Previously on Suits: She’s Mine.

In a last-minute manoeuvre, Pearson Darby Specter save the day — so do the writers; also very, very last minute.

Let me start this review by quoting an interview with Gina Torres, who plays the formidable Jessica Pearson.

I think it was an absolute example of why she never ran to make him full-name partner on the door in the first place. He’s like this L’enfant terrible: “You’re not going to give me what I want? Then here, take THAT!” He’s challenged with seeing the big picture, and I remember getting ready to shoot one of those infamous rooftop scenes with Gabriel [Macht, who plays Harvey], and we really hashed it out, actor-to-actor, because you so closely identify with your character after a while. He’s defending Harvey, I’m defending Jessica and I just had to say “Hold on, hold on … do you not get that every move that Jessica has made since the beginning of season two has been to cover your ass?” [laughs] I mean, she’s trying to save this company and whenever I talk to Aaron [Korsh, creator], my thing is, let’s not pretend that it’s all OK. There have been distractions along the way, but there’s a problem. There’s a ticking bomb in her firm that [Harvey] brought in and as much as she loves [Mike], and as much as she wants to make this work, it’s ticking, and no one knows what is going to set it off. So part of Harvey’s maturity is taking responsibility for that, and up until now, he’s refused to take ownership of the dominoes that he set in motion [by bringing Mike into the firm].

— Interview with ETOnline (source), bolded emphasis mine

I know I’m not the only one in the fandom who feels that this is an indication that Gina Torres was pretty much as unhappy with this story line as we were. I’ve explained before, and at length, why both Jessica and more so Harvey’s characterisation in this season was way off, way out of line, and way over the top. The writers overdid it, more than a bit, because while Harvey is an enfant terrible, he’s still Harvey, and no matter how hurt he was, he wouldn’t have done this to Jessica. And, indeed, as Jessica apologised for her actions in the Season 2 finale — that’s where the trouble started. Torres also raises a point that, in the midst of all the chaos, I’d lost sight of: the main problem is, has been, and will continue to be Mike. He’s the main reason for the entire conflict between Harvey and Jessica, and that hasn’t come out at all so far, because it all became about Harvey’s ego. His ego was, effectively, hurt by Mike and by Jessica because of Mike, but then, logically, all ambitions to take over the firm from Jessica should have stopped the moment Batman and Robin were back together. But it didn’t, and that’s what made this storyline so absurd. Jessica is the bigger and better person in forgiving Harvey the way she has, but the writers shouldn’t have made her put up with any of his shit as long as they have.

Now, with Jessica, Harvey, and Mike all in the same boat, there’s the emergence of a triumvirate of a kind we haven’t seen on this show before. See them breaking the news to Edward, see them bouncing the ball back and forth, see the three sitting in that conference room after Darby leaves? They belong together, now, and it also proves what Gina Torres says in that interview: Mike’s family, too, not just Harvey. Jessica doesn’t say it out loud, but she loves that kid. It’s a pity that his mere existence could rip the firm to shreds.

The handling of Darby’s personal life is something that the show did get right. Jessica figured out that he and Ava’s father were a couple and filed it under his motivations for helping Ava by any means necessary, but it didn’t come up again after that because it wasn’t important. It wasn’t lorded over him, nor was it used to blackmail him — it was his decision to testify to help Ava, in the end.

Now, to the two most single-minded assholes this episode: Stephen Huntley and Cameron Dennis. Blimey. It surprised me that Dennis was so utterly resistant to any and all attempts to convince him to see the truth (or reason, for that matter). In the end, they got him by his ambition, not by appealing to “the man he is.” Stephen Huntley, in kind, is remarkable for his utter lack of remorse. What I love is that, both times, Donna was the one to bring him the news. I had hoped that this wouldn’t end in heartbreak for her, but she’s Donna, she’s strong.

Last, but definitely not least: we’re getting to see a lot of more of Louis’ motivations and personal side this season, and I love it. Louis and Rachel are also becoming closer, and they’re becoming a great team. She calls him out on his bullshit without the intention of humiliating him — she’s a good person and an ally, and although it’s plain to see that she finds some of Louis’ antics weird, she chooses not to bring it up or laugh about it behind his back. And Harold was completely right to be pissed at Mike. Sure, Mike got him that other job, and he was right in thinking that changing jobs would be better for Harold in the long run, but he should’ve been honest with him about it. Mike’s not the bad guy, but he’s not the good guy here, either.

In the end, the divorce between Pearson and Darby will be a quick one. In one fell swoop, the writers managed to solve two problems at the same time: an unwinnable murder trial and the issue of The Merger Everybody Hated But Everybody Needed. Harvey was right in that Darby had an ulterior motive for merging, which is, I’m suspecting, the only saving grace for his involvement in the separation.

Next: Bad Faith.