ITV aired the first episode of the US legal drama The Rainmaker on Friday 28 August, and viewers were quick to share their thoughts on social media. The show, based on the best-selling novel by John Grisham, will air weekly and is also available to stream on ITVX.
Plot and Cast
The synopsis teases: "Based on the best-selling novel by John Grisham, Rudy Baylor, who is fresh out of law school, goes head-to-head with courtroom lion Leo Drummond as well as his law school girlfriend, Sarah. Rudy, along with his boss, Bruiser, and her disheveled paralegal, Deck, uncover two connected conspiracies surrounding the mysterious death of their client’s son."
Episode one saw young attorney Rudy Baylor, fresh out of law school, confront Leo F Drummond in a medical malpractice case. The star-studded cast includes Rivals actor Milo Callaghan as Rudy Baylor, Mad Men legend John Slattery as Leo Drummond, Once Upon a Time's Lana Parrilla as Jocelyn "Bruiser" Stone and Jumanji star Madison Iseman as Sarah Plankmore.
Viewer Reactions
After Friday's first episode, viewers took to Twitter, now X, to share their opinions. One person said: "Liking it so far #TheRainmaker." Another account wrote: "This isn’t bad.. or so the first ep seems #therainmaker" while a third viewer added: "I love legal dramas. Especially Grisham ones #TheRainmaker!"
Reception and Renewal
The Rainmaker was first released in the US in 2025, receiving rave reviews at the time. The first series scored an impressive 84% on Rotten Tomatoes, with fans praising the 'outstanding' legal drama. One person said: "This is one of the best shows I've seen this year. Anyone interested in a nice show should try it. For this one don't judge by the rating. Trust me. Its one of the best shows you will find this year, 2025."
The show has been confirmed and renewed for a second series. The Rainmaker is available to watch on ITV and ITVX from Friday 28 August.
