The third episode of Suits paints the picture of how the rest of the season will go on. Power struggle is a running theme on the show, but it seems it will come to surface again; and together with how partnerships works, makes the episode one of the most interesting ones to watch.
For as long as I've been covering this show I've written about the characters dynamics and how the show answers a lot to the shifts in them. Until now this season has been delivering not only with its scripts, but with how the staging of it is working on its favor.
Harvey's struggle with himself will be the main plot alongside Jack Soloff's plan for this first part of season 5. No refills deals with these conflicts and the new forming alliances.
Last week's episode, set the ground for a new relationship between Jessica and Rachel, the writers not only moved further into this, but made Jessica acknowledge Rachel's potential. Them working together might exactly be what the show needed in terms of female development. Seeing Jessica as a role model and tutoring someone will be exciting. (Not to mention this might be the first episode of Suits that passed the Bechtel test)
Mike having Robert Zane as co counsel helps him to grow as a lawyer, and also to have his father in law knowing him better. Which might develop into another huge conflict near the end, but let's not worry about that yet. This additionally works to feed Harvey's abandonment issues that Jessica is not subtle to point out.
Harvey is a mess. His insecurities are right on the surface, and even if Gretchen has his back, and he sees his therapist again, it doesn't seem like a coincidence that the only one that isn't forging new alliances is him. Until the end, until he makes progress in his therapy session, and listens to Gretchen and her advice on panic attacks. Harvey's problem is that he doesn't open up to the people he cares about, so little statements of affection are steps into the right direction for him to live more fully. Which, I feel, is another recurring theme this season: life outside work.
Harvey's evolution this season might have felt off during the premiere, but as long as he keeps touching the traumas he has been avoiding his whole adult life it's easier to empathize with the character. The construction of the scene when he has his panic attack, the strangeness made by the lens of choice, accentuated by the photography and Macht's performance is the perfect example someone could you give in film school to express the inner conflict of a character.
Louis and Donna's relationship has been established. She's his voice of reasoning, and he's honest with her. He tries to back out from Soloff's war against Harvey, but he's been blackmailed, and at the same time the episode ends with Harvey giving him and ultimatum. If he ever goes after him again, Harvey we'll bury him. Harvey doesn't really learn that the hard way is not the way to make amends with Louis but he's not in a good place. It looks like that by the end of the season this will go the same way their fight with Hardman did; bringing the characters closer. If this happens I hope it stays that way in season 6. What about you, are you happy with how the plot has been developing so far?
Sidenotes
- There was nothing wrong with Rachel's dress.
- The firm should be called Pearson - I don't need a named partner, boys mess things up.
- Dr Agard and Gretchen might be just what Harvey needed to grow up.
- Harvey imagining Donna in his therapy session, and what she might answered made huge progress into their story line,being this the first time he sees things from her point of view.
- Robert Zane whispering I love you to Jessica. We all do Robert
- Rafferty's acting in the little screen time she got this week keeps fascinating me. The way she's standing when Harvey arrives before their confrontation says everything she then voices out.
- Harvey telling Mike he's having panic attacks, even if he was forced because of the situation, he needs someone to rely on.
Quote of the week
Dr Agard: Well, I may not be Donna, but I’m beginning to see what it’s like to be her.
Harvey: What the h**l are you talking about?
Dr Agard: I’m talking about, I’m a woman who you’ve been bullying to get what you want.
Harvey: Bullying? I’m paying you.
Dr Agard: And that doesn’t mean I exist to serve your needs.
Harvey: Well it goddamn well should.
Dr Agard: If you spoke to Donna that way, no wonder she left you. Because you don’t just pay people to be loyal.
Wow that was quick.
ReplyDeleteI loved the scene where Harvey tells Mike about his panic attacks and Mike subsequently trying to protect him from Soloff. Harvey has been the one protecting Mike for a while, it's nice to see the reverse too. I also loved when Mike impressed the judge (and his future father-in-law) though I would have loved it even more if we could have seen Zane and Mike's shrimp "competition".
I get why Harvey attacked Louis once more at the end of the episode but I don't this ending well.
:) It's nice to see how things are shifting
ReplyDeleteI really liked the Jessica and Rachel scenes. I keep hoping that in the near future, Jessica takes on Rachel as her associate. It would provide great opportunities for Rachel to develop into a powerhouse lawyer in her own right.
ReplyDeleteAlso relieved that Donna gave Harvey a piece of her mind. Harvey was so arrogant when he threatened Louis that he would take Donna away from him so I was glad to see Donna lay down some hard truths in front of him.
People say that they miss the Harvey and Mike partnership - I say that these separate story lines for them is a good thing. Gives Mike more opportunities to develop on his own and OTOH, it provides opportunities for Harvey's personal growth on the journey that he is on in this season.
I had thought Harvey was right the last time he threatened Louis, though this time he had actually misunderstood what happened.
ReplyDeletepoor harvey :(
ReplyDeleteI find that Suits has been bringing it this season so far.I love the budding relationship between Rachel and Jessica.Im hoping to see Jessica get some more cases.The relationship between Harvey and Mike has always been the spindle on which this show balances and it was really brought out in this episode and I was grinning from ear to ear when Mike read to the judge exactly what was on that page during the court session.He's not an associate and he showed that he earned his position next to Robert on the case.Overall solid episode.
ReplyDelete-Science fact: you can grasp the time relativity when you watch a Suits episode, coz time flies so fast during that hour it seems only a few minutes has passed...
ReplyDelete-Medical fact: you shouldn't watch Suits if you suffer from a heart disease coz you can't help but empathize with the characters and they go through a lot this season, especially Harvey.
-Completely biased opinion: As this season progresses we get more and more into the characters psychology and relationships and w/ such a cast it's fascinating!
I think that as long as it keeps the development of the characters as their own entities I'm all in for every independent storyline they might throw at us... (and yes to the Donna thing and Rachel and Jessica!)
ReplyDeletethis comment is a winner :) and it is isn't it? the thing about this season is that the cast is at its best and I'm loviiiing it
ReplyDelete