Suits. Season 1

USA

I've never been interested in courtroom dramas, or any other shows involving lawyers. Boston Legal, Ally McBeal─never watched them. Except for this show.

Now I don't know exactly what made me watch Suits. But I think I have an idea.

1. Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams) is a pot-smoking genius.
This is a role that will resonate with pot smokers everywhere. I think every pothead deep down inside wants to prove to the world that "Hey, I'm smarter than you, and I smoke weed everyday." But then you find out the reason Mike Ross can actually get away with pretending to be a lawyer is because he has eidetic memory, which I really wouldn't mind having.

2. Great characters.
We don't even have to discuss the great chemistry between Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht) and Mike Ross. Beyond those two are other great characters, such as Donna (Sarah Rafferty) the ever-efficient secretary, and Louis Litt (Rick Hoffman), the ever-annoying douchebag.

3. The pop culture references.
The writers of the show are undoubtedly 80s kids, like me. Only 80s kids will laugh at references that other 80s kids make.

So here are the individual microreviews of every episode for season 1. Clicking on the episode title links back to the original post.

1. "Pilot"

Thanks to a friend, who recommended it from a friend.

Anybody who ever dreamed of becoming a lawyer, or anybody who seriously wants to become a lawyer, or anybody who's taking up law, or anyone who's already a lawyer─this show is for you.

So what's it about? Lawyers, of course. And all the dirty underhanded tactics that go with being one. The title is actually a play on the word "suit", which can mean both a lawsuit and an Armani.

USA

"My suit is better than yours."

This is of course about Rookies and Pros, about Masters and Apprentices. And also about chicks. Yup, the legal world is full of chicks.

USA

All the chicks from Episode 1 alone.
And yes, if it came to it, I would tap that black African-American ass.

So if you want to be a lawyer, better learn to play chess like one. And by chess, I mean real, live chess. Like reading people, and pressing where it hurts.

USA

This also includes tips on dealing
with douchebag lawyers like him.

I loved The Godfather and Batman references. (Strangely, no one wants to be Christian Bale. Probably because these guys are American.)

One thing I learned here: it is possible to smoke pot and still retain your brilliance. But sooner or later, you'd have to stop, of course. But it still is possible. Kind of reminds me of someone.

And now, ladies and gentlemen, on to the second episode.


2. "Errors and Omissions"

I'd just like to say that I'm not really into this show's opening credits. It's like... meh.

Anyway, this episode deals with intellectual property law. You know, patents and stuff. So now you know what to do when someone beats you to a patent.

USA

And that is... play tennis with your boss.

You've got to admire Mike Ross and his voracious reading. I mean, I read a lot. But sometimes it takes me more than one reading for the information to truly sink in. This guy absorbs information like a sponge. Brilliant. Also, hooray for getting high.

USA

"So Burkina Fasso is... here?"

Louis Litt, I think, is probably gay. He never wears a towel in the showers. And he has this certain facial expression. Also, he's unmarried. Although these are not enough to come to the conclusion that he is definitely gay, I'd bet on it. Except I don't bet.

USA

"You know it, bro."

And hooray to Harvey Specter, for showing us that judges are not as pristine and immaculate as we think they are. They're human, too. And humans can go down. Hard.


3. "Inside Track"

Cars. Fast cars. Formula 1 engines. McKernon Motors, to be exact. Although Google says it's not a real engine company. Obviously. I think it's a ripoff of McLaren.

USA

Even the colors match the Silver Arrow.

Oh, so Suits is on Twitter. Oh-kay.

Finally, Harvey Specter gives a fist bump. Boo-yah.

USA

He just looks so adorable.

Things are starting to get complicated. Mike and Rachel (Meghan Markle) go out for dinner, although I'm not sure it can be classified as a "date". And also, Mike kissess his ex-best friend's ex. I guess you could say he kissed his ex's ex. Which would sound weird if it were in a different context.

USA

I would pick Rachel over the other girl any day.

4. "Dirty Little Secrets"

The alternate title for this episode is "Bedbugs and Ex-Husbands That Look Like Dr. Dre".

USA

Or maybe a cross between Dre and John Legend.

So now they have two cases. First is the Bedbugs case, which is Mike Ross's first. A housing problem. Eviction, I think. Anyway, that vixen lawyer Vivian Tinaka is hot.

USA

Evil. But hot.

And then we have Harvey's Ex-Husband case. This involves drugs, and not the illegal kind. Pharmaceutical drugs. And whose ex-husband is it? Jessica Pearson (Gina Torres)'s. She used to be married. And speaking of marriage, I love the scene where Mike and Rachel pretend to be husband and wife. Ooh. Meghan Markle is so hot.

USA

You can see it in their pretentious smiles.

5. "Bail Out"

Mike Ross doesn't know the lyrics to the Harvard song. That's okay. I don't know the lyrics to "UP Naming Mahal" either. And we all know UP is like the Harvard of the Philippines.

UP

When I say UP is like Harvard, I mean Diliman.

Mike bails Trevor (Tom Lipinski) out of jail. But he should've cut that anchor loose a long time ago.

We have a David v. Goliath legal battle here. (Wouldn't it be cool if there really was a Supreme Court case like "John David v. Goliath National Bank"?) And I'm talking about an immigrant cab driver, representing himself, going against the Goliath that is Harvey Specter. And unlike the Bible story, Goliath destroys David. But grants him mercy. How nice.

USA

The cab driver's got nothing on the hair.

Back to Trevor. Harvey Specter steps in, but only so Mike Ross can give his friend a one-way ticket to Montana. And with the anchor out of town, it looks like smooth sailing from here.

Also, I love the Mike Ross doll. Especially the hair.

USA

It's even got the green eyes.

6. "Tricks of the Trade"

This is the stock market case. I don't really know much about stock markets. It's not my thing. But the brilliant thing about this episode is showcasing Mr. Mike Ross's excellent memory.

USA

Even under the influence of alcohol.

Mike helps Rachel study for the LSAT. And she finds out that Mike was the "test genius" who took tests for other people. That should actually be a turn-on, right?

USA

They could've just played footsie the whole time.

And also, I just love the pop culture references here. Harvey Specter does Rocky Balboa. You just gotta love the writers of this show.

USA

And you gotta love Gabriel Macht for doing a decent Stallone.

7. "Play the Man"

Mock trial. Lesson learned: a good lawyer does not go to trial. He settles the case before you even get there. And also, Donna is a great actress. She doesn't play a role; she embodies.

USA

She can do Demi Moore tears.

And you must be Harvey's old squeeze. Yes, that's a line from the Joker.

USA

She's hot, but a bit skinny.

The alternate title of this episode should be "Everybody Gets Laid".

USA

Lawyers...

USA

...and non-lawyers alike.

8. "Identity Crisis"

This episode involves embezzlement. More specifically, embezzling funds from Stable Shelters, a sort of Habitat for Humanity kind of foundation. Which is headed by a girl who looks like Oprah Winfrey.

USA

Nope, that's not her.

Louis Litt kills a witness. Not really directly. But he could still be considered the cause of death.

USA

Nope, she's not the witness who died.

And now we go to the better part of the story. The story of Mildred Wisnewski Lola Jensen. And her father, of course. But who cares about a father who looks like a young Colonel Sanders?

USA

Good thing she didn't inherit Colonel Sanders's beard.

So Lola is played by the beautiful Amanda Crew. Don't let the photos fool you, though. She's less girl-next-door and more girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo. Again, the pop culture references. I love it.

USA

I also love her eyeliner.

And it's not just in reference to her eyeliner, either. She's really good with computers. So good that Harvey and Mike brought her into the embezzling case, to hack into bank accounts in Liechtenstein.

USA

Because like Lisbeth Salander,
she is really, really good with computers.

So good, in fact, that she managed to get Mike Ross into the Harvard Law School alumni database. Complete with an authentic diploma.

USA

I also want a Harvard diploma. Just for the Latin text.

But of course, I don't want to end this post with a picture of a Harvard Law School diploma. So let's end it with a picture of Amanda Crew. One last time. And I hope she makes another appearance in a subsequent episode.

USA

God. The smile.

9. "Undefeated"

The cancer case. Emerson Petroleum v. Employees and Alumni of Apple Creek High School. But it's more than just that, really. It's Harvey Specter v. Travis Tanner (Eric Close). And in case you didn't know, the one with Michael Jordan on his speed dial wins.

USA

Also, the one with the best hair.

And the other story in this episode: someone leaked a witness list to a rival firm. Turns out to be Rachel. Who was framed up. By Louis. Only it wasn't Louis Litt.

USA

Three guesses as to who it was. 

So Specter gets a settlement for $2M a plaintiff, Travis Tanner flies his shit-eating grin back to Boston, and Rachel Zane gets re-hired... with a raise.

USA

Plus an apology from Louis Litt.

And the pop culture reference for this episode: Terminator.

USA

"Sarah Connor?"

10. "Shelf Life"

Okay, Mike Ross. Stop empathizing. We're already in the tenth episode. You should already know that the legal profession is the most rotten profession in the world. Stop being soft.

USA

"I'm not being soft. I'm being nice."

Also, lie low. Stop attending Harvard events. This'll be your undoing.

USA

Spot the poser.

Finally! The Mike Ross and Rachel Zane kissing scene. I've been waiting for this since the first episode. God. This better not be the last. I hope you guys have sex next episode.

USA

Yeah baby.

11. "Rules of the Game"

Not one of the better episodes of Suits. This one was a bit... meh.

This episode didn't have one of the stories fleshed out as much as I would've wanted to. See, there's usually two stories for every episode, like one is Harvey's and the other is Mike's. And usually, both stories are fleshed out all right. Not this time, though.

The two stories in this episode are: 1) Harvey's Harvey, or his mentor, the District Attorney of New York;

USA

"I look like an old douche."

and 2) the two sisters battling over their father's will.

USA

Sister 1: "Bitch."
Sister 2: "Bitch."

Now some people might say, "But the second story's not about the sisters, it's about Louis and Harvey and the rules of the game, hence the title." Yeah, that may be true. But the previous episodes were also about Louis and Harvey, and yet the cases were fleshed out just fine.

Anyway, there seems to be a mini-cliffhanger for next week's episode, which also happens to be the season finale. Still, I don't think it's right to compromise a subplot for a cliffhanger. But that's just me.

And on a final note, that other attorney, Alexandra Leeds, is kinda hot.

USA

Though she does look a bit mannish.

12. "Dog Fight"

Question: How do you do a proper season finale?
Answer: Cliffhangers.

Yeah, baby. Cliffhangers. So there was a cliffhanger last episode, about the innocent guy who went to prison. This is the continuation of that.

I must say that the innocent guy subplot was rather interesting, but, in my opinion, not as well-written as I hoped it would be. It would've been cool if it was sort of like C.S.I., except from the attorney's point of view. The writing wasn't terrible, though. Just weak. And to think it was written by Aaron Korsh, the show's creator.

USA

Plus the prosecutor looks like Forrest Whitaker.

Mike Ross, clearly all that photographic memory shit in your head has damaged your eyesight. Assuming they're both naked, no man with 20/20 vision would choose Jenny over Rachel. No, I'm just exaggerating. But still, I would choose Rachel any day. But you chose Jenny. And now look what it's done. All this sneaking-behind-your-best-friend stuff will never amount to anything.

USA

You can see by his face that he clearly isn't happy.

Harvey Specter, you were great. As usual. Because you are too damn good-looking. You make us mere mortal men butt-ugly in comparison. Your face in itself is porn. It's a wonder where Donna got the strength to resist you.

USA

And really, will you please explain the can opener joke next season?

PS. Dear USA Network: You know that thing at the beginning, which goes like, "Previously on Suits"? Drop it. Please.


That was a good first season, good enough to make me want to go and watch Season 2. I hope that they retain the good stuff about it, and at the same time take the show in a different direction. Not too different that it would be totally unlike the first season. Just different enough to show that they're not going to do the same thing over again.



Suits (Season 1). USA. 2011.



Rating: Seven and a half out of ten.





You might also want to check out the review of Suits Season 2.