callaghan makes it easy to root for Rudy (even when he’s making impetuous, and often dumb, decisions), and Byrne is a perfect fit as Rudy’s lovable sidekick. He provides much of the comedic relief, and the fact that he’s eating something in every scene he’s in provides some much-needed levity throughout the season. There’s not a bad actor in the bunch, which ensures that The Rainmaker strays from a stale legal drama into a sparkling, addictive show.
The Rainmaker ended its first season on October 17, and although Rudy’s case was wrapped up neatly, we still want to see these characters again. It was announced last week that The Rainmaker would be back for Season 2. There’s no word yet on who will for sure return from the cast, or what type of case will be covered, but this legal drama is just begging you to binge-watch Season 1 before it returns.
Season 1 of The Rainmaker is available to stream on Peacock in the U.S.
- Release Date
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August 15, 2025
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Milo Callaghan
Rudy Baylor
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Lana Parrilla
Jocelyn ‘Bruiser’ Stone
