The finale of “Suits” Season Two didn’t quite end or start off like anyone expected. The vote for control of managing firm partner was held not once, but twice and heads someone didn’t make the cut. Loyalties were divided and hearts were broken as one of the characters commits a critical mistake.   Finale endings come and go but the ones we remember most are the ones that are the most emotionally shocking. This season of “Suits” has had plenty of twists and turns but the finale episode embodies all of this and more. Some things are easily achieved while others are completely forced.

The vote that everyone is waiting for happens and the managing partner of the firm does step down, but not without a fight. Everyone who thinks Jessica Pearson is down and out is wrong, as she keeps a cool head in a tough situation. Despite the likely need to lash out at Daniel Hardman, she lives the creed that control is the ultimate expression of power. Unflappable in the wind, she must watch idly as Harvey is outcast in this episode.

A man who prides himself on his control, Harvey shows his vulnerable side quite often these days in “Suits.” Fans know that he is Jessica’s right hand man, and while some refer to him as Jessica’s attack dog, there’s no denying he gets the job done. He shares with Mike some of his family history as Mike goes through a tough time with the loss of his last remaining family. Harvey isn’t as uncaring as he appears on the surface; he’s got a playful side that wasn’t always on the straight and narrow side of the law.

Still, the episode shows Harvey’s temper as well, switching from the joyful zen-like giggling camaraderie he has with Mike one moment to a furious volcano the next moment when Louis shows up. Even as a peer in the firm, Louis Litt is still afraid of Harvey on a visceral level. Many fans know that Louis is a sniveling opportunist that also has a softer, approval-seeking side. The finale of “Suits” shows fans the true colors of Louis Litt in a predictable, unsurprising way.

On the same note, Daniel Hardman himself has the most genius and gutsy plot to gain control of the Pearson Hardman firm, but he doesn’t cover his tracks as well as he’d hoped. The drama surrounding Daniel seems a little artificial with his underlings giving into Harvey’s demands too easily and Daniel not covering all the bases. For a man who thinks up such a nefarious plot to oust Jessica, he doesn’t do a very good job of making sure nothing can come back to bite him.

The train of thought follows then: Mike Ross is a jerk. He’s been off balance in the last two episodes and this one is more of the same. The decisions he makes are totally off the wall and he’s thinking with the wrong head during moments of the show. Viewers see Mike sharing a tender moment in remembrance that is heartwarming and down to earth. One scene later Mike is riding high with Harvey as the two bond together like never before and then come up with a genius plot to help Jessica. Next he’s all over the place with Rachel.

Rachel and Donna both deserve a shining star for their role in this episode, keeping their men from exploding out of control into orbit as the ups and downs of the show continue.  These two leading ladies roll with the punches so well they’re liked seasoned veterans that support Mike and Harvey even when the Associate and Senior Partner are acting like petulant children. Earlier in the season, Donna had her tussle at the firm and, while that’s all settled, it seems like Rachel never catches a break with Mike and his foolishness.

This finale of “Suits” has left fans hanging by a thread as the cards reshuffle for January’s 3rd season. Daniel is here to stay and he’s going to fight with everything he’s got. Powerful and ruthless, he likely has more plots in the works and Jessica better be ready. The firm still remains in trouble, as evidenced by previews of the show. Now that Louis has risen to Senior Partner status, he has the right amount of sway to make waves of his own. Mike and Rachel’s on again, off again status will have fans screaming at their televisions for the next few months of reruns but one thing remains sure: it’s boring in the relationship world of “Suits.”

Rating: 4.5/5 For excellent acting from the leads and ensemble cast, providing a convincing hour of drama that is only just a touch manufactured and out of character.

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This is the episode that will shock and surprise many “Suits” fans. Each episode of “Suits” thus far has featured a surprise reveal or two to keep the pacing fresh and exciting. Episode nine features movement across the board for everybody in the entire cast. Much anticipated is Donna’s return as well as the continued battle between Jessica and Daniel for control of the firm. Mike and Rachel make their impact strongly felt in this episode as the lingering heat between them builds with storybook romance.

It may come as a surprise to many viewers that Mike’s grandmother is well enough to leave her nursing home, since she is rarely seen elsewhere in the show. She is suitably sweet and sassy in that old-time gal kind of way. Her visit  at the office to bring Mike his lunch is both welcome and unexpected. It makes sense for her to visit the firm and see Mike; after all, isn’t it a grandmother’s prerogative to dote on her grandchildren?

Like a cheetah, Rachel pounces all over Mike and says how nice it is that his grandmother brought him lunch. Their interaction continues to stroke a simmering heat that threatens to boil over in the next episode. Fans are left with a deep and abiding hope that they will get together again. Whatever else can be said of them, these two are coming to know each other almost as well as Harvey and Donna know each other.

Speaking of Donna, fans will be glad to know of her return since she walks with a style and grace all her own. There is a bounce in her step, and her cheerful mood greets viewers like a warm comfort in a cold winter. She is a vital cast member, and her absence has been felt by many at the firm, even Jessica. Still, her return was contrived and too easily achieved. What should have been a much more notable return is quickly overshadowed by the giant elephant in the room that is Louis Litt.

For two seasons now, Louis has felt undervalued and in Harvey’s shadow. In the last five years, he has watched an associate go from beneath him to above him in the hierarchy at Pearson Hardman, and it has rankled him on a desperate level. Starved for acknowledgement in this episode of “Suits,” he gains the necessary fortitude and trust, both in himself and in the managing partners at the firm, to make a decisive impact on its future as the partners start voting in the next episode.

The psychology has its own twists and turns, most of it centering on Louis, Jessica, Daniel, and Harvey. Jessica makes her play when she can, first with the carrot and then with the stick. She needs Louis, but refuses the notion of buying him off; even the very idea repulses her. In her eyes, she will win, and Louis will regret it if she votes against him. This side of Jessica is what got her name on the door and the letterhead at the firm, so she is going full throttle against Hardman and his condescending attitude.

Everything is going to come down to the season finale. Every partner at Pearson Hardman must vote on who shall be the Managing Partner, choosing between Jessica and Daniel. In many ways, Jessica has changed the firm in the last five years in her capacity as Managing Partner; only a vote will tell which of the two is more wanted. Daniel’s honesty could indeed be false, but David Costabile’s acting brings his character a new dimension of ominous sympathy that succeeds where Jessica’s carrot and stick approach does not.

Episode nine has many highlights, such as Donna’s return and Louis’s celebration dinner. Mike’s grandmother is one of the best scenes of the episode, showcasing that even Harvey is a few years too young in a battle of wits with her. Her battle is with something a lot more lethal, and her presence is felt even when not on screen. Losing his way in this episode, it seems Harvey is again served his fair share of humble pie. Despite all attempts and speeches, Harvey fails at convincing Louis to vote for Jessica, and she now questions Harvey’s skills at every turn before stepping in herself.

The heat between Rachel and Mike will continue to simmer, and fans can expect an explosion of events in the season finale. Jessica and Daniel’s battle will reveal itself, as well, since episode nine pulled out a ton of psychological tricks. The one question that needs answering will be addressed next week in the showdown to end the season. What fans will expect and what they will get is likely going to be two vastly different things.

Rating: 4.5/5, For a great episode in a season full of exceptional drama that is uplifting and heartbreaking

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There have been many questions plaguing the minds of “Suits” viewers. What is Daniel Hardman’s history at the firm; fans know he has had some past illegal and immoral dealings. How did Harvey rise to Junior Partner and how did Louis handle it. Have Donna and Harvey always been close and what happened to Harvey’s father. These questions, and more, have been answered in this week’s flashback episode.

Amazingly entertaining with its past-versus-present atmosphere, this chapter of “Suits” was a sure hit. Fans rave that it’s a stand-out episode of season two and rightly so. A metric ton of questions were answered about everyone’s past and it leaves viewers wanting more in the coming episodes.

Fans now know just what kind of man they are dealing with looking at Daniel Hardman and it will make the last episodes of Season two that much more entertaining. It is clear that Hardman is rising to the occasion after five years of absence from firm. In “Rewind” fans laid witness to the mighty Daniel Hardman falling from grace due to Harvey’s actions.

Watch as Mike Ross pokes fun at uptight lawyers and begins to make his mark in the test-taking world of the LSAT. Fans will be excited to see just how Trevor and Jenny met as well as some of the chemistry that Jenny and Mike exhibited prior to the start of “Suits” Season one. Strapped for cash, what does a man with the perfect memory do to earn some cash. The answer is revealed but we learn there were some bumps and bruises along the way.

Speaking of bruises, the ego of junior partner Louis Litt definitely takes a hammering as he watches associate Harvey Specter become junior partner Harvey Specter. Fans know from Season one that Harvey has the guts to put his foot down in answer. What viewers see in this episode is just how cutthroat Harvey really can be.

On the other hand, fans of the Harvey Specter persona will delight in his character’s reaction to his father Gordon, showing viewers he hides his emotions well — but not all the time. Even the best of us get teary eyed when bad news hits home.

Too true is the need for Donna’s return as Harvey slowly spirals out of control. Fans know from past episodes that Donna and Harvey are a package deal. Not only is Donna the gateway to Harvey’s office, she is his anchor in a sea of chaos. Donna knows all that goes on at Pearson Hardman and credit goes to her for providing the information that elevated Harvey to that cushy corner office that he has had since the start of the show.

The producers must have known they had a hit on their hands when this episode aired. One of the most talked about of this season, “Rewind” will likely rank as a fan favorite episode in any “Suits” discussion. Not that the arrival of Rachel Zane isn’t important but each flashback was a revelations to fans.

Cleverly noted throughout the episode though, is how Mike slowly changes himself as well. The flashbacks of Harvey and the present day Mike Ross bear an eerie similarity. In part, this is because Mike is learning from Harvey but more than anything else, it means that Mike has the potential of becoming a big fish.

This episode may have been created to provide fans and viewers with more character-defining moments of the “Suits” cast but what fans have taken from this is a shared history with some of their favorite characters. If each of us considers who we were five years ago, it is a good bet that we are different people. For this reason the flashback technique creates both a wistful nostalgia as well as a charge of electricity as we consider the future.

Rating 4.5/5 For as close to a perfect episode as you can get and keeps fans guessing as well.

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The new episode of “Suits” sees the claws coming out in all the members of the Pearson Hardman Firm. On the heels of Donna’s absence things are starting to spiral out of control. It is not immediate at first but Harvey is exhibiting a few character weaknesses that could be detrimental to his future cases. Outside of Donna’s absence, Louis and Rachel seemed to have forged a stronger working relationship, bonding over the ballet.

More than ever, Mike becomes essential to Harvey’s success. In this episode, Mike is supporting Harvey 100%, doing everything right for once. In the past he may have messed up here and there but in this instance he is every bit Harvey’s right hand man. When it seemed like the odds are against them, stacked so heavily by the opposition, that Mike’s wacky idea to throw the balance of the case back in their favor actually works. Learning from the figurative knee of the best closer in the city, Mike has come a long way since the first episode. The character progression has been steady with him, with his confidence growing after each and every new experience at Pearson Hardman.

Speaking of new experiences, fans get to see further into the personality of Jessica Pearson. We all know that she can be tough and caring, trusting and yet hedging her bets as well. Rarely do we see her lose her composure or see other signs of weakness but in this episode we see Jessica make a comeback after actions from her past come back to haunt her. The judge for Harvey’s case is a former rival from Jessica’s law school days with a vendetta against the managing partner. Backed into a corner, Jessica’s claws come out, fighting down and dirty like never before. There is a reason her name is on the letter head at Pearson Hardman and it isn’t because she always plays fair.

One of the episode highlights involves Louis and Rachel, Junior Partner and paralegal. Time and time again Rachel has shown that she equals any associate at the firm; after all she has an office while the associates have cubicles. Her passion for ballet brings her to Louis’ attention on the case of a ballet company’s safety. The two partners up brilliantly, bouncing ideas off each other. For many fans, this is a glimpse into what life could be like if Rachel were to pass the LSAT and become a lawyer. Beauty and brains, what more could you want?

However, her success is not without cost. What will she do in the future when Louis confronts her about betraying him, knowingly or otherwise? Louis had left confidential details from his dictaphone with Rachel to help her on the ballet case. Mike however discovers the recording of him and Harvey on the device from two episodes ago and Harvey is made aware of this immediately. Harvey threatens Louis into owing the close a favor but will Louis pull through is the question. It doesn’t matter at this point if Louis has told Daniel Hardman about what Mike, Jessica and Harvey are working on; he still spied on them and that is most definitely illegal.

The other highlight? Harvey and Jessica have a sweet lighthearted moment of levity when both confess to having played pranks on Louis because the man was uptight. This is the prevailing feeling in the first half of the episode since Jessica plays coy upon admitting that she played some unnamed joke on Louis and specifically gave Harvey the blame. She claimed it was to lighten their moods but the impish look in her countenance said otherwise.

Throughout this episode, though, there is an impending feeling of spiraling doom. Harvey seems increasingle out of control without Donna. Doing things that may cost them future cases; the last two episodes of “Suits” have proven that Harvey needs Donna. Perhaps in a way that only Harvey and Donna know, they need each other. The question remains, will Donna make a return to “Suits”? Fans have hope that she will or nothing will ever be the same at Pearson Hardman.

Rating: 4/5 For an episode of great drama and laughs despite being a mid-season filler episode.

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The bombshell that dropped as Donna’s mistaken filing of a sensitive legal memo was revealed to the audience certainly fueled rumors between fans. Speculation on what might happen to Donna could have run the gamut from Harvey firing her, Harvey protecting her, Mike betraying her or even Donna quitting. An episode of reveals, “Break Point” blew many fans away, showing the men and women of ‘Suits’ in new and surprising ways. Raw and emotional, fans better prepare themselves for an evening of pulse pounding drama, plenty of near misses and close calls.

For a while now, many have wondered if Louis Litt had a heart. Indeed, this episode shows he does. In a rare show of emotion, Litt loses a beloved pet and it seems Rachel is the one who cheers him up. In a surprise scene between Rachel and Louis, the paralegal reaches out to the junior partner and there is a small moment when fans can see the unspoken thanks in Louis’ eyes. This adds another dimension of Louis’ character to the growing character pie that he exhibits, even though this episode doesn’t feature Litt doing much legal work.

Mike, on the other hand, is doing quite a lot of legal leg work this episode. He rises to the challenge of winning his first court case emancipating a minor from an abusive home. However, he also uncovers the truth of his client, a talented athlete despite being a minor, perjuring himself in court on the orders of a greedy sports agent.

Taking a tactic from Harvey’s playbook, Mike goes after the sports agent for misguiding Mike’s client in court. Though he won this case, it’s a hollow victory for Mike. In order to get rid of this sleazy sports agent, he rips up the contract declaring his client an emancipated minor. This aspect of the episode outlines the ‘by the book’ nature of the law as well as its grey areas, foreshadowing the ethical and personal challenges that legal work brings.

Much of this episode features Donna and Harvey as well as their relationship. Orbiting around Donna, excellently portrayed by Sarah Rafferty, this episode shows her as she tries to hide her mistake from Harvey only to have it compound one moment after the other. Things come to a boil as Donna is asked to depose herself on camera for the security of Harvey and the firm. Out of guilt, loyalty and respect, she makes a huge mistake that may end up costing Pearson Hardman its best closer and its whole reputation.

Harvey himself feels betrayed and lied to by more than one of the people closest to him. Showing the confident closer at his weakest “Break Point” also shows Harvey vulnerable and desperate. With none of his usual ploys to convince clients, witnesses or those suing him, Harvey is powerless to watch the events unfolding. He is helpless to watch one of the people he cares most about walk out of Pearson Hardman, maybe permanently. A candid scene between him and Jessica reveals Harvey’s acknowledgement of his mistakes to Jessica, unknowingly saving his position at Pearson Hardman.

Jessica Pearson and Daniel Hardman are both in fine form, the brewing war between the two taking a back seat but not forgotten. Whether Jessica is paranoid or Daniel is a schemer with a lying facade is yet to be determined, but fans watching will realize that Pearson and Hardman were once partners in a firm with a much longer letterhead. This shows that both Jessica and Daniel can be cutthroat when need be. After all, you don’t get to the top without breaking a few toes.

The next episode of Suits promises to keep the drama riding high even whilst there are changes taking place at Pearson Hardman. What is Harvey to do now that one of his key supports isn’t there? Will there be a last minute reveal save the day as the firm continues to come under fire? All of these questions and more are sure to be answered as things continue to heat up for all things legal and Suits related.

Rating: 4.5/5 for heart-stopping drama with an ending that will have you screaming ‘nooooooo’ until the wee hours of the morning. 

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Part of the Suits universe also includes plenty of relationship entanglements outside the civil war that is clearly coming to a head at Pearson Hardman. Rather than focusing on the legal matters that have come up, the show also addresses the friendships and near miss relationship between Rachel and Mike as well as Rachel and Donna Paulsen played by the lovely Sarah Rafferty.

There are three moments in total that elevate the entire episode in a multitude of ways, the simplest of which is Rachel and Donna pretending to be Michelle Ross and Harriet Specter, a pseudonym for the complicated men in their lives. The two women also get rare and valuable screen time together, just being two girls out on the town living out the dream of being lawyers rather than a paralegal and legal assistant respectively. Sarah Rafferty herself possesses such talent that a single raised brow says volumes about her intentions while Meghan Markle’s voice comes through confident and sexy. The energy this scene brings to the episode is much needed fun when compared to the next set of scenes where Rachel and Mike are featured alone.

If the bar scene between Rachel and Donna was fun, the two scenes between Rachel and Mike turn up the angst and heat for the entire episode. In one, Mike helps her write the ‘who are you’ paragraph for her new dating profile and reveals his thoughts of her and the depth of emotion that he still feels for her. Unmistakable is the respect and admiration Patrick Abrams portrays for his character Mike, adding touching, if general, compliments that turn into a revealing set of emotions that Mike tries to hide.

The second scene is more unexpected and full of emotion. Some men like surprises at their door late at night, but Mike isn’t so sure having Rachel make a surprise visit is a good idea. Her voice, full of emotional anguish, nails viewers to their seats as she pours out her heart to Mike about how he could possibly feel what he clearly feels and yet not be with her. Mike made his choices earlier in the season to keep his secret safe during the brewing war at Pearson Hardman, but is suffering for that choice as each episode progresses. Fans have been eager for more Rachel and Mike interaction and they certainly get it here.

Episode Three of Suits Season Two has so far been the best of the three aired this season. This one may end up a fan favorite with its surprising twists and turns between Harvey and Daniel as well as Rachel and Mike. Louis Litt’s part in the episode shows viewers another more welcome side of the junior partner’s persona, and yet it is the ending which surprises fans as Rachel conquers her fears and takes the LSAT exam once again. A sneak peak at the end episode three talks of a war that is brewing, but whether this is about the established war within Pearson Hardman or the entire firm banding together to face an outside threat remains to be seen.

Rating: 4.5/5 for an excellently crafted episode that only misses the mark with Mike and Harvey’s too traditional banter.

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Suits episode 3, titled ‘The New Boss,’ deals directly with Daniel Hardman’s return. Unlike with episode 2 where Hardman’s presence is an ever present shadow, the boss himself is back at the firm and throwing a wrench into the waterworks with boastful abandon. Daniel is more old school, coming from the belief that since his name is on the door of the firm, he can insert himself happily into any case he so chooses. It just so happens that he chooses a case that has been assigned to Harvey. As the Specter vs. Hardman battle resumes, Mike and Louis are caught in the cross fire and takes a few punches themselves. Between the brewing war and Mike’s affection for Rachel, nothing is safe at Pearson Hardman and the ending will come right out of left field to surprise viewers.

However, right off the bat, the tried and true formula where Mike does something good but messes up Harvey’s master plan is still too much like the misinformed teenager getting scolded by their parents. This routine is just that, routine. It’s getting old and while they’ve tried to leverage this with more screen time showing Mike doing great things on his own initiative to solve a case, it still backfires somewhat. If USA Network wanted to make the show more real by adding a dash of repetitive formulaic arguing that has a predictably happy resolution, they’ve succeeded.

That aside, this is a wonderfully tense episode in the developing arc of the storyline at Pearson Hardman and the Suits Universe. Overdue for some positive screen time is Louis Litt, played by Rick Hoffman, the man in charge of the associates. This is the kind of man who has a method to his madness, his years of experience influencing his Associates in unknowing ways. When a bad review of the firm lands in his lap Louis musters his best effort to prove to the Associates that not only is he the master of their quaint little universe. He challenges each and every one of them to gamble their careers on switching firms to see if there are better opportunities than those at Pearson Hardman. It cannot be said that this aspect of Louis’ character is such a departure from his usual sly apathetic facade and it further opens dimensions of his personality to viewers.

As the two most visible Senior and Junior partner respectively, there is a healthy give and take rivalry between the two that Harvey seems to just barely edge out over Louis. The so called ‘best closer in the city’ does have that visible edge over Louis and soon Jessica needs to see Louis’ value or lose him for good. Louis gives Jessica a verbal notice that just like he gives the associates a chance to rise to the occasion and do well, Louis would love the same chance to do that for Jessica. It’s a heartbreaking moment between one person and another, where Louis seeks Jessica’s approval and favor but rarely seems to get it.

Louis and Harvey themselves have a brilliantly sculpted moment together in a scene not often shot between the two bantering rivals: this episode features the bond rather than the rivalry that these two men have. Forged together by long nights as Associates themselves when they were younger while being hammered with work that the current Associates would never have imagined, Louis and Harvey remark on their own careers and Louis inadvertently gives Harvey the smoking gun that Harvey needs to win his case.

Harvey Specter, ace closer of the city, continually butts heads with returning founder Daniel Hardman in a civil war that is fast spilling out of the small trenches and into the open fields of the firm’s bullpen. Hardman’s character has recently lost his wife, as she was incidentally being used as leverage to keep Hardman away from the firm due to his extramarital affair. This was covered earlier in the season premier but bears repeating because, although Hardman claims he’s a changed man from before, he is hardly the push over that Jessica and Harvey hope he would be upon returning.

Like his name, Hardman’s personality is hard to deal with, and Harvey is seen in a rare moment upstaged by Hardman in a courtroom due to an old connection from Daniels past. Daniel Hardman is the kind of guy who will gleefully wave good bye at you as you slip off a cliff side rather than help you. He is a man who is more at home as a snake in the grass; he and Harvey have wildly different approaches to dealing with the current case that is on the table during this episode.

Stay tuned as part 2 of our review covers more of the romantic entanglements in the Suits Universe.

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An episode of revealing “Choices”, Episode 2 of ‘Suits’ Season 2′s very appropriate title kicks off the war between returning firm co-founder, Daniel Hardman, played by David Costabile and co-founder, Jessica Pearson, played by Gina Torres. As we now know Mike Ross, played by Patrick J. Adams, gets to keep his job because Harvey Specter, played by Gabriel Macht, bargained them both in a heart stopping gamble with Jessica in Episode One. Now, episode two opens with Mike wanting to see Rachel, but running unexpectedly into Jessica. Will the hard-nosed co-founder indulge in Mike’s apology, or will she steam-roll Mike’s apology with a scathing rebuke of her own?

The feeling of the episode is hopeful from the start but does nothing to hide the growing tension that is ramping up at the Pearson and Hardman firm. Lines will be drawn in this episode and so far the cards will fall predictably until the appropriate build up for the coming third episode. A lull in dramatic tension this is not, as the episode starts off rather steamy.

Revealed in the first episode of this new exciting season, Rachel, played by Meghan Markle, left Mike that rather revealing voice message that lingered as one of the cliffhangers from season One. Fans eager for a resolution certainly get what they want, just not how they want it. As the episode is about choice, Mike decides to make his feelings known to Rachel in a rather well executed, if ill timed, kiss. If fans think this is enough to drive the story forward, they’d only be partially right.

The next aspect of this episode features the repercussions from episode one. Fans will recall that Harvey gambled both his and Mike’s job on a bluff to Jessica, mostly because Jessica needed every key player in her corner and couldn’t afford to lose Harvey just when she needs to fight her hardest against Daniel Hardman. Thus, Mike keeps his job because of Harvey, but now Mike wants to tell his deep dark secret to Rachel because he can’t stand to lie to her. This is an excellent catch-22 scenario where Mike is stuck between two equally damning consequences.

Yet in the end Mike does lie to her, an ironic twist of his own because in order to keep his job he can’t tell Rachel that he’s not a real lawyer and gives the reason that he can’t be with her is because he loves his job too much to jeopardize things. This isn’t a full untruth but is accurate enough to placate fans. Still, this part of the story is brittle at best and teases fans with a Mike and Rachel relationship for all of one episode before yanking viewers in another direction. This does heighten drama to a degree, but doesn’t feel as organic because Mike and Rachel haven’t had time to fully understand their relationship at the start of the new, previously uncomplicated, season.

On the other side of the war, Mr. Hardman himself isn’t actually in the episode but makes his presence felt like a dark shadow, casting doubt and dissent amongst the employee’s at Pearson Hardman. Everything about this episode permeates Hardman’s goal of winning over Associates and partners alike, from something as simple as a fruit plate for the Associates to show his appreciation, all the way to unilaterally making changes to the firms’ structural layout.

Harvey is given an assignment by Jessica and he completes the task in his usual fashion, by steamrolling everyone in his way. The consequences of his actions, though, worry Jessica since Harvey’s one hammer to every nail approach isn’t the most subtle of gestures and earns Harvey plenty of enemies left and right.

Deserving of amazing praise is the role of Louis Litt, played by Rick Hoffman. It cannot be said enough that Hoffman is a talented actor, providing the slightly evil overlord feeling as he controls the Associates with an iron fist. In this episode his loyalties are divided as he overcomes confusion in the chain of command. Now that Hardman is back, Louis needed confirmation that he was still a valued asset to Jessica. Having sought her praises earlier in the first season, he finds himself with the considerable task of securing his job at Pearson Hardman. The tension in this character stems from his insecurities and his need to be valued, a feeling where many viewers will sympathize with Louis’s character.

In the past, Louis may have willingly followed Jessica, but now he grudgingly seems to do so, having come into a confidence that he didn’t have earlier in the series. His insecurities done with, Louis Litt seems to be on the rise within the Suits universe as he takes on the role of becoming Daniel Hardman’s right hand man. There is little known about Louis’ past, but merely that there are some skeletons in his closet just like anyone else.

This season of Suits so far seems to be a soaring rollercoaster of events that transpire quickly and in unexpected ways. As many second seasons of a great show proceed, more back-story on some of the more popular secondary characters comes to light. In this episode alone, something is revealed about Donna that adds a great deal of depth and history to her character. It is these little morsels of information that bring the characters to life, making fans all the more involved in the show through the knowledge of intimate secrets.

Rating: 4/5 for great drama that felt only a tad rushed

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The first season of USANetwork’s Suits ended on a cliffhanger. Having started with 12 amazing episodes, the first season was conservative in length, preferring to pack each episode with as much drama, suspense and witty banter as possible. The first season set up mentor Harvey Specter and associate Mike Ross in the Pearson Hardman lawfirm, both as lawyers. Specter’s character, played by Gabriel Macht, is one of the city’s best lawyers while Mike Ross, played by Patrick Adams, gains the unlikely position of associate in the law firm thanks to a photographic memory. The only catch? Mike Ross isn’t a real lawyer and eventually someone was bound to find out.

Season 2 picks up where the first ended, with Mike’s former best friend, Trevor, casting suspicion upon Mike’s good reputation to Jessica Pearson, the managing partner and founder of Pearson Hardman. Mike’s current girlfriend, Jenny, used to go out with Trevor and as revenge, Trevor went to Jessica Pearson. If that were not enough, Trevor also made sure Mike never got the messages from his real love interest, Rachel.

In this case however, information comes to light for everyone except Rachel and all cards are face up on the table. Mike finds out about Trevor’s betrayals, Jenny finds out Mike’s real feelings. Mike threatens Trevor with his financial stability and Rachel spurns Mike’s company. This specific aspect of the show could have been done with more suspense, but this legal drama focuses on a much more controversial topic-Mike’s status within Pearson Hardman.

The discoveries of Mike’s real credentials by Jessica as well as the return of firm co-founder Daniel Hardman, played by David Costabile, are the two focal points of this episode. While all of the legal proceedings take place for Mike, as his mentor and boss Harvey gives him a special multimillion dollar case to handle on top of the huge caseload he has as a regular Associate. The commander of these Associates is the unpleasant Louis Litt, fantastically acted by Rick Hoffman.

Mike himself doubts Harvey’s support at Pearson Hardman, but both come to the realization that they need each other, though Harvey never says those actual words. Mike and Harvey, the two stars of the show, still have their consistently witty banter, but this season makes things more serious. This is a pleasant aspect of the show that was also seen during the first season but this time the stakes are higher, more real. Fans will catch onto this quickly as tempers flare in the show, with strong facades coming to the fore.

Harvey risked a lot to keep Mike with him as an Associate during the first season and the same can be said for this season as well, putting not only his partnership at Pearson Hardman on the line but his entire career as well. He brilliantly shows his loyalty to Mike and to Jessica in a lesser extent, gathering them in a unified, fully informed defense against their common enemy as he comes to play ball after being exiled for a number of years from the firm.

The return of Daniel Hardman, much like his name attributes, is anything but soft and smooth for Co-founder Jessica and Senior Partner Harvey. While no other partners were featured in the show in this episode or last season very often, more may come up in the future. This will leave some fans wondering if there are outside players that are yet to be revealed, adding to the sense of mystery in this episode.

In the meantime, Daniel Hardman’s dastardly return will cause a much anticipated civil war between all the key players in the firm. Known for his unscrupulous dealings in the past and apparently turning a new leaf ‘for the good of the firm’, Hardman’s return spells disaster. Harvey and Jessica were the ones who blackmailed him into exile ‘for the good of the firm’ as well.

Beyond the morale challenges and the civil war, the writers of the show are smart to tie in back story created from Season One to further the storyline in the Season Two premier. Case in point, Mike’s digital fingerprint inside the Harvard Law database is squeaky clean and 100% falsified. A hacker from one of Mike’s cases in Season One set up his entry in the database.

The bad news, though, is the hacker didn’t go into the undergraduate degrees and do the same. This saves Mike on the surface just like it did in the first season, but now with Jessica digging into his past, she knows about Mike’s missing credentials and is on the warpath. Including the Harvard Law Alumni database was a stroke of genius as far as credentials goes and their existence says more to Jessica than their absence does. This clues her into the fact that Harvey himself may have known all along that Mike Ross wasn’t a real lawyer. The writing for this part of the show was seamlessly integrated with the rest and intelligent to boot too.

Confronting Mike at the end of the episode, fans are wondering if Jessica Pearson, who is much younger than co-founder Daniel Hartman, has a photographic memory just like Mike does. Could that have been the secret to her success? She starts quizzing Mike about how he impressed Harvey. This is an excellent tie in with Jessica’s past and opens doors for more character exploration. Her conversations with Mike reveal more of his past as well, an excellent way to frame both histories.

An excellent beginning for the second season of a great show, Suits appears to be heating up more than ever with lines in the sand being drawn in the near future. Who will fall on the side of Daniel Hardman vs Jessica and Harvey? The answers will surprise us all, with at least one anticipated surprise addition to Hardman’s team that no one will see coming. Suits airs on USA Network on Thursdays at 10 pm Eastern Time.

Rating: 4.5- Excellent but lacking a few expanded elements

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