
Last, but by no means, least, Suits is my #1 pick of the summer.
As y’all know, due to technical difficulties, a DVR hiccup at the beginning of August wiped out about two years of programming. Among the shows that went poof was Suits, which I’d been dutifully recording every week and kept meaning to watch but hadn’t gotten around to yet, and then the eps were gone. Something or other flipped a switch for me a couple of weeks ago when I saw they were double running them on Thursdays and I thought, what the hell, I’ll bite now and catch up later. Holy cats, y’all. This is some damn good TV.
I labeled Gabriel Macht a summer crush before the show even started, so I was going to watch it regardless, but now that I’ve seen all of the episodes so far, I’m just giddy that he has this role. Thank you to whomever it was in casting that saw Harvey Specter in him. I think this could finally be the role that defines him.
USA is amazing at doing that for actors–if they would just get on board with campaigning the hell out of them for Emmys (Tony Shalhoub aside). I had some seriously dark, mad love for Jeffrey Donovan when he did Touching Evil for USA in the spring and summer of 2004, but the show didn’t take. Cut to three years later and USA put him in Burn Notice, which is wrapping its fifth season. While the Touching Evil role defined him for me, Michael Westen is the role that crystallized Donovan for audiences. I think Specter is going to be that role for Macht.
If I can word play a minute, I don’t think Harvey is a specter at all. I think he reveals what he wants you to know when it suits (heh) him, not you, best. I love, love, love that he is intensely loyal to Mike, to Donna, to Jessica, and to the firm, and equally intense in his dislike for Louis (who I think gets away with too much and is sometimes a detractor to my enjoyment of the show, but I digress).
I love that we don’t go into court every week and that there’s usually some sort of legal sleight of hand that somehow saves the day. I’m not generally a fan of love geometry, so I hope that the season closes with Mike definitely choosing Rachel or Jenny or neither of them. If he decides to play them both against the middle, we’re going to have a chat.
Another “up top” to the casting department for Patrick J. Adams, who has been doing one off-work TV in Canada and the States and has just nailed it as Mike. His rhythm with Macht is damn near danceable. I like that we’ve seen Mike tepidly step into this new life, and then bolstered by his sometimes-accidental successes and backhanded attaboys from Harvey, realize he maybe actually does have a gift for this. I like that he challenges Harvey. I don’t like that they dropped the arc with his grandmother and instead essentially replaced her role with Jenny (not like that!).

I like that Harvey is quietly in control except for when he’s not and he acknowledges that maybe he doesn’t have all of the answers. I’d like to know how it is that he doesn’t seem to have a relationship with Rachel at all. Or is Rachel supposed to be Mike’s Donna? I really liked that when Harvey’s co-counsel with benefits, Scotty, dropped the bomb that she’s getting married, it genuinely rattled him, but he closed the door on the relationship like a gentleman.
I adore Gina Torres in the role of Jessica. I love that she can goof with Harvey about Top Gun references, look the other way when he needs to investigate her friend, defend him down to the ground when his credibility is challenged, and come down on him hard when he’s out of line. I’m so used to her being a vixen or a villain, so it’s a treat to see her be a complete, strong woman here.
I love the Canadian HITG guest star parade because the show shoots in Toronto, especially that three of Gabriel’s co-stars in his NBC series The Others, John Billingsley and John Aylward (who were regulars) and James Morrison, have popped by. Next season, let’s work in the rest (The Others had an awesome cast!). P.S. Let’s also get Gabriel’s dad to do an episode!
So many thoughts. It’s like mainlining a season of DVDs in a weekend. I’ve watched ten episodes over about five days so I’m just silly excited about this show. I’m late, but I got here. The season finale airs Thursday at 10 pm ET on USA (no marathon beforehand–boo!), and season two debuts next year. Booyah!
Heather M
Related posts
Classics
John Griffin and Harold Perrineau Talk From on EPIX Season 1 Finale
[Warning: General spoilers ahead.] How are we doing, #FROMily? In case you missed it this morning, the very good news is that that cliffhanger will be followed by a second season, which was gifted this morning ahead of the linear broadcast of the finale. I always legitimately appreciate when we…
Elizabeth Saunders Talks EPIX’s From
[Warning: General spoilers ahead.] One of the things that makes EPIX’s From such a fun ride is the abundance of Canadian cast members. Elizabeth Saunders, who plays Donna, is a favorite from her turn on the third season of Mary Kills People, which US audiences still have not been able…
Corteon Moore Talks From “Broken Windows, Open Doors”
[Warning: Spoilers for tonight’s episode.] Tonight’s episode of From had us all in our feels as we learned through flashbacks about the Sophie’s Choice Boyd had to make to save his son, and back in the present as Boyd said his piece with Ellis before heading into the woods with…
Pegah Ghafoori Talks From “All Good Things…”
[Warning: Spoilers for tonight’s episode] Tonight on From, Fatima’s anniversary celebration turned into a Colony House of horrors when a misguided Kevin let his monster bae in and she promptly killed him and left the window open for her crew. While the party devolved into terror and sent everyone running,…
Shaun Majumder Talks From “Book 74”
[Warning: Spoilers for tonight’s episode.] Tonight on EPIX’s From, Father Khatri made a bold move, kidnapping Sara instead of turning her in, and then recognizing her as a vessel for some big messages. That startling realization speaks to him on multiple levels–as a man of faith, a man trapped in…
Avery Konrad Talks About Sara’s Struggle in From “Silhouettes”
[Warning: Spoilers for tonight’s episode.] Over the course of the season so far on From, we’ve witnessed Sara’s battle against the voices telling her to to do terrible things, and tonight we saw her unravel further, threatening the Matthews and lashing out in a moment of terror with horrifying results….
Hannah Cheramy Talks From “Choosing Day”
[Warning: Spoilers for tonight’s episode.] Tonight, on EPIX’s From, the Matthews participate in the show’s version of the sorting hat, choosing where to call home–the town or Colony House. At the end of the episode, Julie makes the decision to split from her family and instead settle in with Fatima…
Ricky He Talks From “The Way Things Are Now”
[Warning: Spoilers for episode 102 of EPIX’s From.] Epix’s new series From is two episodes in and it’s already laying the groundwork for a seriously spooky season. Tonight’s episode demonstrated the careful balance of relief and horror that the show hits, with our characters’ worst fears realized, just not when…
Catching Up with Ted Lasso and Previewing Season 2
[Warning: General spoilers ahead.] The not so dirty little secret about how I approach a new series is that I sometimes make a call based on the headspace I’m in at the time. It’s been a minute since I’ve picked up a show after the first season and then binge…
Interview: Henri Esteve on Grown-ish Season 3
An interview with Henri Esteve, who plays Javi on Freeform’s Grown-ish. He talks about his season three experience.
What They Said: Three Revealing Conversations from Survivor’s Remorse “Closure”
WARNING: Spoilers for Survivor’s Remorse “Closure” The latest episode of Starz’s Survivor’s Remorse featured conversations that showed characters really digging deep into their thoughts, emotions and motivations.
Two Takes: The Catch “The Knock-Off”
Who can you trust? If this episode of The Catch was any indication, the answer is just about nobody. Betrayal was running rampant as Felicity (Shivani Ghai) arose from the dead to seduce-con Margot, Gretchen (Maria Thayer, Gotham, The Mindy Project) played gold-hearted Alice 2.0 before swindling Ethan, Tessa jumped…
What They Said: Top 3 Quotable Moments from Preacher “El Valero”
Both Quincannon and Jesse refuse to give up on what they each think is rightfully theirs. While Jesse is struggling to face the consequences of his actions, Quincannon has laid his past demons to rest and is hellbent on moving forward and putting Annville on the map again. Despite a…
What They Said: Favorite Quotes from Supergirl “Worlds Finest”
Oh, Supergirl. That ending was cold. But I can’t hate on you because the latest episode has quickly become one of my favorites.
What They Said: Top 4 Quotable Moments from Black Sails “XXIII”
The dialogue in “XXIII” is phenomenal. It’s always a fun ride when Black Sails carries its viewers along without giving them the chance to catch their breath. When an episode moves at this unforgiving pace, there is no chance for a breather nor is there a respite from the information…
What Lucifer Said: Favorite quotes from Supernatural “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”
Supernatural episodes are almost always funny but thanks to the dialogue and a certain man speaking said dialogue, I laughed a lot during “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” You know, when I wasn’t busy fearing for Sam’s life or wondering what in the world was going on with Dean and…
What They Said: The Flash, “Legends Of Today” and Arrow, “Legends Of Yesterday”
Two nights of Arrow + The Flash = what more could we ask for?! I don’t know what it is about blending these shows, but I can’t help but feel that every time they come together, they somehow become greater than the sum of their parts. And that’s saying a lot…
What they Said: Top 4 Quotable Moments from Graceland “Little Bo Bleep”
Shoot outs. Fake outs. And long-awaited revelations. “Little Bo Bleep” was a jam-packed episode that wrapped up some loose ends and totally frayed others. Â It finally gave us one Sarkissian in jail and pulled back the curtain on Briggs’ master plan, but it also set up Jakes for a world…
What They Said: Favorite Quotes from Poldark “Part 4”
“What have I told you, I don’t require my wife to crochet and sip tea, but I do require her to remember she’s not a beast of burden.†No, I’m not talking about The Rolling Stones! I have to admit though, just for a second, the lyrics popped into my…
3 Moments of Goodness from Brooklyn Nine-Nine “Johnny and Dora”
The most satisfying part of this season’s finale has to the Jake and Amy kiss. Well, they kiss three times but the last one is the best one — and it means something. The Charles and Rosa dynamic was also great. I love how she’s convinced he doesn’t know anything…