Be forewarned, the new TV series “The Rainmaker” is not Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Rainmaker” of 1997. This streaming series on USA is a new iteration for modern-day audiences, many of whom prefer to stay home and watch movies and stream TV series on the small screen.
The new “Rainmaker” stars Milo Callaghan as Rudy Baylor (“Dune: Prophecy”), the crusading attorney portrayed by Matt Damon in the feature film. Baylor is an idealistic attorney who fights for the downtrodden. Early on in the series, Baylor has a significant other named Jocelyn “Bruiser” Stone (Lana Parrilla), who’s also an attorney and worked in the same law firm as Baylor.
On his first day of work, Baylor gets beat up on his way to the office. The boss is not too pleased with his appearance since he’s wearing a rumpled, blood-smeared white dress shirt.
Baylor turns out to be too much of a good guy to work for non-ethical attorneys, so he signs on with an unpretentious, more likable law firm across town, which offices in a former taco shack.
He’s hired on the spot by Stone because she senses he knows his stuff.
The “Rainmaker” plot unfolds in Charleston, South Carolina, although the series is filmed in Ireland.
Callaghan, a seasoned TV actor, is credible as Baylor. Dan Fogler, who was likable as Marvin Goldberg in “The Goldbergs” on TV, is low-key serial killer Melvin Pritcher, who brings grievous bodily harm in this character about-face. He’s not the kind of guy you’d like to meet walking down the street in this one.
This is a series that I like, but I don’t love it.
It’s not exactly must-see TV, but it’s entertaining enough.
“The Rainmaker,” which premiered on USA Network on Aug. 15, debuts new episodes Fridays at 9 p.m.
For people looking to stream the show on demand, Coppola’s series can also be seen on Peacock with a paid subscription.
Grade: B+
