SPOILER ALERT: The following contains spoilers for The Rainmaker Episode 9.

The next-to-last episode of The Rainmaker finally starts the Great Benefit trial, while also tying up loose ends from the rest of the series. It’s here that the USA show’s deliberate pacing is truly showing itself. Eight hours of plotting and arguing comes to a head—but the episode feels slower and quieter than ever.

Audiences are likely expecting a tense, dramatic trial after all of the build-up. There are some moments that feel that way. It’s appalling when Sarah Plankmore cross-examines Jackie Lemancyzk, and also when she attempts to get Jackie’s ex-boyfriend’s wife to sue Jackie. Anyone who had any doubt about Madison Iseman‘s character has it erased by how Sarah behaves in this episode. It makes her less interesting, but it’s also expected—because the emotional arc of the show has always been building to Sarah vs. Rudy Baylor, from the very first episode.

Yet the trial doesn’t pop with a lot of energy. Rudy reminds everyone what a novice he is by using his opening statement to introduce a murder claim at a medical malpractice trial. But when the judge calls everyone into her chambers afterward, it just feels like a kid being called into the principal’s office. Leo Drummond has the same cold deliberation in the courtroom that he does when throwing Brad Noonan to the wolves. Viewers may find themselves wanting a more dramatic scene like they’re used to from the Law & Order franchise.

The scenes outside of the trial are where The Rainmaker shines. P.J. Byrne has his best scene of the season when Deck Shifflet attempts to give Rudy a motivational speech, telling Rudy that he sees the man he wanted to be. It is so nice to see Deck in a moment that isn’t primarily comic relief. Audiences see more of Karen Bryson as Dot Black. There’s also an important confrontation between Bruiser Stone and Prince, deservedly calling out the latter for turning his back on Rudy and taking Leo’s money. Lana Parrilla continues to be the best thing about this show.

Episode 9 also has two major plot developments: Jane is back working for Tinley Britt after Brad fired her, and she repays the favor by taking incriminating photos of Brad for Leo. Brad, who seemed to be gaining relevance in the middle of the season, is now back to being a sideline character. Leo demotes him to third chair in favor of Sarah and makes clear that Brad is disposable. And in the final moments of the hour, viewers see what happened to Rosalie Sutton. It is as tragic as everyone predicted it would be.

The Rainmaker is crossing everythng off its list, but it’s doing so in a methodical way that makes the whole show feel more like Leo Drummond than Rudy Baylor. The two-part season finale should be when emotions are at their highest, yet the biggest emotion in Episode 9 is sadness over Rosalie. The reveal of Pritcher being turned over to Rudy should ensure more fireworks in Episode 10—and that’s exactly what the series needs. It has to make one final push to the finish line, and beyond.

At this point it’s harder to see what would be left for The Rainmaker Season 2. Would Rudy just go on to try another big case? Some of the characters obviously couldn’t come back. The personal stakes with Rudy’s and Bruiser’s pasts would no longer be relevant. Kelly Riker is out of the picture. It’s perfectly fine if the show just wants to tell one good David and Goliath story. Yet if it wants to become another cornerstone series for USA, then it also has to look ahead. What will keep audiences rooting for Rudy Baylor? And what can get them on the edge of their seats? Episode 9 flirts with answering those questions, but it never gets there.

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

Article content is (c)2020-2026 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.