Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Suits 5x01 "Denial" (Fixed Point)


"Denial"
Original Airdate: June 24, 2015

There are a lot of inevitabilities in life that I don't enjoy accepting. Chief among them? "Change is a part of life." As a perfectionist and a bit of a control freak and yeah, someone who deals with anxiety, I don't really adjust well to change. I love schedules. I love routines. I love normalcy. I take the same route to work day after day. I eat at the same places, for the most part. I shop at the same grocery stores. And to some people, this sounds appealing. To some it sounds absolutely dull. The reason that I'm often so fearful of change is because change is unpredictable. It's an unknown. I don't like how I can't plan for the unknown variables. I'd rather live in denial of change occurring than embrace it. (It's a character flaw I'm working through.)

Last season of Suits, the finale smacked us in the face (a few times) with some heavy emotional whiplash. Donna left Harvey. Donna left Harvey because she needed to be healthy and staying with him -- working for him when he couldn't be honest with her and when he pushed aside his and her feelings repeatedly -- was not healthy. It was a cycle. So Donna broke it and she decided to quit and work for Louis. See, in "Not Just A Pretty Face," Louis vocalized how important Donna truly was. He told her -- genuinely -- in the episode that she was valuable. And he backed his words up with actions: he listened to Donna when she told him that he was dealing with grief over losing Norma and that's why he was yelling obscenities. Donna was able to glean something from that relationship, with those interactions, that was sorely missing in her relationship with Harvey.

So she left. And that left Harvey wrecked. Throughout the entire premiere, Harvey is stuck in that very common, very first stage of grief: denial. He doesn't think the change is permanent. Six weeks after Donna leaves, he's in a therapist's office and he doesn't want to tell her the real reason he can't sleep, the whole story of what happened with Donna, or admit that he has a problem. Pride has always been one of Harvey's greatest vices. It's an amazing weapon when he's in the midst of a trial or a fight at the firm, on occasion. Pride often motivates Harvey to get the job done when nothing else will. But pride leads to denial and in the season premiere, we find that the ripple effects of Harvey's denial are far-reaching and of great consequence. Let's discuss it a bit more, including the effects on Mike/Rachel, Louis and Donna's new relationship, and Harvey's breakdowns.

Harvey/Donna

I'm going to dive right into the Harvey/Donna of it all. Six weeks after Donna left Harvey, he's still not adjusting well. He claims -- to his therapist -- that he can't sleep. But, as we learn in this episode, that's not the real reason Harvey came to see her and continues to see her (and continues to request anti-anxiety medication). We'll get to that momentarily but let's talk about everything that leads up to the audience's moment of clarity. Harvey... isn't functioning well without Donna. He's off his game and it takes a lot to throw Harvey. Why is he thrown off his game, do you ask? Oh. Right. Because Donna no longer works for him. Initially, she requests two weeks' time to try and find him a replacement secretary. But then, she decides to forgo that plan and begin working for Louis immediately. The pain is so palpable in Harvey throughout the episode that you feel if you were in the room, you would be able to reach out and touch it on his shoulder. Immense credit to Gabriel Macht who did absolutely spectacular things with Harvey Specter as a character in this episode. I'll effusively praise him more later but... man. If I could throw an award at anyone right now, it would be him.

Harvey distracts himself with work, like he often does, in this episode. And -- not so ironically -- the case-of-the-week has a lot of underlying thematic material that parallels what Harvey is going through. Fancy that, right? #subtext #byCalvinKlein (... Someone PLEASE get this reference. Thanks.) The case is about loyalty and change, which are two things of utmost importance in Harvey's life during "Denial," whether he accepts or likes them or not.

It's hard to put into words exactly what Harvey and Donna's relationship means. We know that they love one another. They, as Jessica states, are closer than most lovers, even if they're not -- currently -- falling under that label. In fact, Jessica even goes so far as to tell Harvey in this episode that Scottie leaving didn't affect him nearly as much as Donna leaving did. Donna is Harvey's rock. She's his constant, his companion, his partner, his best friend. In Doctor Who, when The Doctor discusses time travel, he notes things that are "fixed points" in history. They have to remain unchanged -- they're natural disasters or historic events that have had such an impact on time that we measure it by them or by their place in the timeline of human history. To Harvey, Donna is a fixed point. Until she's not. Think about Harvey Specter for a moment, please. This is a man who's dealt with insecurity issues because people leave him. And then there's Donna. She's unlike any other woman he has ever known. She's literally everything to him and if that sounds romantic, I'm sorry, but that's exactly what it is.

Harvey has never had to learn how to live without Donna (with the exception of a few brief periods of time). So of course he brushes off the idea of her leaving him permanently. Of course he busies himself with work and dreams -- literally -- of being carefree and joking with Jessica. He's afraid. No. He's terrified. He's terrified of who he is without her. I'd go so far as to say that he's terrified of whether or not he can actually BE without her -- if he even knows what Harvey Specter looks like if he's not a part of Harvey-and-Donna. (Quite a great role reversal of a trope, really: typically it would be the woman trying to figure out who she is without her male partner.)

I have no doubt in my mind that Harvey loves Donna. And I think he loves her in more ways and deeper than he even has words for. Because quite honestly at this point, I don't think he wants to have the capability to understand what his love for her actually means. I think he COULD have that capability. I just don't think he wants to. Everything that happens in "Denial" builds toward the moment where Harvey is desperate for help on a case and asks Donna for a favor. But Donna, having being snapped at by Louis, stands her ground. She can't do one thing for Harvey. Because one thing leads to two things and before they know it, she's doing work for him again so that he can pretend nothing in their relationship has changed. Recall that this is exactly why Donna needed to leave in the first place. And that's when Harvey loses it.

It's when he has a panic attack.

Okay, this is where I'm going to dote on Gabriel Macht for a moment. What an amazing performance in this episode, was it not? What a raw, believable, vulnerable Harvey Specter, too. Harvey literally has a panic attack because Donna tells him that he's on his own. Why is that the trigger? Because for the first time since barking orders at Mike and Rachel, busying himself with clients, and brushing off conversations with Jessica and avoiding Louis and Donna... Harvey realized he was alone. And loneliness and abandonment scare him more than anything else in the world. Harvey's constantly afraid, because of his past, that the people he loves will leave him. And so far, the track record really isn't doing anything to negate that theory. Harvey explains to his therapist what happened next: he felt his chest cracking open. He felt like he was drowning. He threw up. Every single emotion in that scene is just so real and so true and so well-acted. Gabriel Macht has the chance to do what he hasn't done much in Suits in "Denial": he gets to play a very unguarded, terrified, battered Harvey Specter. It's so amazing in how raw it is, in how Macht's performance begs us to lean closer, to watch the fear and the tears in Harvey's eyes, and to empathize with him. And we do. We truly do because even though it's Harvey's stubbornness and his pride and his ego that keep causing him to push Donna away, to push his emotions away... we still don't want him to suffer. That's fascinating to me.

Anyway, back to panic attacks. They are awful. I know because I've had two before. Having a panic attack? It feels like you're dying. But you're NOT dying and the worst part is that you know it, too. Rationally, you know that you're not dying and that your anxiety is the cause. But when you can't breathe and you can't think of a way to calm yourself down, none of that matters at all. Harvey's therapist tells him that if he admits what's actually going on -- what's truly triggering the panic attacks -- he'll be able to stop them. But Harvey is still stubborn, even up until the end of this episode, and he doesn't tell his therapist what we presume to be true (that he has more feelings for Donna than he's allowing himself to admit aloud and that's toxic). She provides him with anti-anxiety medication and when Harvey sees Louis and Donna celebrating their first big win and their new partnership, he heads into the bathroom on the verge of another attack and then... he flushes the medication down the toilet.

At the end of the episode, Harvey appears to be doing a little bit better. But I think it's because he realizes the more he pushes against change, the more he is hurting himself. Because when you push against an inevitable wall, your arms will get beaten up and you'll become exhausted, but the wall will remain. The only way to adjust to an inevitable is by learning how to cope. I still don't think that Harvey is miraculously "healed." I think he's still going to encounter a lot of issues in this season of Suits. I think he needs therapy because I think he's in love with Donna and until he admits that aloud, I think there will constantly be a barrier between him and her that he's constructed and she's maintained. So do I think that these two crazy kids have a shot with each other eventually? Yes. It's clear from "Denial" that Donna is still very much in love with Harvey and that Harvey can't imagine a world without Donna in it -- cannot imagine his LIFE without Donna in it.

But just like the stages of grief, sometimes you have to move one tiny step at a time. And as long as you're moving forward, you'll be fine.

Louis/Donna

Show of hands: who's so happy about the cake at the end of this episode? Whose eyes got a little bit misty? Mine did. I love the relationship between Louis and Donna because I think it's one of the most criminally underrated on this show. I dig the Harvey/Mike bromance. I love the Harvey/Donna stuff. I think that Rachel and Donna work great together. But I love the layers of complexity and respect that are present in Louis and Donna's relationship. In "Denial," their relationship is a bit fluid, moving forward and backward in waves which all rest on one truth: Louis believes everyone will leave him so he treats them like they will. If Harvey's greatest vice is his pride, then Louis' is his self-doubt. Louis is plagued with the idea that he cannot be what anyone ever wants. It's not an unfounded belief because people HAVE left him. But it's what Louis does with this belief that's so damaging -- he wields it as a weapon and doesn't allow other people in. He pushes them out before they have a chance to leave themselves.

So when Louis turns down Donna's offer for her to take Norma's place in two weeks, it's because he knows that two weeks is plenty of time for Harvey to steal her back from him. He did it with Mike in two hours. And you can tell that Louis genuinely doesn't know how to handle the idea that he's someone's first choice or that he's someone's permanent choice. He thinks that he's always the temporary -- the second string to the starting line-up. And that's just so sad. Donna eventually proves her loyalty to Louis which is quickly undone by his fear that she's going to leave him. They have a blow-out, which results in Donna being extremely emotional when Harvey asks her for a favor. And then Louis and Donna have a heart-to-heart where Donna tells him that the only way their relationship has any hope of surviving is if he stops doubting her loyalty to him. If he continues to question her every motive, continues to treat her like she'll leave him in a split second, then they will have no solid working foundation. I'm proud of Donna, honestly. I'm proud that she's the kind of woman who values herself above anything else; she knows how she deserves to be treated and accepts nothing less than that. What a role model of a character. Seriously.

I'm really excited to see how the rest of Louis and Donna's work relationship progresses. I'm so thankful Louis was able to air some of his insecurities and that Donna's set ground rules for their relationship, while still being encouraging, optimistic, and completely and utterly DONNA.

Mike/Rachel 

I'll be the first to admit that I often don't care for Mike and Rachel as a romantic pairing, but I'm a huge fan of them platonically. In a lot of ways, they play the part of Harvey and Donna's children. Nothing made this more evident to me than the #SuitsUndressed marathon that aired on USA this weekend. Do you recall who Rachel and Mike went to immediately after Rachel confessed to kissing Logan? Yup -- Rachel went straight into the arms of Donna; Mike went to see Harvey. And in "Denial," the two reprise their roles as Harvey and Donna's "children"... but in reverse. See, in this episode, Mike and Rachel are caring for Harvey. They spend the entirety of the episode cutting him slack after they learn that Donna left him. Rachel picks up everything and she forgoes taking a test in order to help Harvey with work. There's this moment when Harvey's phone begins to ring in his office and the anxiety of it all -- of losing Donna and of being alone now -- paralyzes him. So Rachel picks up his phone. She finds his calendar. She plays Donna's understudy and it's what Harvey needs to adjust but, unfortunately, it's also toxic for Mike and Rachel to remain the people Harvey leans on.

Why? Because eventually, he'll put more and more weight on them, rely on them to hold him up and keep him afloat and when they need to live their own lives, he will keep relying on them to keep him from drowning. Mike finally snaps at Harvey mid-way through "Denial," after Rachel is blamed by Harvey for a mistake in a job that she shouldn't have to be doing. And this is an amazing moment for Mike and a moment of truth for Harvey to forcefully swallow: he needs to put aside his fear and his pride long enough to realize that his denial is actually hurting other people. There's a difference between being supportive and being a doormat. Mike and Rachel are both done after that moment, of being the latter.

Toward the end of the episode, the relationships between Harvey and Mike and Donna and Rachel are repaired. Mike is presented with an apology and basketball tickets by Harvey; Donna gives Rachel two gifts -- one for engagement, and one for taking care of Harvey. What's so touching about the latter conversation is that Donna exudes complete and total friendship: no matter what is occurring in her life, she always wants Rachel to tell her when something good or exciting is happening. Tears shine in Donna's eyes as she says this and it reminds me of how underrated Sarah Rafferty truly is. That scene was so subtle but so utterly poignant and self-sacrificial, in stark contrast to a lot of what took place during the rest of "Denial."

Suits' season five premiere was a strong one and one that shows a lot of promise. It's bound to be a messy, emotionally complex ride. And I'm here for every minute of it.

And now, bonus points:
  • All hail Gabriel Macht as the MVP for this episode. Seriously, I said a lot about him above and I would just like to reiterate here that he made me ache for Harvey Specter in a way that I didn't think I could.
  • "There's room for Donna in the bubble."
  • "As far as I'm concerned, two adults who care about each other don't move on. At all." Oh, Harvey. Baby. Let me hug you. And then slap you because you should have just told Donna how you felt about her. Then I'll hug you again.
  • "He wants you to fight for him." "Then he's come to me on the right day."
  • "I don't have a sandwich of commiseration."
  • Harvey gave the can opener to Louis to put in Donna's desk and that entire scene and the confrontation between Harvey and Donna about it later just broke my heart a little.
  • "Do you know how hard it is for me to say no to you?" Let's talk about Sarah Rafferty breaking my heart and how SHE deserves all of the awards, too. What an all-star.
  • "Nobody hates change more than I do. But it's coming, whether we like it or not."
  • THE WELCOME TO TEAM LITT CAKE.
  • Is it just me or did the therapist seem more interested in Jessica than is probably necessary for a therapist listening to a story?
  • Harvey got Mike a copy of Bride magazine and if that's not your favorite part of this entire episode, I don't know what is.
What did you all think of the return of Suits premiere? What are you most looking forward to this season? Hit up the comments below and let me know your thoughts! Until then. :)

14 comments:

  1. Hey there Jenn,

    To say that I missed SUITS and your reviews would be an understament... so I'm so happy they're both back! ;) YEY!

    You don't know how much I can relate to you on having issues with change and being afraid of the unknown and not being able to control what's ahead. And like you, I'm learning every day how to manage that and don't let that control my life. Yes, we can!

    So...about SUITS. I want to re-watch again the whole episode because I'm still a little bit confused about the timeline, but I can say that I'm satisfied with what the show gave us for starters. They put all the elements that are going to unfold through the season which is good. Now, we just have to wait and see how that goes.

    Harvey is my favourite character in television right now, and I though I couldn't love him more. However, this premiere proved me wrong, I have to admit. I'm REALLY excited about this journey Harvey has just started and the opportunity that we'll get to share it with him all along the way. However, I'm not (yet) 100% in with the therapy sessions. As much as I liked the introduction of Dr. Agard, I'm not comfortable with the situation. I don't see how someone like Harvey could be willing to go to therapy even though that panick attack scared the shit out of him. And how he's supposed to share his feelings, not only with a total stranger but a woman. The showrunner, Aaron Korsch, said that this sessions will lead to flashbacks and they're also gonna be related to the present. With just one episode I don't know if this kind of storytelling is gonna work out for SUITS, so I'm gonna wait to give my opinion. Maybe I have my issues because I think IN TREATMENT is one of the best and most underrated TV series ever made. Anyway, since these sessions are gonna be a way to know more about Harvey's backstory, and his issues with abandonment, I'm ok with them for the moment.

    As for Louis and Donna, I always liked their dynamic and their profound and honest relationship. But I'm not gonna lie: Donna working for Louis doesn't feel right for me, I'm sorry. I know I'll be okay with that eventually but not seeing Harvey and Donna together killed me in this episode. And I know they said this situation is gonna last for a while so I guess I'll have to deal with it (just like Harvey, but without the panick attacks. I won't exclude medication...). That being said, I agree that Sarah Rafferty and Rick Hoffman are superb actors and any scene with them is such a delight to watch.

    Like you, I have to admit that I'm not all that interested in Mike and Rachel as a couple. I was once...but then Darvey came in the way ;) I liked how you put it, that they're like Harvey and Donna's children. That's absolutely right! I never thought of it that way. I'm very interested in their story line this season because it's going to involve a case and not some soapy drama (let's forget all that Logan plot ever happened ok?).

    And last but not least: Jessica. She doesn't need to be in a lot of scenes, but when she does, oh boy! The first is to tell Harvey to put his shit together or she will, and the last one was coming to Harvey's office to be supportive and saying out loud all the things the audience thinks. Like: "Harvey and Donna are the closest to a relationship there is". Jessica Pearson, I wanna be like you when I grow up. Anyway, I really love how their relationship has grown in the last 2 seasons.

    So, to sum up, I really liked what the SUITS premiere offered us and i can't wait to see what happens next. It's gonna be a hell of a ride and I'm all for it! Bring it on writters!

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    1. ANNA! Hi, sorry that I'm just getting around to replying to these comments. It was a crazy busy week at work. Sheesh. Okay, let's get down to business:

      I want to re-watch again the whole episode because I'm still a little bit confused about the timeline, but I can say that I'm satisfied with what the show gave us for starters. They put all the elements that are going to unfold through the season which is good. Now, we just have to wait and see how that goes.

      I was totally unclear on that one, too. I feel like we're missing a chunk of time between when Donna quit and when Harvey sees the therapist to explain it all. It says "Six weeks earlier" but something about that just felt oddly misplaced.

      I have to admit. I'm REALLY excited about this journey Harvey has just started and the opportunity that we'll get to share it with him all along the way. However, I'm not (yet) 100% in with the therapy sessions. As much as I liked the introduction of Dr. Agard, I'm not comfortable with the situation. I don't see how someone like Harvey could be willing to go to therapy even though that panick attack scared the shit out of him.

      I agree with you in terms of Harvey's development. It's a testament to the writing that he's managed to be the one who screwed up the relationship in the first place, and yet I totally felt bad for him this episode. As far as therapy goes, I'm on board this so long as it doesn't lead to an "oh, look, Harvey and his therapist are hooking up" trope. Because a) that's stale beyond belief and b) I think there's something more with this therapist than meets the eye (... SHE SEEMED INTERESTED IN JESSICA, I AM JUST SAYING.) I think that I get why Harvey went there and it's not necessarily because of the panic attacks themselves (because he had multiple and presumably more than he's told her), but I think that Donna leaving caused a break. I think he was scared because he's never been so off his game before and the fact that all Harvey knows is now gone... it's literally rocked him. So when that happens, you kind of become desperate. (And it's basically established in this episode that the reason he wanted to go to the therapist was to get her to prescribe him medication, not because he needed to talk, right? That's what they both say at the beginning.)

      Anyway, all that to say that I think this is a really interesting and potentially character-altering story.

      I know I'll be okay with that eventually but not seeing Harvey and Donna together killed me in this episode. And I know they said this situation is gonna last for a while so I guess I'll have to deal with it (just like Harvey, but without the panick attacks. I won't exclude medication...). That being said, I agree that Sarah Rafferty and Rick Hoffman are superb actors and any scene with them is such a delight to watch.

      What is so great to me about this and why I'm okay with it for now (though I cannot lie -- the shot of Donna's empty desk gave me a pang in the heart) is because of the fact that this is what's best for Donna. And actually for Louis, too. Donna needs to be in an environment where she's being needed and cared about and listened to. And right now, that's with Louis. I am HOPING that -- like any good story -- Harvey will grow and he'll become that environment for her in the future. For now, I'm content to watch Donna do her thing and help Louis.

      MIKE AND RACHEL ARE TOTALLY HARVEY AND DONNA'S CHILDREN, NOTHING CAN CONVINCE ME OTHERWISE.

      Jessica was sparse in this episode but she was really well-utilized, in my opinion. I loved that her two scenes were her doing her job and treating Harvey like her employee (which he IS) and then the other scene was of her treating him like her friend and partner (which he IS).

      I loved the season opener and I sincerely hope that the show continues this momentum for the rest of the summer. :)

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  2. I almost clicked on this link yesterday, even though I was behind on Suits and hadn't watched this episode. But I didn't. I was STRONG. I caught up (something that I really should have done a LONG time ago), just so I could watch this episode and SUFFER right along Harvey.

    Since I was behind I didn't have months to suffer...just like, the five minutes it took to get a drink and press play on the new episode. I'M SO HAPPY ABOUT MY LIFE DECISIONS, OMG. I should do this with EVERY SHOW.

    I love Louis as a character, but Donna working for him did not work for me. Oh, Harvey, my poor Harvey. I have long believed that Gabriel Macht carries this show, but wow, tonight, wow. Give that man some awards. Every award. I was blown away by him in this episode. Nothing short of brilliant. In fact, if this episode was meant to be about how Harvey is meant to grow and learn and whatever from this, then...I'm sorry, all I want is for Harvey to get what he wants. I'M TEAM HARVEY. And, to be fair, I always have been, but with performances like this, how can you not?

    So, yes, go Harvey. I love Donna, and most of all, I understand her. I truly do. But ...but ...look at Harvey having panic attacks all over the place because he can't live without you. JUST LOOK.

    This was a hell of an episode. It's going to be a hell of a season. I'm excited.

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    1. LIZZIE. Wasn't this such a great episode? (Also, I'm impressed you managed to catch up in time for the premiere!)

      I think Louis/Donna will grow on me after this episode more. It worked and I can see why it's going to work and why it's necessary. I hope to see more joking, light moments between them though. Their banter is always fun. Seriously, Gabriel Macht always does well, but he KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK in this episode. I honestly was just blown away, especially during his recounting of his panic attack. We've never seen him THAT vulnerable before.

      #TeamHarvey

      In all fairness, though, Donna doesn't know that Harvey is having panic attacks. And I know there's a billion reasons why he'll never tell her that, but the most important of which is because he doesn't want her to come back because she pities him. He wants her to come back when she's ready (because despite everything, he has to believe she will).

      YAY. Such a great episode and I'm hoping that we continue on this trajectory.

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  3. I am happy that the writers have been brave and decided to take the Harvey character in a new direction. I hope they don't hold back and take him down further into misery because his redemption will be all that sweeter. Gabriel proved in this first episode that he will do this brilliantly.
    I have often thought that Gabriel is underrated as an actor because he is SO good. If people met him or watched him in interviews, they would know how unlike Harvey he is and what an achievement it is for him to convey Harvey so convincingly that the viewer doesn't think twice about it. People assume Gabriel IS Harvey.

    I was concerned that the whole therapy/relationship dissolution would have an adverse impact on the humor of the show but I think the writers struck a nice balance.

    I was sceptical about the therapist but I thought Christina Cole was very good in the role. Showing ongoing therapy sessions in future episodes seems like it might be challenging, so I hope it doesn't feel too out of place.

    I'm another viewer that has never really cared much for Mike & Rachel but in this episode I really liked that they worked together to help Harvey. They need to get Rachel more involved in Harvey's cases because she really doesn't feel like his associate, even after all this time.

    My feelings Donna are probably not popular...I feel like towards the end of this season it might be Donna needing to go into therapy when she realizes what she's done to Harvey. I feel bad for him because on a number of occasions we have seen him question her feelings and she brushed him off (the "Is this about you?" scene and when she told him "Like a cousin") and then she just flipped a switch and decided she did want more from him. And then she just expects him to reciprocate? Poor Harvey lol.

    Anonymous #1 :)

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    1. Hello there, anon! First off: thanks so much for your comments!

      I am happy that the writers have been brave and decided to take the Harvey character in a new direction. I hope they don't hold back and take him down further into misery because his redemption will be all that sweeter. Gabriel proved in this first episode that he will do this brilliantly.

      Hallelujah, amen. I hope we don't gloss over the panic attacks and psychological breaks throughout the rest of this season. Gabriel did such an amazing job with that material and I'd love to see that continue, not just for the sake of story (certainly for that), but because he just slayed it.

      Showing ongoing therapy sessions in future episodes seems like it might be challenging, so I hope it doesn't feel too out of place.

      I'm having, like, PTSD from this season's Hong Kong flashbacks in Arrow so I'm really hopeful they manage to use the flashbacks sparsely and that they tie in with the story. Suits does do an episode per season specifically devoted to flashbacks, so that would be an excellent episode to really showcase them.

      I'm another viewer that has never really cared much for Mike & Rachel but in this episode I really liked that they worked together to help Harvey. They need to get Rachel more involved in Harvey's cases because she really doesn't feel like his associate, even after all this time.

      Agreed. I sometimes forget that she's his associate. And I like the little bit of Harvey/Rachel we've gotten in some episodes. Their interactions in "Denial" were so great. I need more of those.

      I kind of agree with you in terms of Donna (I do think that she might need therapy, too, but I also just think therapy is a good idea for lots of people on this show), but I don't think she necessarily realizes what is happening to Harvey because of her. She has NO idea he's had panic attacks. She has no idea he's having difficulty at work. Or seeing a therapist. Because HE IS DOING WHAT HE ALWAYS DOES TO HER: he had LOUIS deliver the can opener instead of doing it himself. So how could Donna possibly know what Harvey is really feeling if he doesn't actually take the time to, you know, tell her himself? That's part of the reason she left and I think that we -- as the audience -- can empathize with Harvey but also realize it's not entirely Donna's fault. He kind of is stuck in the same cycle of not opening up to other people and until he learns to break that, there will always be a wall between him and Donna and him and every other important person in his life.

      Thanks again for your comments. I'm excited for this season!

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  4. Hi!

    Nice to be back and read your opinions.

    Well maybe I will be the only here saying this but I felt really down after watching the episode. I am not sure if I like where the show is heading. I am not as excited as I though I would be.

    Putting the acting aside, which was really great, Anon I agree with you regarding Donna. One of my main problems with the show now is Donna´s character. I had some issues understanding Donna´s character in the last episode of season 4, I thought that she was a little bit out of character. She many times brushed him off about their relationship and now she is mad because he doesn´t wanna talk about it? If the writers wanted to show Donna´s switch it should have been in a better way, at least that´s what I think oh maybe Donna needs therapy too lol. I would love to see Donna´s flaws a little bit more often.

    When I was watching this new episode, I understood Harvey, of course he is wrong in many things but I saw Harvey, it made sense for me, but Donna, I saw a cold Donna IMO.

    It felt so wrong Donna and Louis working together. I know that many people like their dynamic and I like it too but you know in small doses. I love Louis but sometimes its too much for me, and now I have to see those characters all the time together lol lol.

    I know that writers think that all this is a really good plot device, but I can´t help thinking that they are destroying Darvey in the process. Don´t get me wrong, I know that a show has to evolve etc etc, but I think that what we loved about Darvey is not there anymore and furthermore do you really think that all this is an excuse to have Harvey and Donna together in a romantic way in the end? I don´t think so, because I am pretty sure that Donna and Harvey relationship won´t change during this season, after two episodes is like nothing happened, even Aaron said in an interview (post episode) that both move on.

    I am not even sure if Aaron and writers know what to do with them so they will try to drag out that relationship as much as they can and that is another of my concerns because although that tactic is used in many many shows nowdays, when a couple finally get together (mostly of the times when the show is ending) I don´t find it believable?? Here is an example, Donna and Josh from the West Wing, I didn´t like the conclusion very much, something was lacking, you want to resolve whatever relationship they will have fast and for me bad idea.

    Sorry for my not so optimistic thoughts lol

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    1. Welcome back, Silvia! And thanks so much for your comment.

      So in my comment to the anon above, I explained a little bit of my thoughts regarding Donna. I'll cover them more here: I don't think Donna is upset that Harvey didn't say he wanted to be with her. I think what upset Donna was that Harvey wasn't willing to be HONEST with her. She was with him (she told him she wasn't sure what he wanted but she was willing to discuss it -- her confusion and her feelings with him) and wanted him to do the same. How can you work with someone who cannot even be honest with you about how he feels, even if it's to say: "I'm attracted to you but I don't know what I want"? The problem is that Harvey wasn't willing to -- after years -- address arguably the most important thing in their relationship. He's completely willing to go back to the way things were, but he can't take his "I love you back" and Donna can't accept the fact that this man she loves won't give her the one thing she needs: honesty.

      Now, flash forward: Donna has NO idea Harvey is in therapy. She has no idea he's had panic attacks. So let's set that aside because that's something only we are privy to at this point. When Harvey approaches Donna about helping him, she's totally right: it would be EASY for her to slip back into the same pattern of helping Harvey do one thing. Then another. Then another. And before they both know it, she's working for him again. That's what he wants -- to have things go back to the way they were. And respecting Donna means understanding she can't do that anymore. Not now, at least. She needs time to heal and if he keeps asking her for things in that desperate little way he does, she never will. So I saw that scene as less of Donna being cold and more of her trying to protect what's left of her heart. She WANTS to be with him, but she knows that it's not healthy for her that she is.

      Harvey will only be healthy once he starts to open up to the people close to him. That's why this therapy story is good. Until he heals, he won't be the kind of environment Donna needs to heal. Her relationship with Harvey is toxic right now and they both need to get better in order to fix that -- him learning to open up, her learning to not run to him every time he calls.

      I am not even sure if Aaron and writers know what to do with them so they will try to drag out that relationship as much as they can and that is another of my concerns because although that tactic is used in many many shows nowdays, when a couple finally get together (mostly of the times when the show is ending) I don´t find it believable?

      I think the showrunner and writers truly don't know what to do at this point. And that's the problem. So I totally share your concern in this manner. (I just experienced a similar thing with Community, so I feel you.) I'm really not sure what their aim is here with Harvey/Donna and I hope they respect the pairing enough to realize what they have but... alas, they wouldn't be the first TV series to NOT do so, haha.

      All we can do is hope for the best for these two in the future. Hopefully the rest of the season will see some progression. :)

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  5. I understand both Donna and Harvey. Donna faced the very real prospect of losing her freedom last season, and it made her re-evaluate her life and priorities. It made her re-evaluate her relationship with Harvey, and exactly what is was, and how it was holding them both back. Harvey flat out told Donna in the most matter of fact way possible that he loved her. He didn't say it out of pity. He didn't say it to make her feel better. He said it because that is really what he feels. And in a moment of weakness, rare for Harvey, he couldn't keep it in. But that moment quickly passed and he once again built a wall around his emotions, so much so that he wouldn't even have an honest conversation with Donna about it. Donna doesn't know what exactly she wants to have with Harvey either, but she does know that she WON'T except him being less than honest with her. She won't except him refusing to even have the conversation. And with his refusal to even discuss what had happened, Donna knew that what was going on between her and Harvey was no longer healthy for HER. It wasn't fulfilling what SHE needed from it, and it was likely stopping her from moving forward in her life. So she made a choice that was about HER not about Harvey.

    As for my poor sweet Harvey, I completely understand him too. Donna is his constant. He needs her to function in the part of his life that he has made the most important, his career. Donna is essential to him there. And the concept of risking that person that is the only one he actually NEEDS by following any romantic feelings, is something that Harvey couldn't imagine doing. Romantic relationships are not lasting. They end. And Harvey wouldn't risk losing Donna that way. But in being unwilling to even confront the issue in a real way, he ended up losing her both personally and professionally.

    I truly believe that Harvey is in love with Donna. I think he loves her in every way that a man can love a woman. You don't completely fall apart just because your secretary leaves you. Their relationship is clearly deeper than that. And Harvey NEEDS to confront those feelings. He needs to recognize them, and talk with Donna about them openly, and then they need to decide together whether or not they want to act on them. And the ONLY way that would ever happen is for Donna to go. If she had stayed, Harvey would have just gone straight back to status quo. And that isn't healthy for either of them.

    Donna wasn't asking Harvey to be in a relationship with her or she was leaving. Donna was asking Harvey to TALK to her about their feelings. To have a real discussion about everything between them once all those feelings were brought back to the surface when she was in trouble. Donna left because, for the first time, Harvey was no longer able to be straight with her. There was a subject that was taboo. She couldn't accept that.

    I can't wait to see where the rest of this season goes.

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    1. WELCOME BACK RASHELL!

      I WANT TO MARRY THIS PASSAGE THANK YOU SO MUCH: Donna faced the very real prospect of losing her freedom last season, and it made her re-evaluate her life and priorities. It made her re-evaluate her relationship with Harvey, and exactly what is was, and how it was holding them both back. Harvey flat out told Donna in the most matter of fact way possible that he loved her. He didn't say it out of pity. He didn't say it to make her feel better. He said it because that is really what he feels. And in a moment of weakness, rare for Harvey, he couldn't keep it in. But that moment quickly passed and he once again built a wall around his emotions, so much so that he wouldn't even have an honest conversation with Donna about it. Donna doesn't know what exactly she wants to have with Harvey either, but she does know that she WON'T except him being less than honest with her. She won't except him refusing to even have the conversation. And with his refusal to even discuss what had happened, Donna knew that what was going on between her and Harvey was no longer healthy for HER. It wasn't fulfilling what SHE needed from it, and it was likely stopping her from moving forward in her life. So she made a choice that was about HER not about Harvey.

      I loved that this episode allowed us to feel for Harvey, though. It really did a good job in not presenting one of them as being in the wrong and one of them as being totally right. They both have a ways to go in making their relationship healthy again.

      (Sidenote: wasn't it great that Jessica was like "yeah when you lost the woman you were dating, you didn't care even half this much"? She ships it.)

      I totally agree with your assessment about Harvey being in love with Donna. The only way for them to both grow is for them to be apart and I think it's going to be really interesting to see a) how long that lasts on Suits and b) the effects of it.

      Again: all praise and applause to your comment. Seriously. AMAZE. Thanks so much and I look forward to seeing more of you around here this season! :)

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  6. Is anybody else afraid of Donna & Harvey getting together, because I feel like it will mean the end of the show. In which case, I hope they drag out the angst for as long as possible!

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    1. I think recently we've seen many shows resolve the UST and still continue to be wonderful, so I'm not too worried about THAT. I'm worried about them dragging it out too long, however. That seems much more likely. I think what needs to happen in this storyline is that we need to see Donna GROW, we need to see he realize that she doesn't NEED Harvey, but that she WANTS Harvey. Same goes for him, in a way.

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    2. Totally totally agree. Everybody talks about Harvey, but Donna needs to grow too.

      And yes, worried about dragging it out too and let´s be honest that is what they will do.

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  7. Hey there Jenn!

    First of all I have to say that i really enjoy these Suits recaps. Your intuition and interpretation always help me decide what my take on several scenes is! Ah, the world feels a better place after see you writing down several of the thoughts in my head! Thank you very much for that!

    Regarding the premiere though, I have to ask you: don't you feel a bit disappointed? Here's my two cents on the subject: I really liked the flow of the episode (the actors and the plot were fantastic) but the last minutes left me hanging...I mean wasn't it too abrupt? The moment Harvey throws the pills in and comes out confident - I didn't buy it. Him being troubled and then let go, felt kinda of rushed. Or is it just me? Did I ask too much of this episode? Dah, I dunno! What do you think??

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