Suits goes to "War"

Article first published as Suits goes to "War" on the TheTVKing.

The characters in USA's Suits have had a rough season, what with Daniel Hardman (David Costabile) returning to the firm he helped found, trying to wrest control away away from the current partners, and then other firms smelling blood in the water and circling. In the season finale, "War," though, the biggest threat comes not from the outside of Pearson (Hardman?), but from the inside.

It's hard to tell which person the threat lies with. Jessica Pearson (Gina Torres) thinks the best course for the firm that she runs is to merge with a British company run by Edward Darby (Conleth Hill, Game of Thrones). However, Harvey (Gabriel Macht) disagrees, and does his best to thwart the arrangement.

Does Jessica have the firm's best interests in mind? Or is she just trying to put Harvey in his place? She's right that he acts like he has equal ownership in the place, so she has a point in wanting to humble him. But if Harvey truly believes that combining forces with Darby would be a mistake that will cost them all, then he might have good intentions, too. It's likely both Jessica and Harvey are motivated by selfishness and pride, as well as their stated purpose, so it all comes down to differing viewpoints, and not being able to back away from a confrontation with each other.

When combined against a common enemy, Jessica and Harvey are on the same page. Now, they clearly are not, making the workplace not nearly so harmonious. Is it because they do believe different things, or because they have been in fight mode for awhile, and are having trouble getting out of it? They still have aggression, and without Hardman or someone to direct it against, they end up turning on each other.

I worry about how things will progress in season three. By the end of "War," it seems that all trust between Jessica and Harvey is gone, both having cheated and played dirty to get what they want, with Jessica coming out on top. Harvey appears to be willing to play her game and get along, but it could just be a show, with him biding his time and plotting his next move. And maybe Jessica assumes that is what he's doing, so she's wary of him. There is a lot of tension there, and until the air clears, there will much discord between two characters, both beloved by fans.

What is very much up in the air is how Brady will fit into the chemistry. Will he be hands off, leaving Jessica to run things as she sees fit? Or will he interfere, meaning that Harvey is right, and Jessica will have to make up with Harvey to throw off the yolk of yet another dictator? Will he try to broker peace, or let them fight it out?

Sadly, the way Jessica wins is by using Mike (Patrick J. Adams), blackmailing him into turning on Harvey, his mentor and friend. Harvey takes the betrayal very personally, trying to fire Mike, who is now protected be Jessica, but who doesn't want to stay there that way.

Mike is put in a very difficult position. Jessica is his boss's boss. Mike can be forgiven for confiding in her initially, since he's seen Harvey support her all this times. Mike tried to find a way out himself, with double blackmail, but it didn't work. I don't know if Harvey could have protected Mike had Mike refused Jessica's orders. Surely, at some point, Harvey has to realize this. On the other hand, if Harvey thinks Mike put self-preservation above loyalty, understanding isn't going to do a whole lot of good, one way or the other.

We see just how bad things are for Mike in the file room at the end of "War." He is near tears, feeling like he has lost everything, and in a way, he's right. Adams does a superb job handling the roiling emotions, and it's a terrific scene for the actor, dealing with the fall out from a no-win scenario.

Then Rachel (Meghan Markle) comes in, mad at Mike for dodging a favor, and it's just too much. I've long been wanting Mike to tell Rachel the truth, and in this moment, if he doesn't, he could lose her forever. And so he spills his guts, and it results in hot sex, which they both need right then. They may be in dark places, professionally speaking, but at least they have each other, and that will help them. It's a bright spot on the horizon, one that will hopefully last this time.

I'm glad Mike and Rachel get the happy romantic scene, since Harvey's admirer, Scottie (Abigail Spencer), is tossed to the curb. Or is she? At Donna's (Sarah Rafferty) advice, Scottie sends a pretty clear message to Harvey about her interest in him. Even though Harvey is skeptical at first, it's enough to spur him to convince Brady not to fire her.

But will Harvey choose to work with her in New York, or send her to London? I'm guessing London, which would effectively end things between them. However, Harvey has shown some signs this year of maybe wanting to settle down, and if Scottie is a possibility, this could make for a whole other Harvey in season three, maybe one who is willing to extend an olive branch and an apology to Jessica.

Of course, Harvey could also be interested in Donna. Yes, I am glad the show doesn't go there because it's such a predictable move, but one of these days Donna is going to have to give a straight answer, while looking the questioner in the eyes, about how deep her feelings for Harvey go.

I would be remiss is I did not mention Louis (Rick Hoffman) in discussing "War." Not only does he have an amazing scene with Donna early in the episode, and we see him be a friend to Harvey, and he does the right thing in regards to Rachel, but he also has his own subplot with a potential new friend working for Brady, whom Louis sabotages a fledgling relationship with because he can't sacrifice the pride he has in his job.

I don't know if I like Louis more for sticking to his guns, even if it costs him a comrade, who I really hope pops up again, or am frustrated that he doesn't show his compassionate side here. We know he has one, and the interactions he has with each of the other cast members are phenomenally good. I do believe Hoffman's performance this year to be Emmy-worthy. Yet, Louis is a frustrating man, and it's hard to know when to love him or loathe him sometimes.

I have heard that opinions on this Suits finale have been mixed. For any detractors, I recommend watching again and just looking for the character moments. The movie and TV references are funny (nice Downtown Abbey one this week), and the cases are intriguing, but the leg up Suits has over its peers is just how well defined and performed the people featured are. These actors are doing incredible work, surely backed up by some truly smart writing. The moments that soar are the ones that display honest communication between any two of the main characters. This is why I love Suits, and will defend it vigorously.

Suits will return for a third season this summer on USA.