The Rainmaker Episode 6 quietly feels like what the USA show was always destined to be. Not much happens in the episode plot-wise, but it’s much more in the vein of the character-driven thriller that viewers originally were excited by. At the same time, it lines up all the dots for the David and Goliath-style legal showdown at the heart of the series.

From a character point of view, Episode 6 is all about Rudy Baylor reconciling his past and getting back into the legal game. Actor Milo Callaghan does some great work in the episode, as Rudy seems to make peace with the tragic death of his brother (thanks to his mom). The Rainmaker is smart not to drag his past out too long, which would have cheapened it. Instead, there’s a clear line between Rudy’s realization that he’s not his brother and his ability to step back into the ring with Tinley Britt. Audiences see his arc of finding himself again, and getting back to that stubborn character who was so interesting.

The other half of the narrative is more predictable. It’s time to admit that John Slattery is underused as Leo Drummond, and no one will be surprised that Rudy’s now ex-girlfriend Sarah Plankmore sleeps with Leo’s right-hand man Brad Noonan at the first opportunity. However, what happens afterward gives both Sarah and Brad some much-appreciated depth. Brad actually seems like a human being with his own thoughts and feelings, and not just an extension of Leo. Credit to actor Wade Briggs for imbuing him with charm and personality. As for Sarah, her entanglement with Brad (and her professional one with Tinley Britt) doesn’t stop her from asking Brad questions, or complimenting Rudy when he shows up at the deposition wearing the suit she bought him. The “nice suit” comment says so much about how she perceives Rudy now.

When Rudy has his gotcha moment in the deposition, that’s the kind of content viewers come to The Rainmaker for. They want to see Rudy Baylor going off. They want to feel his passion and watch the little guy get theirs against the big, bad corporation. Ultimately, this is a story of justice against all odds, and Callaghan nails that moment, injecting some true spark back into the show in just one scene. (It is a little disappointing that USA chose to use the moment before as their sneak peek for Episode 6—revealing some of the best part of the episode before it even started. It would’ve been cooler to let the audience experience the whole thing as a surprise.)

It’s not news that Rudy gets his job back, or that he gets one over on Drummond and Tinley Britt. The show has to substantiate that he’s as gifted a lawyer as the audience is being told, especially after his mom reveals to him (and the viewers) that Rudy got a record-setting score on his bar exam. He thus has to live up to the hype. And it isn’t a shock that Rudy is still helping Kelly Riker; that’s his personal subplot, just like Sarah has the Brad situation. But bringing her to Dot Black’s home is an efficient way for The Rainmaker to tie all of its stories together into one narrative.

And little things, like Sarah’s comment to Rudy or Brad getting rebuked by Leo, add shades of grey to characters who previously seemed so black and white. They feel more human now, making it possible that they could step out of line in the rest of the season. There may not be trucks crashing through windows or people being shot in The Rainmaker Episode 6, but there’s more to be excited about in this hour than there has been before.

The Rainmaker airs Fridays at 10:00 p.m. on USA. Photo Credit: Courtesy of USA.

Article content is (c)2020-2025 Brittany Frederick and may not be excerpted or reproduced without express written permission by the author. Follow me on Twitter at @BFTVTwtr and on Instagram at @BFTVGram. For story pitches, contact me at tvbrittanyf@yahoo.com.