Rake

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A 2010 Australian comedy series about the antics of an irascible, self-destructive lawyer operating in the Sydney CBD - Mr Cleaver Greene, portrayed by Richard Roxburgh.

The series is a slow-burning comedy set within the justice system of New South Wales, and each episode revolves around peculiar or well-publicized court cases that grab Cleaver's attention. In addition to his ongoing rebellion against the justice system, subplots about his relationship with ex-prostitute "Missy", his ongoing battle against the Tax Office, his mounting debt to somewhat dubious figures and the dissolving relationship between his best friend and and his friend's wife.

The series is noted for its well-written episodes (they manage to avoid most of the legal jargon seen in other court shows), and strong acting (with plenty of guest stars every episode).

Tropes used in Rake include:

• All Star Supporting Cast: Hugo Weaving as a cannibal in the first episode and Sam Neil as a doctor who as a three-way with the family dog are probably the biggest name guest stars but by no means all
• Amoral Attorney: Cleaver Greene - being an extremely proficient lawyer, Cleaver will twist the rules, consult outside sources and even SLEEP with his clients if he thinks it'll help.
  • played with while he does some pretty amoral things he's shown to have genuine moral compass that prevents him from defending people who don't deserve his help like Eddie Langhorn or Mick Corella.
• Becoming the Mask / Secret Identity Identity: Missy goes through a variation of this.
• Butt Monkey: Cleaver Greene sometimes he deserves some of the things that happen and sometimes he doesn't.
• But You Screw One Dog: In a case Ripped from the Headlines Cleaver Defends a man charged with having Three-Way Sex with the family dog and his wife.
• Driven to Suicide: Joe Sandilands after it is revealed that he used to visit a brothel.
• Hooker With a Heart of Gold: Melissa "Missy" Partridge used to be one of these and much of her plot is about covering this fact up
• Idiosyncratic Episode Naming: Each episode is named after a character Cleaver defends.
• I'm a Humanitarian: Professor Graham Murray in the pilot. Unlike most examples of the trope, Murray is not villainous nor murderous, instead being rather curious and regretful of his culinary choices.
• Mad Artist: Denny Lorton the accused in one episode killed a Rent Boy in the name of art.
• Mood Whiplash: In the second episode, one scene shows David and Melissa having a humorous discussion about Melissa's fictitious relative Angus. The next scene has David getting shot twice in an attempted murder.
• The Nicknamer: Cleaver Greene
• Teacher-Student Romance: Fuzzy, Cleaver's son, has a relationship with his english teacher which lasts until she drops him for a younger boy.
• Triang Relations: Cleaver<- Missy ->David "Harry" Potter
  • It's sort of resolved in the Season 1 finale.
• Your Cheating Heart: Frequently.