After “Brooklyn Housing” was a demonstration of one character’s lies after another’s, SUITS 7×06 brought the truth “Home to Roost.” Several characters were forced to face the consequences of their actions, while others were simply forced to feel the pain caused by their own denial.
Mike Ross gets caught, ruins lives.
It all started with a breakfast of coffee and emo contemplation. Mike Ross spent his morning considering the aftermath of his fiancee having learned he’d lied to her (and everyone else) about continuing to work on the prison case. Unfortunately, that emo coffee didn’t come with a dose of regret: After thinking it over, Mike decided that his word did mean something to him — so much so that he’d keep his promise to Oliver, rather than honoring a signed affidavit.
Should’ve gone for Oliver’s special blend of truth tea, rather than Mike’s emo caffeine blast.
Forget the fact that Mike was keeping secrets from everyone. According to SUITS’ newest legitimate lawyer, this situation was totally not the same as that time he practiced law without a degree. He even bragged to Rachel about how well he’s sleeping these days, which makes all the sense in the world what with the early rising and all of the caffeine intake.
Proving that maybe Mike was right after all — that this situation was different than the last time he lived a life of lies — the truth came out pretty quickly. First, there was a phone call from Frank Gallo, which raised suspicions about just what exactly Mike could possibly need from the man who’d tried to kill him. Then, just as Mike had all the evidence he needed — Gallo actually proved himself useful by pointing Mike toward the prosecutor who had his statement on the record — Alex Williams raised concerns with Harvey about “some other inmate” helping the clinic’s case against his client.
Brilliant in the law if not in life, Harvey made the Gallo connection and went off to trick Oscar Reyes, Mike’s latest innocent victim, into spilling the beans.
So, Mike excused himself from Oliver’s case at the eleventh hour, on the night before he was due to do all of that good he’d used to justify his lies. But he still went to support his “good friend” Oliver in the courtroom, only to be far-too-conveniently present when Alex Williams stormed in, dropped the truth bomb, and destroyed Oscar Reyes’ shot at finding justice for his dead son.
“And you convinced me the only way to heal was to keep this from happening to someone else. And now I have nothing! No money! No justice! No healing!” Congratulations, Mike. You’ve made this man’s life even worse because you just couldn’t be honest. You just couldn’t stop convincing yourself you were “doing the right thing,” no matter how much it drove a wedge between you and the (more rational) love of your life.
Bravo.
That feel when your therapist knows you have feelings for someone else, but she fantasizes about you and gets into a “serious” relationship with you anyway.
So far in SUITS season 7, Harvey Specter hasn’t been able to tell Donna Paulsen about his new relationship. His first scene in “Home to Roost” addressed the problem head-on, when he unloaded the problem on his therapist girlfriend over coffee in bed.
(Side note: Let’s all just ignore the fact that this scene was a disturbing rehash of Harvey’s dream sequence from SUITS 6.5’s opener, ok?)
Off Harvey went, determined to tell Donna the truth…But only after he spent a lot of time running after Mike. Work is important, after all.
Harvey, honey, you’re avoiding things for a reason here. Just ask your girlfriend therapist what it means.
In the middle of a massive argument about Harvey’s lack of ability to just tell Donna about his big relationship news, the truth had a way of proving that it was, in fact, out there. And throughout the entire spat, Harvey was his usual, emotionally-stunted self.
I think “shooketh” is the proper descriptor for how Harvey felt with Paula said he had feelings for Donna. Or maybe it’s “surprised, kicked puppy?” Probably both. And that’s to say nothing of Harvey’s need to process his therapistgirlfriend’s revelation that Donna loves him.
The bad puppy did not, however, get the chance to have his nose rubbed in his error in judgment. When Harvey finally told Donna about his love life, in one of those scenes that makes even one of SUITS’ most poorly-envisioned plot devices just kind of work, the firm’s COO pretended she’d known all along. She’s Donna, after all — and Donna knows all.
But anyone who bothered to read the nuances in Sarah Rafferty’s brilliant portrayal of her character’s reaction could tell that Donna’s story, all about Harvey sweeping Paula of her feet with his fancy car and fancy clothes, was an exercise in the former secretary’s ability to control her emotions. She was not quite successful at playing off a sudden realization as something she’d known all along.
The indicators of her surprise and dismay were all over the place. Too bad Harvey was too busy being relieved that he’d proven himself right in his argument with his girlfriendapist to notice any of them.
For as much as Harvey Specter isn’t able to read his loved ones’ emotions, Rachel Zane is actually not oblivious to the feelings of those around her. After a time, she was able to learn Donna‘s truth: The former actually hadn’t seen Harvey’s big news coming because she hadn’t wanted to. Then, in a brilliant, touching moment, SUITS moment, the women made a plan for a future outing of Michelle Ross and Harriet Specter.
Female friendships, guys: They’re amazing. SUITS should keep up the good work with those.
Later, some well-timed words from Louis made Donna take action.
Her decision to return Harvey’s key and admit to her her former boss that she was happy for him, even if it initially stung, was all about giving herself the chance to finally move on. But, yet again, Rafferty made it clear to anyone who cared to notice (not her scene partner’s character, that’s for sure) that Donna was not okay. Not at all.
And as SUITS’ latest chapter of the Harvey and Donna saga closed out, the image of Harvey glancing at the wall between his office and Donna’s as Donna finally let herself let go, was only defeated in the level of angst it conveyed by, well, basically every shot of Rafferty’s eyes after Donna received the initial shock.
Additional thoughts on SUITS 7×06:
- Louis Litt’s narrowly-missed threat of a sexual harassment suit is at once problematic and uplifting. Louis, who’s already been sued for sexual harassment once, said some deplorable things and managed to save his hide with an apology. That’s not how this should work. At all. Then again, for such a mixed up and messed up character, that humble moment with Stephanie Patel might (God, SUITS, I’m begging you) have been a sign of real progress. Or, you know, it could’ve been just more of the same yo-yo effect.
- “Of course you have feelings for her. You started having panic attacks after she left you. We wouldn’t even know each other if it weren’t for those feelings.” Dr. Agard isn’t wrong? Her degree still means something? Huh. >
- But wait! There’s more! “Would you like me to say it, Harvey? She loves you. At least part of her does, and maybe part of you likes it and doesn’t want it to stop. And we wouldn’t even be discussing this if you had the courage to tell Donna the truth and let her move on.” Paula Agard spilled so much tea here that she forgot to look in the mirror and wonder why she was fantasizing about her patient while he was sharing all his baggage.
- “In fact, coffee preparation is very important.” Words of wisdom with Louis Litt and Craig from DEGRASSI.
- “I trusted you, and now it’s over!” SUITS viewers or Oscar Reyes? You decide.
- Louis says he should’ve listened to Donna weeks ago. Donna: “You’re going to be a little more specific.” Me: Iconic.
- “I’m stress-blending. If I don’t hear some good news soon, there’s going to be an international prune shortage.” Louis gets me with the stress-eating. Just…I’m not here for prunes.
- Donna hated being dishonest with Harvey about knowing his secret more than she hated that the news bothered her. So grateful that Pearson Specter Lies has at least one upstanding citizen in a leadership position.
- Home to Roost? Or Home to ROAST. SUITS was all about the coffee tonight, and there was also plenty of person-to-person roasting happening, especially when Rachel Zane unloaded her frustration on Mike.
- That’s to say nothing of Stephanie’s strong words for Louis. Here’s a particularly good line: “Well, maybe you should’ve thought of that — before putting yourself in the position to let a lowly associate wipe the floor with you.” Mmmm, tasty.
- SUITS seems to be back on a painfully obvious track. This whole Agard story doesn’t work, but a similar exercise in the “throw in an outside love interest to make both parties realize their feelings” tropey nonsense might have about three seasons ago. Somehow, “Home to Roost” was still easily a strong episode of SUITS. The credit for that belongs overwhelmingly to Sarah Rafferty. The angst is coming from a sloppy place, but delivered oh so well.
What really caused Alex Williams to make a big scene over MIke’s prison trial? And will Donna melt the can opener down for shiv-making material to help her bff Rachel cut Mike for turning her into a liar?
Check out the next episode of SUITS on USA next Wednesday, August 23, at 9/8c.
