‘SUITS,’ SEASON ONE (2011)

USA Network shows are not only well produced but they have “something” that is missing from the majority of primetime television. They make us sit up and take notice. The scripts are not “just” funny, the seasons are actually collectively intelligent shows that wage battles of wills and as a bonus, some truly fantastic wit.

Suits, Season One (2011) USA TV Review

Life is one big party for Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams). He has a brilliant mind that can read something once and retain the entire text. Instead of putting that to good use, he squanders it on taking college tests for a price and spending the money on drugs. A college drop-out, Mike is about to do a “favor” for his drug-dealing friend when he realizes it was a set up. This leads him straight into interviews for Harvard graduates applying for an associate position at Pearson Hardman law firm – one of the most prestigious law firms in New York. Mistaken for an applicant, Mike uses the opportunity (or perhaps it was the drugs spilling out of his briefcase) to his advantage in order to escape custody.

Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht) is the city’s most sought after attorney. He’s good at his job and not only does he know it but his boss, Jessica Pearson (Gina Torres) is too aware of it. She knows she needs him. His call-it-like-it-is attitude always gets results. Giving him the promotion of Senior Partner over Harvey’s rival Louis Litt (Rick Hoffman) means Harvey needs an associate. Bored stiff by the carbon-copy Harvard grads he interviews, Harvey tells his assistant, Donna (Sarah Rafferty) as much when in walks Mike. Through a series of events, Mike confesses everything and going against protocol, Harvey hires the man… with stipulations.

Superficially, this show might suggest it is an airhead premise that features a lot of clean-cut men sporting 500-hundred dollar haircuts and 800-hundred dollar suits. In reality it’s a whole lot more than that. In all honestly, the pilot is, mediocre. I like it well enough to continue, but don’t see the show as reaching its full potential. To be fair, you have to give this show at least two to three episodes before passing final judgment. Once you’re “in,” there is little to stop us from fully committing to these characters; despite the fact that we are too often disappointed in their choices. This network builds a reputation on being a “clean-cut,” sharp storyteller. 

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Suits has such fabulous banter between characters that it’s not easy to resist the fast pace and its purpose which has just a hint of blackmail backing it. Some of the legal jargon goes over my head because it’s not my forte but that shouldn’t keep viewers from checking this one out. All of the characters are likable but… their propensity to engage in immoral activities may cause some conservative audiences to cringe at their stupidity. At their best, the characters are some of the funniest, most humanly flawed I’ve encountered yet. (Donna in particular is hilarious.) Also rounding out the supporting cast is the pretty paralegal, Rachel Zane (Meghan Markle); the girl who has the smarts to be a lawyer, but she remains one test away from fulfilling that dream.

At its heart, the show is really about learning how to lay the past to rest to right the wrongs of a sordid past. Mike is given a second chance by Harvey, who see a lot of promise in the young man. It demonstrates how the people we surround ourselves with do matter. It matters who we hang out with. The bad drags us down a lot quicker than the good. Various episodes surprise with the story-telling and ability to allow us a glimpse of the good in characters who mask their feelings but a drive to always win. There’s unanswered questions in season one’s cliffhanger; however I suspect the second season will investigate some of these. For now, season one is a strong start that if it were to use a touch more discretion has a whole lot of potential.

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You can find Suits, season one digitally on Amazon Video

Content: Mike uses drugs [off-camera] and remarks that he needs to stop getting “stoned.” [He disposes of drugs once.] There is social drinking. In 12 episodes, there are probably three-five sexual scenes; one has two lawyers undressing one another, another sees two people undressing each other before fading out. [There is an implied one-night stand.] There are multiple innuendoes. Profanity consists of sh*t, da*n, etc but the most used expression is GD [especially in the pilot and usually needlessly]. The show is TV14.