Due to the usual remake that adds copious amounts of substituted water and sawdust.Don't blame the recipe, blame the wannabe cooks.Greg Kinnear is just too bland and nice to fill the lead role. The original Rake* is so much the author of his own self destruction, but still retains sufficient redeeming qualities to tip us over to forgiving the flaws, just as his many loves do.The US version doesn't fill the rakish side sufficiently for us to care whether we forgive him or not. It all reminds me of those unfortunate wannabe clowns who think a cheap frizzy colored wigs, red nose and big shoes are all it takes. The timing, wit and novelty, having all whizzed right over their heads.This pale version has not just whizzed over my (indifferent) head, but the heads of the puzzled US audience for whom it is all too strange and unpredictable, despite the attempted remake to do just that. Not frighten the trite sensibilities of middle America, thus rendering the whole exercise pointless.*It occurs to me having read some of the other reviews that most Americans do not even understand the real meaning of "rake" as it is used here. Therein lies the problem.

People, wake up!!! Can't you see that Rake is here? In the past year of the new flood of boring, meaningless TV shows (with the exception of a few) Rake leaves a mark on your mind that refuses to go away. Greg Kinnear at a career best portrays Keegan Deane in a way you won't think it's Kee(as he is called) but you'd think of him as a part of Kinnear. The rest of the cast also does an amazing job but it's Greg's show through and through. You could never get tired of watching this show. It is imperfection at its best. This is not your average legal drama. This has a new case every week but the constant factor is Kee. Kee's women also make the show what it is. There is Miranda Otto who plays Kee's ex- wife. There is Tara Summers who plays his secretary. There is Bojana Novakovic who plays a prostitute Keegan is in love with. Necar Zadegan plays his one of his best friends who he fights cases against. This show is about raw masculinity which we all either totally loath or we love. This show's tagline should have been ''IT's A MAN's MAN's MAN's WORLD.'' Greg steals the show and then some. You will eagerly wait for the next week just to watch Rake. I absolutely love Rake. It is the reason I am a couch potato.

You know, people have almost a religious view on remakes - it's a human trait to do this - I LOVED the Swedish "Bridge" and the US "Bridge" - the remake was familiar, but in the end, it stood by itself, and while some of the changes we're unexpected/annoying, the show was great.Likewise with Rake - It look me a few watched to get used to the Aus Rake in 2008 for me, and found the US like that too, and to expect the US Rake to be anything other than it is, is ODD... it's great, they have kept most of the really excellent sub-plots (such as the son's love life), and re-worked the crimes plot lines really quite successfully (considering how different the US legal system. So - US viewer - watch and love, Aus viewer who can't watch this within it's context - stay away, and let the US fall in love with a wonderful character and complex plotting (as in, nice use of shelving between episodes).

I have not see the original Aussie version, which is fine with me. Kinnear is perfect and brilliant in this show. It stands on its own. I am absolutely riveted and I love the smart, witty writing and excellent acting. Every character and every actor is perfection. The women are complex and not your typical female stereotypes. The relationship he has with the bookie's "hitman" for lack of a better word, is hilarious. I laugh harder than most other shows I watch. I have no idea how anyone could not at the very least appreciate this show. I really hope the network will give it time to develop and not cancel it because some snobs can't see how great it is. More marketing is needed too!