Suits - Mea Culpa - Review

Mea Culpa is a Latin expression and it literally means my fault, but the connotation of the phrase is, that one is acknowledging or analyzing their fault in a certain matter. The title of this episode is not only applicable to Harvey, but to Louis, Mike, and even Donna.

The episode deals with the fall out of Harvey and Louis' fight, and brings back the never ending conflict (until the show's finale, I suppose) of Mike's secret. 

Harvey talks to Dr Agard, after Jessica asks him to take two weeks off so Louis can calm down. As usual the amazing therapist tells him what he doesn't want to hear but it's the truth: He reacts just like Louis, only that he does it with physical violence while the other does it with words.
He takes the necessary step to make things right, and it looks like he actually means it. Not only he goes to the firm deprived of his usual, metaphorical and literal, armor (just like Dr. Agard pointed out) his suit and his god almighty demeanor, but he actually apologizes to Louis and confesses why he was so hurt and railed up about what he said, he has issues, he's seeing a therapist and he has panic attacks. What a good actor Louis is, it looks like he believes him but after inviting him to Mike's becoming partner voting session, he stabs him in the back. Louis tell the partners he was assaulted by Harvey and asks for him to be suspended. Jack Soloff saves the day pointing out this should be discussed and put out to vote.

Everything goes downhill from that point on until Donna does the mea culpa of her own and, again, is in the position to be her boss' conscience, the little Jiminy Cricket that shows you what's the best road to take. After Harvey confronts Louis in the bathroom, he goes to Donna for help. She asks him what did Louis said to make him react like he did, she needs to know to pick his side. Harvey doesn't respond her question, instead he tells her that if she doesn't know by now that he deserves her help nothing will matter. And something clicks inside Donna's head because the next time we see her, she has Louis' dictaphone in her hand and unravels his convoluted plan. If he goes with it she won't work for him anymore, sh tells him, among other things. Finally, Louis sees things clearer and goes to Jessica, who sends him in his merry way because this is all because of him. The partners voting is due the next day, and the episode ends having a cliffhanger about it.

Meanwhile Soloff is showing that he has changed, and before we can sing a hallelujah because maybe, at least, there are some characters' arc and evolution intact (unlike Louis back and forth) we see he's been blackmailed by Hardman. Soloff can be a nice guy, but something I understood after watching 5 seasons of this show, is that people tend to care for themselves first. I hope I'm wrong.

Mike's almost ex girlfriend, Claire, is back as opposing counsel and he freaks out. She knows he's not a lawyer, so instead of dealing with the problems he created because he's actually living a lie, he drops his first case as Junior Partner to Rachel, and lets her deal with everything. It backfires when Rachel's ego gets the best of her and she makes an offer that carries a big problem. Google quitting on them. Mike gets mad, treats Rachel very badly and there are problems in Paradise. They make up and Rachel confesses she's jealous of Claire because she started to think about the what ifs.
The problem with this story line is that of all the places Rachel's arc could go, it seems like the writers have chosen to make her be, again, just Mike's love interest. If anything was proven this season, is that she'll become a great lawyer, and how much of a great asset and team player she is. (I rest my case)
In the end, Claire realizes who Mike Ross is, Rachel begs her not to turn him in, and she accepts. Later Rachel lies to Mike but he realizes it and confronts Claire. She brings up something that will probably affect Mike's development the next two episodes: If he really loves Rachel, he shouldn't bring her in this life his leading, it might not be today but he will get caught. And this is when the title applies to him, he'll have to analyze his choices.

Will Suits end without finding closure for its premise, or will Mike have to chose between his career and his love life? What were in the papers that Hardman sent Soloff? For sure we'll find out next week, or at least, we'll have more clues about where everything is going.

Sidelines
- Have I mentioned lately how much I love Dr Agard?

- Donna in white. (Enough said)

- Mike and Harvey's scene, about Mike becoming partner, it only shows how much Harvey has grown (and it's becoming more emotionally available, which brings me to... see below)

- Donna and Harvey's scene in the file room, it confirms he's growth and it also confirms she'll always pick his side. She knows him the most.

- For me there was one scene missing, Donna talking to Harvey about his panic attacks. Here's hoping we get something related to that next week.

-Only 2 episodes left and all I'm wondering is, how tiresome must be to be Jessica and Donna and have to be in between all these problems all the time.

From Laura Markus (@laura_markus)

- Highlight of the episode: that Mike and Harvey scene. "An army couldn't have kept me away from your partnership vote." It was amazing. 

- It's baffling how people like Harvey, Jessica, and Donna are surprised to find out that Louis Litt is a terrible person. 

- I'm nervous about Soloff and Hardman. Soloff was just starting to be nice, and now this. 

- Props to Troian for another great appearance. Also she knows Mike and Rachel's relationship is doomed to fail. Good on her.

About the Author - Laura M

Laura is a proud nerd, TV and movie enthusiast. She's a teacher, producer and does different free lance gigs in her country. In her free time she likes to write and hear what other people think about the media surrounding us.

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