USA's Suits - Episode 4.01 "One-Two-Three Go..."
Mike and Harvey adjust to their new paradigm. As they butt heads over strategy in Mike's first foray into investment banking, their new attorney-client relationship may be short-lived. Meanwhile, Pearson Specter discovers that a disgraced former District Attorney may be pursuing a vendetta against Harvey and the firm.
Suits underwent a very big shift at the end of the third season. Doesn't it seem like that twist just happened too? It was only two months ago. And now, we're already starting the fourth season - on the third night of the week in the last year. For three years, Suits has been about the relationship between Harvey, a hotshot lawyer, and Mike, a genius without a law degree. They've had their ups and downs together - and nearly everyone was brought into the main secret of the series except poor Louis. But now, the drama is removing the fraud element altogether. Mike has taken a new job as an investment banker. That takes him out of the main Pearson Spector environment. And the show is committing to this change. Mike isn't back in his firm cubicle by the end of this premiere. Instead the show is doubling down on Mike and Harvey being on opposite ends of a case. And that should prove to be a really fascinating avenue for the show to go down. It already proves to be very effective in the premiere - and it's largely just setting up the new status quo and the important players of this new story.Mike has been at his new job for three months now. He has his own office and his own Donna! But he's still looking to land that first big whale and make a mark in his new profession. Mike as an investment banker isn't inherently interesting. Personally, I think practicing the law is more understandable to the average viewer than the details of investment banking. Mike has a unique perspective as well because he cares about people. He's not all about making money in every deal he lands and not giving a crap about the people effected in the process. He will make promises that those people will be taken care. It gets him some support in this premiere from the whale he's chasing - played by Michael Gross. But will likely become much difficult to maintain the more he delves into this job.
Meanwhile, Harvey is Harvey. He's not dwelling on the loss of Scottie. He's taking frequent morning meetings. But his business is slowly becoming more and more conflicted. Eric, the SEC prosecutor from the third season finale, is still after him. He and Jessica have to decide whether or not to hire the guy who warns them of a pending investigation into all their clients.
That guy also happens to be the guy who Jessica is sleeping with. I always love a good Jessica story. Here, she is forced to decide between this new guy and their relationship or her business. She has worked hard to keep this business the way that is and is finally happy. But the threats to her way of life are still coming. Louis is good with SEC regulations. But this new guy is a shark. While that's disappointing to see Louis wait for good things to come that aren't really coming, it's a very interesting dilemma for Jessica to have. We never really get to see her as sexy or happy outside of work. I love the interaction between her and Harvey where he's picturing her naked and she tells him to wash his hands but not take too long in the bathroom. Ultimately though, she's professional and cares about her business much more than any man. But will she be able to keep their new relationship strictly platonic?
On top of all of that, there's another client at Pearson Spector who wants to go after the same whale as Mike. It's a conflict of interest that probably is the best way to tell this story of Mike leaving the firm as a lawyer. Harvey and Mike continue to have some fun, playful banter as lawyer and client. But it's ultimately about Harvey not trusting Mike's approach to business. For three years now, Harvey's been in charge and now the roles have been reversed. Harvey just doesn't know how to deal with that. So that puts them on opposite paths. Now, they're competitors going after the same target. Mike has a more sympathetic way in but you can never count Harvey out.
Some more thoughts:
- "One-Two-Three Go..." was written by Aaron Korsh and directed by Anton Cropper.
- Harvey and Donna making fun of Mike's vest.
- I'm actually interested in seeing how this competition will effect Mike and Rachel's relationship as she is working for Harvey in this deal. Also, she once had an affair with the client she is now working with. The show is really throwing that couple a lot of challenges this year. Plus, Mike has a hot, young assistant.
- It really was a sweet moment when Katrina gave Louis the business card with his name in the title of the firm. Very wishful thinking. But sweet nonetheless.
- Donna: "I used mousse. It was the '90s." Rachel: "Was it?" Donna: "I heard that."
