Suits – Season 2 Episode 5 – Recap – Break Point
TVOh Suits, please stop breaking my heart. The previews made it appear that civil war and internal strife were going to be the overall theme for this season. While that still may be true, I would argue that another idea has been more prominent for the first part of this season: expectations will be challenged. Before Season 2 began, there was a couple of concepts that I think everyone always expected to be constant for this show. Harvey and Jessica would always be tight. Harvey and Donna would be tighter. Louis would be the consummate villain. Harvey would always win. Five episodes in, however, we have seen each of those ideas challenged to various degrees. Tonight, it was all about the relationship between Harvey and Donna being questioned.
I will be honest from the upfront; Donna is my favorite character on Suits. What started as a one-note, comedic character, turned into somebody with so much depth and heart that I could not help but root for her in any situation. Sarah Rafferty is an amazing actress, and she really brings a presence to Donna that just resonates with me. Therefore, I was crushed to watch what happened to Donna this episode. It was more than the firing, which had me tearing up, it was also that her biggest ally in Harvey let her down. Like I said, everyone has always assumed that Harvey and Donna were an inseparable team. Tonight, however, not only did Harvey fail Donna, it became clear that he really takes her for granted on a certain level.
Originally, I was having trouble trying to figure out why Donna would not tell Harvey right away about the memo when she found it. I mean, they have this amazing bond in my opinion, and it just seemed so out of character and something being done for the sake of drama for the show. In other words, it just did not fit her for me. After the fight in the bathroom between Harvey and Donna, however, I think I am starting to get it.
While Harvey could always rely on Donna to have his back, it is clear that Donna does not feel the same way. That entire fight was an accusation on Donna’s part—that Harvey could do and only would do so much to help her when she truly needed it. I think this became even more apparent when you consider Donna’s conversation with Mike earlier. Donna calling out Mike on his lie was more than a defensive move in that moment. Just like Jessica, I do not think she can help but be a little hurt by Harvey taking on so much risk for a kid he did not know. Here was Harvey, a man who would take forever to trust and let people in, just taking some stranger under his wing. Furthermore, he goes and does this while knowingly putting his relationship with Jessica at risk. When you consider all of those things together, it is not shocking that Donna would feel like Harvey could not be completely trusted in that moment.
This brings me back to my original point, that preconceived notions are being tested this season. I must say it is to the show’s extreme credit that they are going this route so quickly and early not only in the season, but also in the series in general. I do not think five episodes in anybody would have predicted this is where Suits stands in Season 2: Donna’s been fired, Harvey is losing control, Louis is a human being, Jessica is constantly fighting for her life, and so on. That is a beautiful thing, people, and something to be cherished. So many shows rest on their laurels, and it is great to see that there is no sophomore slump here.
Quick hits:
Donna!!!!!!!!!! Lady, you do not shred evidence! That is a felony! Do not do that to me! Orange is not your color! It is not any redhead’s color! I just cannot with her firing. I am not kidding, I legitimately teared up when Jessica fired her. She just looked so unbelievably vulnerable, which not something we really see from Donna ever. I know she will be back, but I cannot help but feel a part of me died there.
Going along with the theme of the season, there goes Harvey proving he is not as good as we all originally believed. Actually, he kind of sucks backed into a real corner, doesn’t he? I have been saying forever how interesting it would be to watch Harvey not have complete control in a situation and wondering what he would do. Apparently, the answer is become very erratic and idiotic. He really is taking a throw everything at it to see what sticks approach this season to his problems, and it is not serving him well. As I have been saying, Harvey has not had any real pressure on him for a while, and it shows. Hopefully he pulls it together, but next week’s preview does not make it look likely.
And so the humanization of Louis continues. His scenes with Harold and the cat were funny, and his crying over Bruno’s death was sweet. It was really that last scene with Rachel though, that was quite touching. I am starting to love that man, and what is more, I am totally not conflicted about that. Well done writers, well done.
Does anybody else like Rachel better when she is interacting with other people besides Mike? Do not get me wrong, I fully support there relationship, she just does not seem so hung up when she deals with the likes of Louis or talks with Donna. She just seems so much freer and more comfortable.
So the Jessica and Daniel pissing match continues. God, those two are just playing on a different level than the rest of the office, aren’t they? I guess that is what it takes to get your name on the stationary.
Although, the best battle of the night goes to Donna and Allison. Fan-f**king-tastic. I lived for that moment, and could watch them circle each other every damn day.
Somebody want to explain to me how Jessica and Harvey let Mike go to court? I know what they are doing is illegal already, but is that not a step above? Maybe they are all “in for a penny, in for a pound” about it, but that just seems so lazy. Weak writing there, as far as I am concerned.
No Trevor or Jenny, yay!
No Grandma Ross, boo!
So where does the show go from here? Harvey’s downward spiral seems inevitable. Poor Jessica, she must feel like she backed the wrong horse right now. Louis is looking better and better each day.
