The Rainmaker Season 1 Episode 7 Review: A Rushed Storyline Becomes a Missed Opportunity

Though Rudy is back with J. Lymon Stone, the focus of The Rainmaker Season 1 Episode 7 is on his efforts to help Kelly. 

What we know of Rudy’s backstory suggests that his desire to help a battered woman goes deeper than being a good person. He’s seen abuse first-hand, and in fact, his need to stop abusers is ultimately what gets him fired from Tinley Britt on the first episode. 

More development of those ideas would be welcome, then, considering the lengths he goes to in order to protect Kelly. He doesn’t just find her what he thinks will be a safe place to stay, but also buys a gun from Prince — all details that deserve to be explored more.

The benefit of a TV series, is, after all, a chance to expand a bit on things the film adaptation couldn’t.

Yet, a major storyline that could have made for truly compelling television is wrapped up far too quickly. There are some fun moments with Kelly and Dot, dancing and cooking in the kitchen, and Rudy being a part of that levity as well. 

But then, Cliff finds Kelly sooner than seems reasonable, and after he appears in the bathroom behind Kelly, we’re rushed right to the reveal that Rudy has been arrested for murder the murder of Kelly’s husband.

We do wind up seeing much of the fight in flashbacks later, but cutting right to that reveal from Deck is wildly disappointing. 

It’s a common issue with the series, it seems, considering it handles the struggle between Melvin Pritcher, Jackie, and Amber. 

Rather than spending any time on Rudy’s case or the emotional effects, we’re rushed through the motions. Even the surprise of Bruiser and Deck figuring out from the crime scene that Rudy isn’t actually the person who killed Cliff is done a bit too quickly.

From there, Bruiser confronts Rudy and Kelly, and Kelly is convinced to come clean about being the one who fired the gun. With some help from Dot as well, Bruiser makes the case to the DA that the charges should be dropped.

After all, Cliff was a known abuser, and this was obvious self-defense. It’s even more of an “open and shut case” for Kelly than it would have been if Rudy had killed him. 

The story itself is compelling, but this could have all been explored in more detail, with higher stakes and more emotion, had it not been resolved so quickly. Even worse, Kelly says goodbye to Rudy at the end of the episode. 

All of that said, this ordeal offers a chance for Rudy and Dot to connect further, and more importantly, for Rudy and Bruiser to do the same.

No matter how she’s seen Rudy in the past, it’s clear that she’ll do what she has to in order to protect one of her own. The way she goes to bat for Rudy, even paying his bail, is really endearing.

Meanwhile, Sarah continues to work on the lawsuit for Tinley Britt, and she uncovers some hard truths when she talks to Charlie. She’s realizing that she is, in fact, on the wrong side of this thing. 

She’s being manipulated by Leo, and from what we see at the end of the episode, there are even more nefarious things going on beneath the surface.

 

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The Rainmaker airs Fridays at 10/9c on USA.

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