Suits - Episode 2.11 - Blind-Sided - Preview

The second half of Suits’ second season begins on a fairly muted note. Mike, still reeling from the loss of his grandmother, doesn’t really know how to deal with much of anything. He continues to sleep with his married ex-girlfriend. He reacts exceptionally poorly to the case-of-the-week involving a potentially drunk hit-and-run, which evokes memories of the manner in which his own parents died. He even plays the dead grandmother card in order to try and gain some much-needed but definitely not deserved sympathy from Rachel. Or something. I don’t know. I guess the point is that he doesn’t really know either. He’s clearly throwing himself into his work in order to sort through a plethora of unresolved emotions about his sudden complete lack of parental figures. Something he does incredibly badly I might add. As is often repeated in this episode, Mike needs to “get his shit together”. As such, Mike spends much of his time desperately trying and sometimes failing to gain some measure of control over his life.

Blind-Sided (see, it’s a clever play on how you can be blindsided when unexpectedly struck by a car BUT ALSO by sudden emotional trauma :D) was entirely interaction-driven. Unlike season 2.0, which managed to fling itself forward at a breakneck pace reacting almost exclusively to the Daniel Hardman crisis, season 2.5 appears to be setting itself up for some more character-oriented storytelling. Not that Suits ever wasn’t character-oriented, but season 2.0 sometimes made me feel that the plot was leading the characters and not the other way around. There are certainly hints of large-scale motion to come via yet another iteration of the WILL MIKE’S LACK OF HARVARDNESS BE DISCOVERED? plot; however, this episode mostly tells us a story on a smaller scale than Suits has been used to as of late. I find this to be an entirely welcome change.


Stray Observations:

Harvey’s story allows him to explore his sweet and vulnerable side while Louis engages in some strange and yet fantastic sexual repartee. ‘Nuff said.

The writers appear to have learned how to use Donna both regularly and effectively.

The cast continues to floor me with its ability to be awesome. USA would do well to take note of what makes Suits its best show by far. Characters Welcome indeed.

I'm not particularly excited about the prospect of more Mike/Rachel will-they-or-won’t they nonsense. Maybe that’s the disdainful television cynic in me speaking, but I’m tired of such weak storytelling. Suits, you’re better than that. Also, be prepared for the most uncomfortably melodramatic and awkwardly spontaneous verbal fight scene ever.


Suits returns Thursday January 17th on USA