Suits season 6 has brought into its storytelling a lot of little elements that together, if the writers keep it up, might make it the best season of the show. It's more mature that its first season, and in some way, the essence is closer to season 2. There's lot of drama but still time for those funny moments or gags that made the show different from other law procedural shows.
Episode 2 starts with Donna back to her old self solving problems and being sassy and fabulous. We don't have to ask how but she found a way for Rachel to visit Mike. Problem is, the new antagonist has made Mike get into trouble and she can't. And the rest of the episode unfolds.
Plot A and B continue to merge in a pretty well done way. While Mike has to deal with Frank in prison, and adjust to the life there, Harvey trying to help, the mess the firm is moves the story forward.
Mike's problems in prison in this episode work as setting the ground to what's to come. Frank is more dangerous than we might have thought, and his vendetta against Harvey will make Mike's life miserable if he doesn't play his cards well. But he's smart, so by the end of the episode he understand what he has to do, fly low, stay on open spaces with lots of people, and instead of fight everyone that is trying to help him, find allies in the counselor and his real cell mate, Kevin.
Meanwhile the firm is trying to stay afloat. Louis true to himself hires actors to make the firm seem like it's working, but it clashes with the fact that the managing partners are planing to settle the lawsuits they're against with a threat of bankruptcy. Jessica, Harvey and Louis use the use the partners’ buy-ins to settle. But it shouldn't be this easy, right? It isn't.
The partners file a lawsuit of their own, lead by Soloff and backed by no other that Robert Zane, their new boss. Jessica asks him for help, but it doesn't seem like he will bend to her side. That night Soloff corners Jessica again and confesses he needs the money or he's out of business, he asks her to help him, lend him the money, but she can't, she says.
When the settlement is about to happen, Elliot Stemple, another antagonist to Harvey from season 3, opposes to it, saying his client should be in that settle, and that the managing partners should come up with a plan or he'll come after them.
Stemple simply wants to make Harvey make a sacrifice but is not about money, he wants the painting that is hanging in his office, a weird painting for Harvey's taste. And here's when we not only see Harvey's evolution, but another insight into his past. The canvas was made by his mother, and it was one a happy memory from his childhood, one he gives in exchange of saving his actual family now, his partners. Jessica seeing this goes back to Zane's offices and gives the money to Soloff, she has learn she rather have friend that enemies.
This episode worked perfectly as a little step into the direction this season is taking, with a steady rythm and pace, and fantastic character evolution. Unfolding Jessica's complex characteristics and seeing Gina Torres shine, steals a bit of the show because it's really amazing to watch. But also the rest of the cast keeps up the fantastic job they have been doing since the pilot, and the series, with some ups and downs during the last few seasons, has find an interesting ground to work on and for viewers to enjoy.
The cinematography and on screen setting tendency Silver Tree, the director of the premiere, started is followed suit by Michael Smith (director of episodes like Privilege and Compensation) Not only the writers team are doing a wonderful job, but the crew is following a style that is breathtaking to watch if you pay attention to. The continuity in the color palette and foreshadowing in the elements on screen, besides the dialogues and performance are starting to shape for things to come. And personally I can't wait for the next 8 episodes before the midseason finale.
What did you think of the episode?
