'The Rainmaker' Season 2 Tackles Larger Cases and Personal Dramas

The legal team at J. Lyman Stone is back for a second season of The Rainmaker, continuing their fight for the underdog. The series, based on John Grisham's novel, premiered its second season on October 16.

Season 2 ups the ante with two major cases. One case delves into the juvenile detention system through the story of Victor Suffredes, a boy confronting the system. The other brings Jocelyn “Bruiser” Stone’s ex-husband, Tom, back into her life, forcing her to confront past betrayals and emotions as she decides whether to help him. "He’s betrayed her, and she’s sort of dealing with those feelings, those past emotions and contemplating whether or not she should help him," said Lana Parrilla, who plays Bruiser.

Milo Callaghan, reprising his role as Rudy Baylor, explained that while Rudy has more opportunities after his success in Season 1, he remains committed to his roots. "We’re the underdogs and we fight the bullies. That’s kind of where (Rudy) belongs," Callaghan stated. He noted that Rudy’s meter for justice is strongly engaged by the plight of a child in one of the season’s central storylines, which also involves Deck Shifflet.

P.J. Byrne, who plays Deck, commented on the return of Bruiser’s ex-husband, stating, "Who I hate, by the way. Let’s just clarify that. I hate him."

The new season also introduces new characters. Richard Kind joins the cast as Deck’s estranged father, a relationship that provides emotional depth. "He plays my dad, and kids and their fathers sometimes can bang heads a bit. His dream was for me to be an accountant, to work with him, a father-and-son team. That doesn’t work out. But it’s just a special relationship," Byrne said of working with Kind.

Merle Dandridge joins as formidable attorney Amanda Vonn. While Vonn is portrayed as a strong adversary, Byrne described Dandridge as "lovely" and "incredible" off-screen, noting her powerful presence in courtroom scenes. "She knows how to fill a big, gigantic theater, so she can really own a courtroom. It’s kind of spectacular to watch her in action," Byrne added.

Lana Parrilla also reflected on taking on the role of Bruiser, a character who was male in the original novel. "Honestly, it was an honor. I’ve never played a man before," Parrilla said. "Being a woman brings a whole different energy, and she’s very maternal with Rudy."

The series explores the dynamic between Rudy and Sarah Plankmore (Madison Iseman), with Callaghan describing their relationship metaphorically as "a bird and a fish who fell in love." He suggested that as they mature, there might be an opportunity for them to connect on a more equal footing.

Cast members teased a surprise in the seventh episode, with Byrne humorously stating, "Episode 7, P.J. takes his shirt off, and that’s a treat."

Season 1 of The Rainmaker is available for streaming on Peacock and Prime Video. New episodes of Season 2 air Fridays on USA Network, Syfy, and E!, with next-day streaming on demand.