"Spain" starts to enhance the dramatic arc that has been settling since the premiere. The conflict to be resolved is not only to free Mike from prison, but also what the consequences of Harvey's actions are going to be.
This episode presented three storylines. The main one regarding the central conflict of the season, showcased Mike's fears after the last episode cliffhanger and what Kevin did to end up in prison. "Spain" opens with Mike having a dream about losing Rachel in a car accident, and Kevin being the driver. After it, his relationship with Kevin is stricken until Kevin confides in him that not only Sutter was trading inside the company and breaking the law, but his wife knew too. This happens after the fantastic duo play lawyer and associate again, putting Sutter and Kevin in the same room, showcasing how much they hate each other, and only confirming that Kevin isn't really a bad guy, but one with whom Mike can relate to, and Sutter is really the big bad wolf he doesn't hide to be.
Meanwhile, for Cahill and Harvey's plan to work, Harvey was ready to cross an ethic line and hand him evidence. At first Cahill doesn't want it, and it shows to what extent Harvey isn't really thinking his actions through, but only reacting to what it's put in front of him. He feels guilty for Mike's fate, and the gamble, by taking Sutter in as a client, and having to represent him as best as he can, while working with the prosecutor, is showing the consequences.
Louis pursuit of Tara, almost backfires when she realizes it was all for show. She mistakes his actions as a shot to get her to work for free. Louis explains he did it because he's a mess, and he didn't know other way to make her get to know him, and date him. Even if Donna did suggest the normal way, ask her out, go on a date... Surprisingly Tara thinks it's thoughtful and romance blooms.
Donna helped him through the whole ordeal, only to have him kick her out before Tara shows up. Maybe Donna could have helped him when the owners appear, but we'll never know. In the meantime, their interactions are intended to lighten the mood and bring up the fun side of Suits. Even the photography is more even and bright in these scenes, unlike the rest where lights and shadows, high contrast and cool tones take over the somber essence of the season's main plot. (See side notes)
Jessica is busy trying to get new clients and keep the firm afloat, while Rachel is impatient to get help from her because her innocence project isn't going well. Her client gets an execution date and even if she found a break, a witness that wasn't call on the original trial, the time is up, and she needs to act quickly.
Silver Tree, the director of the premiere (among other episodes) did a breathtaking job on this one. I'm just blown away by her style, and right now if anyone would ask me which whom I would like to work with, it would be her. It's not that her episodes don't match the rest of the Director's team work (There's a tendency followed through this season) however, I see a patron in the camera angles she uses, or the different lightning settings and how not only it goes hand in hand with how the script and performances are telling the story but also what the overall staging says. For example, the camera level in the last scene is a little bit below the norm. It could be because Harvey is sitting, but it also magnifies how powerful he feels in his office doing his job. And until Cahill talks about his mother and explains everything, it stays that way. In the end though, every element on screen strengthen Harvey's crossroad and feelings. He was about to break his own boundaries by giving the program Kevin designed, to Cahill, but when he doesn't want it, and he talks to Donna, you realize he knows he was wrong, and crossing a line that maybe he can't go back from. But what will happen now that Sean asks for it?
Only 4 episodes to go, and I'm really interested to see what the mid season finale brings in and if it works as closure for the multiple conflicts going on this season, or which ones the writers chose to end.
Side Notes
- About the title: Spain represented to Cahill's mother the goal after all of those years of work. Which was taken away by Sutter. Adding this to the ongoing tendency of Harvey's downfall, that has been marked by every midseason o season finale the last 2 seasons (he loses something precious) and how he's being presented lately besides the decisions he's taking... Why if he loses even more than he already has? What if he loses everything, and what does everything mean to him?
- Can Donna have a storyline of her own, or more screen time being truth to her character, instead of only being there as a helper for *insert character's name* every episode?
- Rick Hoffman's comedy talent shines this season through his performance of a clueless Louis taking about his wood to Donna, not realizing the double entendre or why she's about to cackle, and his little steps while running after Tara or how he walks when he has a goal, almost penguin like. (A thing that is a very Louis singularity) But he really owns the character. Even if sometimes we might not be completely emphatic towards him, because of his ups and downs through the 6 seasons arc.
- Rachel's character this season keeps being overwhelming in her tenacity to work for a good cause, and Jessica's mentorship is really delightful to watch
