A look at “Suits”: How a kid from Brooklyn became one of New York’s best lawyers

During these times of being forced to stay indoors as the panic of COVID-19 runs throughout the streets of our country, we long for a show to watch. Look no further than USA Original “Suits”, which is currently available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

The legal drama created and written by Aaron Kosh follows the journey of college dropout Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams) and Harvey Specter, one of New York’s best lawyers (Gabriel Macht). Ross, who has a photographic memory and makes his living illegally taking the LSAT for other people has always dreamed of becoming a lawyer ever since his parents were taken from him at a young age and finally gains an opportunity after being setup by his childhood friend Trevor in a drug deal gone wrong in an attempt to get some extra cash to help his grandmother gain around-the-clock care. In the pilot episode, we see Ross stumble into an interview after trying to lose the cops, impersonating someone else and meeting his eventual boss, Harvey Specter after being promoted to senior partner at the New York’s biggest law firm; Pearson Hardman. After surprising Harvey with his ability, Mike is thrust into the world of corporate law with a secret to keep. Fast forward to the end of season one, Mike earns his first client and the duo have won multiple cases together. Even some Mike has tried himself.

In season two, managing partner of the firm, Jessica Pearson (played by Gina Torres) learns Mike’s secret and immediately tries to fire him but other issues take precedent when co-founder Daniel Hardman (David Costabile) tries to take over the firm from Jessica. Meanwhile, after Mike’s grandmother passes, he finds himself in a series of romantic entanglements while trying to build a relationship with paralegal Rachel Zane (played by Meghan Markle. Yes, that Meghan Markle.) Eventually revealing his secret to her at the end of the season in an attempt to keep their relationship afloat. Harvey and his secretary Donna (played by Sarah Rafferty) also find themselves in hot water when they are accused of burying evidence and are also forced to keep themselves from self-incriminating as Hardman could use it to force Jessica into making him a co-managing partner. The threats from Daniel Hardman ultimately force Jessica into a merger with a British firm that’s headed by Edward Darby.

Season three of the show brings more inside conflict than ever. With Edward Darby coming into the fold, Harvey tries to leverage himself an opportunity to get his name on the wall as a named partner. Later on, Darby International client Ava Hessington, the subject of a murder case drags Harvey into a very long trial against his old mentor, New York District Attorney, Cameron Dennis (played by Gary Cole). Mike soon comes to the realization that he can’t be a fraud forever so he accepts a position as an investment banker, leaving the newly named Pearson Specter.

I have only one word to describe season four: peak-drama (adding a hyphen makes it one word lol). To start off a season filled with vengeance and love, Mike and Harvey find themselves on opposite sides of a takeover deal which forces the SEC’s hand into charging the two with collusion. After Mike is fired, Louis Litt (Rick Hoffman) begs him to come back to Pearson Specter after hearing Mike has received an offer from unethical billionaire Charles Forstman. Louis also pits himself against Harvey after demanding a name partner position but ends up being fired but after finding out Mike never went to Harvard, a seething Louis blackmails Jessica into rehiring him with the position he wants. At the end of the season, Mike proposes to Rachel and Donna leaves Harvey to work for Louis.

Shane Mahood/USA Network

In season five, we see Harvey at his most vulnerable when he starts to see a therapist about losing Donna and his broken relationship with his mother. Mike and Rachel start to plan their wedding but as Mike’s secret comes closer to being exposed, Rachel’s relationship with her parents begins to deteriorate. Later on, Mike and Harvey both resign from the firm to protect themselves but on the way out, Mike is arrested for fraud. As the case drags on, more people begin to realize the charges are true and to protect everyone else from going to jail, Mike accepts a plea bargain from Anita Gibbs (Leslie Hope) that brings him to plea guilty and turn himself in so no one else goes to jail. Rachel makes a plan to move the wedding up but Mike decides it’d be best if they wait for him to get out of jail in two years. Harvey drops Mike off at prison and say goodbye.

Season six shows a new way of life for Mike after being thrown into prison on a two-year sentence for practicing law without a license and inmate Frank Gallo (Paul Schulze), who has a grudge against Harvey, puts Mike at his mercy. At the firm, there are still a few people who remain after the allegations brought against Mike forced a lot of people to leave. Now in law school, Rachel gains assistance from Jessica while working a pro bono for the Innocence Project. Jessica later decides to leave Pearson Specter Litt. After entering a deal with the SEC that could get him out of prison, Mike’s cellmate Kevin Miller (Erik Palladino) becomes a pivotal part of the plan. Upon his release Mike deals with the struggles of the public knowing he was a fraud but ends up getting a job at a legal clinic. Harvey later helps Mike and Rachel both get into the Bar and ultimately ends up convincing Mike to come back to the firm.

Season seven starts off with a rough note with everyone dealing with the loss of Jessica and trying to put the firm back on top. Donna soon accepts a position as COO of the firm and Harvey’s friend Alex Williams (Dule Hill) joins the firm. Rachel also begins her career as an attorney after passing the Bar and Mike continues to work with the clinic at Harvey’s discretion but one case puts Alex, Harvey and others at risk. At the end of the season, Mike and Rachel accept an offer to run a firm in Seattle that only handles class-action suits and end up getting married before leaving. Also a case that puts Specter Litt in the crosshairs forces Rachel’s dad Robert Zane (Wendell Pierce) to join forces with the firm.

Season eight brings about new beginnings to the show. Robert becomes managing partner of Zane Specter Litt while Donna continues in her position of COO. Zane also chooses to bring in Samantha Wheeler (Katherine Heigl), his fixer and makes her a named partner alongside Alex, again renaming the firm as Zane Specter Litt Wheeler Williams. Louis later learns that Sheila (Rachel Harris) is pregnant and Katrina Bennett (Amanda Schull) becomes senior partner and develops feelings for her married personal associate. At the end of the season, Donna and Harvey admit their feelings for one another but when Donna fails to keep client/boyfriend Thomas Kessler (Sasha Roiz) handled it forces Robert to end his career for the firm.

Ben Mark Holzberg/USA Network

With Robert now disbarred, season nine brings a new face to the firm in Faye Richardson (Denise Crosby) who looks to destroy the firm from inside out because of the perception of underhanded tactics used by the firm over the years. Mike later returns and is convinced by Donna to help Samantha bring down Faye in court. After finally getting rid of Faye, Louis and Sheila finally marry, only for Sheila to go into labor and give birth to their baby daughter. To spur the moment, Harvey proposes to Donna and they marry right then and there. Harvey then announce that he and Donna are resigning and moving to Seattle to work with Mike and Rachel. Katrina is then promoted to name partner giving the firm the final name of Litt Williams Wheeler Bennett. Before leaving for Seattle, Donna and Louis ride down the elevator together once more as Harvey gets one more look at his office and is “interviewed” by Mike for his new job.

Overall, I had an incredible time watching this show and it’s really one you have to pay close attention to to understand all the details. I highly suggest watching “Suits” as part of your Quarantine Queue. Solid 10/10.