When Fox announced they were adapting the critically acclaimed Australian legal comedy “Rake” for American television, expectations were sky-high. The original series, starring Richard Roxburgh as the brilliantly flawed barrister Cleaver Greene, had become a cultural phenomenon in Australia, earning praise for its sharp wit and unflinching portrayal of a lawyer whose personal life was even messier than his cases.
Yet despite securing Emmy-nominated actor Greg Kinnear to lead the American version, the remake stumbled out of the gate and never recovered, lasting only 13 episodes before Fox pulled the plug. The failure raises important questions about what gets lost in translation when beloved international hits cross the Pacific.
The Original’s Secret Sauce
Australia’s “Rake” succeeded because it perfectly captured the unique flavor of Sydney’s legal world while creating a protagonist who was simultaneously despicable and sympathetic. Richard Roxburgh’s Cleaver Greene was a gambling addict, serial womanizer, and tax evader who somehow managed to be brilliant in the courtroom and oddly principled when it mattered most.
The show’s creator, Peter Duncan, drew inspiration from real-life colorful barristers he’d encountered, crafting storylines that felt authentically Australian. The series didn’t shy away from political satire or social commentary, often using Cleaver’s cases to examine contemporary issues facing Australian society.
What made the original truly special was its willingness to let its protagonist fail spectacularly. Cleaver rarely learned from his mistakes, creating a cyclical pattern of self-destruction that was both frustrating and oddly comforting to viewers who recognized their own human flaws reflected on screen.
Lost in Translation
The American adaptation, which premiered in 2014, attempted to transplant this concept to the world of Los Angeles criminal defense. Greg Kinnear stepped into the lead role as Keegan Deane, bringing his considerable acting chops to what should have been a perfect fit for his sardonic screen persona.
However, the translation process seemed to strip away much of what made the original compelling. American television’s tendency toward redemption arcs and likeable protagonists clashed with the source material’s commitment to moral ambiguity.
The show also struggled with tone, never quite deciding whether it wanted to be a procedural, a character study, or a broad comedy. While the Australian version seamlessly blended these elements, the Fox adaptation felt like it was trying to be too many things to too many different audiences.
Network Pressures and Cultural Differences
Part of the problem lay in the fundamental differences between Australian and American television cultures. The original “Rake” aired on ABC Australia, where it had the freedom to be politically incorrect and morally complex without worrying about advertiser-friendly content or broad demographic appeal.
Fox, on the other hand, needed the show to perform in one of the most competitive television landscapes in the world. This pressure likely contributed to creative decisions that softened the character’s edges and made the show more palatable but less distinctive.
The timing also worked against the series. By 2014, American audiences were already spoiled by the golden age of television, with shows like “Breaking Bad” and “Mad Men” proving that complex antiheroes could succeed. Yet “Rake” somehow failed to capture that same moral complexity that made those series compelling.
What Could Have Been
Industry insiders have suggested that the American “Rake” might have fared better on cable or a streaming platform, where it could have maintained the original’s edge without network television constraints. The show’s cancellation came at a time when Fox was struggling to find its identity in scripted programming, often favoring safe procedurals over riskier character-driven content.
Greg Kinnear himself brought considerable talent to the role, having proven his ability to play charming rogues in films like “Little Miss Sunshine” and “As Good as It Gets.” The supporting cast, including Miranda Otto and Necar Zadegan, was equally capable, suggesting that the problems lay more in execution and creative direction than in performance.
The show’s brief run also highlights the ongoing challenges facing international format adaptations. For every successful transplant like “The Office” or “Shameless,” there are numerous failures that fail to capture what made their source material special.
Legacy and Lessons Learned
The failure of American “Rake” serves as a reminder that successful adaptation requires more than simply changing accents and locations. The best remakes understand that they need to find cultural equivalents for what made the original work, rather than just translating surface elements.
Meanwhile, the original Australian series continued to thrive, ultimately running for five seasons and maintaining its critical acclaim throughout. This success only emphasized how much potential was lost in the American version’s hasty cancellation.
For Greg Kinnear, the show’s failure was likely just a minor bump in a distinguished career, but it represents a missed opportunity for American audiences to experience a truly unique legal comedy that could have stood apart from the crowded field of procedural dramas.
The story of “Rake” ultimately illustrates that sometimes the best international television content is meant to stay exactly where it originated, where cultural context and creative freedom can allow truly distinctive storytelling to flourish.
