Aahana Swrup
Showrunner Michael Seitzman’s ‘The Rainmaker’ is a thrilling legal drama series that follows a young law student’s early foray into the world of lawsuits, settlements, and courtroom battles. Rudy Baylor is fresh out of law school and teed up for a future as an associate at one of the most esteemed law firms around. However, one bad first impression promptly sends his promising future packing. Nonetheless, the aspiring lawyer remains undeterred, unwilling to give up on his dreams even if it means working for J. Lyman Stone and Associates, which is, at best, a dubious and unreputable practice.
However, instead of resorting to personal injury cases, which are his boss Jocelyn Stone, aka Bruiser’s speciality, Rudy gears up for a fight with the best of the best: his old employers. Thus, with a lawsuit involving medical malpractice and suspected murder cover-up, he dares to enter the courtroom against Leo F. Drummond. In following a tense legal rivalry and a professional coming-of-age story, the show remains ripe with an engaging and grounded narrative foundation.
The Rainmaker is Based on a John Grisham Novel
‘The Rainmaker’ holds no direct inspirations in real life. Instead, its biggest source material remains John Grisham’s riveting eponymous novel. The TV show adaptation brings the same characters as its literary counterpart to the screen, building upon a similar narrative. The central characters, Rudy Baylor, Deck Shifflet, Jocelyn ‘Bruiser’ Stone, and even the central plaintiff, Dot Black, all retain bookish equivalents in Grisham’s work. However, this recognizable sense of similarity between the latter and its on-screen adaptation doesn’t extend to the same extent in terms of plot and storylines. The novel, which came out in 1995, presents a different story, much more relevant to its period-appropriate socio-political landscape.
Grisham’s book is notably recognized as a significant critique of the darker aspects of the legal world. It primarily focuses on themes of fraud in the insurance industry as well as other aspects of the justice system. Perhaps part of the reason it resonates as such with the audience in terms of realism remains its partially autobiographical origins. Even though ‘The Rainmaker’ is a fictional creation of the author’s imagination, he has previously spoken about the real-life inspirations behind the book’s creation. In a conversation with Coverage Opinions, Grisham spoke about the same and said, “I was a small-time lawyer representing poor people, and we were always at war with insurance companies. That, plus they are easy targets.” He further added, “‘The Rainmaker’ was based on a real case. Writers are nothing but thieves.” Thus, part of the original story’s inspiration stemmed from the author’s realistic and first-hand experiences with the justice system.
Michael Seitzman’s show remains conscious of this element of Grisham’s novel. The latter’s position as an executive producer on the project further underlines the same effort. Even so, the show still retains significant departures from its bookish counterpart. For one, the central legal dispute doesn’t tackle a bigger system problem at play. Instead, it unravels a much more concentrated medical/corporate mystery surrounding the death of a young man. While this route has its own benefits, shedding light on themes of corporate greed and misconduct, it notably sets the on-screen adaptation away from its source material. Thus, ultimately, between mining influence for its characters and storytelling beats from Grisham’s novel, and blazing its own narrative path, ‘The Rainmaker’ presents a unique legal drama.
Leo F. Drummond is a Fictional Lawyer
Much like the show itself, Leo F. Drummond also remains a work of fiction. The character, lifted from the pages of John Grisham’s novel, sports no direct real-life counterparts. Thus, his characterization can be credited to the original author, showrunner Michael Seitzman, and his band of screenwriters. Interestingly enough, the show’s Leo Drummond, whom John Slattery brings to life, presents a second on-screen adaptation for the character. Grisham’s 1995 novel was previously adapted for the screen in a 1997 film helmed by filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola. In the movie, the legendary Jon Voight fulfills the role of Drummond, the seasoned lawyer whom Matt Damon’s young Rudy Baylor goes up against.
The film finds a relatively more faithful adaptation of Grisham’s novel. As such, Voight’s Drummond remains more reflective of his bookish inspiration. However, Slattery’s Leo takes a slightly different route. As a result, a difference in narrative elements allows the latter to distinguish himself as a distinct personality of his own. For the most part, the reputed lawyer informs the show’s David vs. Goliath narrative. Leo enters the narrative as a well-established, well-seasoned attorney who has influence and a reputation in the industry. As a result, Rudy’s decision to go against him despite the unadvantageous odds stacked against him captivates the audience from the get-go. Furthermore, Leo’s ability to rely on unfair monetary advantages to rob people like Dot Black offers a realistic critique of the real world. Nonetheless, outside of the same, the character holds no direct roots in reality.
Jocelyn “Bruiser” Stone is a Genderbent Version of a Literary Character
Jocelyn Stone, better known as Bruiser, is also a fictional character who is confined within the world of ‘The Rainmaker.’ Similar to the other characters, she also retains a literary counterpart in John Grisham’s eponymous work. However, she charts a distinguished path among her peers as the only genderbent character in the central band of protagonists. In the novel, Bruiser is actually a man named J. Lyman “Bruiser” Stone. Seemingly, in the show, this title is shifted onto Jocelyn Stone’s long-departed father. Yet, this only exists as a subtle nod to the original characters. In every other aspect, Jocelyn herself, rather than her father, stands as a counterpart for Grisham’s literary character.
Bruiser’s on-screen narrative remains closely connected to her bookish inspiration. Furthermore, her work as a respectable but shady personal injury lawyer also presents a different, less glamorous perspective of the legal industry. In real life, there are many practices, much like hers, that remain primarily involved in petty injury cases and promise a quick buck. However, instead of showcasing the same in a negative light, as has been the historical norm, Bruiser’s character presents a more nuanced version of the matter. Reportedly, actress Lana Parrilla prepared for the role by brushing up on her ‘The Rainmaker’ lore. After landing the role, she read Grisham’s novel and watched the Francis Ford Coppola film, in which Mickey Rourke portrays the same role.
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