The Rainmaker is failing its most promising character

With only two episodes left before the first season of USA Network’s The Rainmaker draws to a close, it’s disappointing to see how substantially the series has failed its most promising and exciting character: Jocelyn “Bruiser” Stone (Once Upon a Time’s Lana Parrilla). The series, based on the similarly-titled novel by John Grisham, follows law school graduate Rudy Baylor (Milo Callaghan) as he steps into the workforce… and immediately finds himself fired from the most prestigious firm in Charleston, South Carolina. With other firms in the area no longer hiring new associates, Rudy is directed to so-called ambulance chaser Bruiser, who has a rather formidable reputation around town and has set up shop in an abandoned fast-food joint. Unfortunately, despite her prominence in the posters and trailer, Bruiser has been almost completely misused or underutilized, which is a blatant waste of potential and weakens an otherwise great show.

The greatest issue is the developing relationship between Rudy and Bruiser. Though Bruiser’s not the mentor Rudy expected he’d have as a fresh-faced attorney, she has a deep history in the field. Unfortunately, The Rainmaker isn’t interested in that, dismissing Bruiser constantly—both by Rudy and the writing, in general—and is set on exalting Rudy, even when he is obviously and painfully wrong. On the frequent occasion he’s mistaken about how to handle something, Rudy doesn’t learn from his actions; rather, his actions are justified by the story. So, he ultimately learns zero lessons and isn’t forced to reckon with his flaws and mistakes or grow from them. This wouldn’t necessarily be a problem if it weren’t at the cost of Bruiser and cementing her as the force of nature we’ve been repeatedly told she is. Rudy and Bruiser are constantly at odds about how to handle things, and he consistently disrespects Bruiser and her hard-learned knowledge. He’s the untouchable hero, no matter what, continuously screwing things up even after Bruiser warns him exactly how these things will all blow up in his face.

Instead of Bruiser becoming Rudy’s mentor, they’re the classic definition of frenemies. They’ve become closer with each episode, and it seems like there’s some level of respect, yet that never plays out in the story. Bruiser isn’t always right—she’s only human, is driven by her own issues, and has been stuck in her somewhat unsavory ways—but it seems that, to The Rainmaker, Bruiser is never right. Rudy always is. Why would Rudy respect Bruiser for the formidable attorney she’s supposed to be when that’s never played out on the screen? This twisted dynamic has tainted a relationship that could have been utterly fascinating, missing out on opportunities for normal and necessary conflict about how to handle cases/clients that is elevated by both having a healthy, mutual respect for the other. It has become increasingly clear that Bruiser and Rudy have much to learn from each other to become better attorneys and better people. However, the progression of the story has all but shattered that possibility. There’s no ground to stand on when Rudy isn’t concerned with growth and Bruiser is constantly put at a disadvantage.

This lack of mentorship is all the more noticeable in comparison to Rudy’s former classmate and girlfriend, Sarah (Madison Iseman). Awkwardly, they were both supposed to work at Tinley Britt, but Sarah continued after Rudy’s firing. Thanks to her own intelligence and, let’s face it, her connection to Rudy and this case against the hospital, Sarah quickly found herself taken under the wings of the firm’s top attorney Leo Drummond (John Slattery) and his underling Brad (Wade Briggs). None of them is right all the time, despite Leo believing he’s always right, and there’s a healthy mix of Sarah improving as an attorney due to their advice and coming to terms with what she is and isn’t willing to do. While there are certainly issues with Sarah’s storyline as well, it provides constant conflict amid the internal battle waging within Sarah. More importantly, we’re seeing her naivety addressed. Meanwhile, Rudy is just as green and naive, and Bruiser is portrayed as the villain who’s crushing Rudy’s spirit and holding him back when she justifiably calls it out, further worsening the lackluster dynamic between them.

Outside of the dynamic with Rudy and their pursuit of the season-long case against the hospital, there has been too little of Bruiser, and her individual storyline leaves something to be desired. Aside from a brief visit with her father in prison early on, Bruiser felt like a recurring character—rather than the second-billed star—until the seventh episode, when she has to (spoiler alert) step up as Rudy’s attorney and keep him out of jail. This is the first and only time Bruiser has been allowed to fully showcase her intelligence and skills without being overshadowed by Rudy. Not to mention it’s the first time she’s fought back against Rudy’s inveterate blunders and has been hailed as the hero in the story. Now, after finally establishing a rapport with Rudy, Bruiser is facing similar difficulties from her commanding and shady father, J. Lyman Stone (Vincenzo Nicoli).

Having just been released from prison, he returns to take control back of the firm, “his” firm, that Bruiser has kept afloat for years. Additionally, he immediately throws her under the bus and tries to settle their case against the client’s—and Bruiser’s—wishes. Like Rudy, he has no respect for what she’s accomplished or what she’s capable of. Sure, it’s different coming from her father than a new attorney who hasn’t even passed the bar, but it’s still undermining this character and contradicting everything we’ve been told. Do the writers of The Rainmaker even know who Bruiser is?

Regrettably, not even an interesting story or Parrilla’s charisma and ability to make just about anything play on-screen manage to lessen the obvious waste of potential and neglectful writing here. I’m still completely invested in The Rainmaker, and it’s otherwise a fantastic show, but this aspect is such a disappointment. It’s unlikely anything could significantly change in the last two episodes of the season. But, here’s hoping it will be renewed for another—which seems probable given how well the show is performing—and there’s a major shift in the writing with respect to Bruiser.