Here’s how you can watch American Rust, along with how many episodes the drama series consists of. Created by Dan Futterman, and based on Philipp Meyer’s debut novel of the same name, American Rust is a family drama that examines the faded American dream by following the life of complicated and compromised police chief Del Harris (Jeff Daniels). Living in a Rust Belt town, located in southwest Pennsylvania, Del finds himself forced to confront what he’s willing to do when the woman he loves sees that her son is accused of murder.
American Rust boasts a talented cast. Along with Daniels, who was recently headlined The Comey Rule, the adaptation stars Maura Tierney (The Affair), David Alvarez (Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story), Bill Camp (The Leftovers), Alex Neustaedter (Colony), Mark Pellegrino (Supernatural), Rob Yang (Succession), and Julia Mayorga in her first major role. Behind the camera, Futterman’s credits include writing The Looming Tower and co-writing the Steve Carrell film Foxcatcher.
American Rust can be watched on Showtime. The adaptation can also be watched with a subscription to Hulu, with an additional cost of $10.99 to add Showtime to the bundle. Viewers who haven’t signed up to Showtime’s streaming service have the option of joining for a 30-day free trial. After that, the Showtime subscription will cost $10.99 per month. Additionally, for those curious to sample the show, the first full episode is available for free on YouTube.
American Rust consists of nine episodes, with the first premiering on September 12. The series will air new episodes weekly on Sundays from 10 PM ET/PT, which means that that the final episode is scheduled to premiere on Sunday, November 7.
Reviews for American Rust have generally been negative, with critics pointing to the adaptation’s clunky dialogue and derivative aspects. It’s also been argued that, rather than moving at the pace of a propulsive murder mystery, the Showtime series is slow and too frequently focuses on the misery that surrounds the main characters. It’s similar to complaints that have been leveled at Netflix’s Hillbilly Elegy, which unfolded in a struggling American town, and was largely panned for failing to tell an authentic story.
More positively, the cast has garnered praise for their performances. In particular, it’s noted that Daniels is strong in his lead role and helps to elevate the material he’s given. It’s also stressed that the drama aims for a story that is worth telling, even though it may stumble in the execution. With more than one way to check out American Rust, audiences have the chance to judge the adaptation for themselves.