Not a TIMELESS Classic

Article first published as TIMELESS Review on Seat42F.

NBC, which does sometimes do some light sci-fi drama, has a new genre series this fall called TIMELESS. A gang of armed men break into a laboratory and steal a fully functioning time machine, intent to travel into our past and screw things up. Luckily, the facility still has their more basic prototype and assembles a small team to go after them and save history. Will they succeed, or is everything we know about to be changed?

Abigail Spencer (Rectify) stars as Lucy Preston, a history professor caring for an ailing mother who has just been denied tenure. She, along with an elite soldier, Wyatt Logan (Matt Lanter, 90210), are recruited by Agent Denise Christopher (Sakina Jaffrey, House of Cards) to chase the villain, Garcia Flynn (Goran Visnjic, ER), across the ages. Scientist Rufus Carlin (Malcolm Barrett, Better Off Ted) is sent along with them because he knows how to use the equipment, even though there are some justifiable concerns that his darker skin color may be a hindrance before civil rights kicked in.

I really want to like TIMELESS. It’s not like any other show currently airing, especially not on a broadcast network. (It is admittedly sort of like DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, but since that is about superheroes, I think they’re different enough.) It has a cool concept and a decent cast. It definitely has mythology, backstory, and a serial arc, meaning it won’t just be a case-of-the-week series. For these reasons, it deserves a little consideration.

The make-up of the group makes sense, the scientist, the historian, and the soldier. The motivation of the bad guy is still hazy, but what has been said about it is interesting and begs further exploration. The rules for time travel as followed in TIMELESS also seem to be well thought out. I didn’t find any huge, obvious plot holes.

But there’s a general sense of shallowness to the whole program. The characters do have families and personal lives that play into their actions, but in a very superficial way. We’re told something about that character, and that immediately influences the plot in a very straight-forward way. There isn’t a lot of wondering who we can trust, or if there’s something someone isn’t talking about that might get in the way down the road. It’s kind of what you see is what you get.

There is also definitely the impression that while there be an ongoing story, a large portion of each hour will be devoted to action adventure and fist fights. Not bloody stuff, mind you; this series seems to take a family-friendly, tame approach. For example, when one character briefly wields a knife, I didn’t feel for a second she’d be able to swipe and draw blood with it, and indeed, she does not. So there’s a sanitized type of violence that feels more at home on television in the previous century than today.

Even the twists later in the hour, while interesting, seem easy to screw up. There is one very obvious one and one less so, but given the lack of depth present at the start, and the direct way the story unfolds, I don’t have confidence that these things are going to pan out in a cool way. I know I’m being vague, and part of that is to protect readers from plot spoilers, but part of it is because this complaint is more about an overall feeling I get while watching, rather than details I can point to to back up my judgement.

Overall, I like TIMELESS, but I don’t love it. My sense is that it will be like Revolution, with a cool premise that doesn’t live up to what viewers want from it.

TIMELESS premieres Monday, October 3^rd at 10/9c on NBC.

SUITS "Out" for the Season

Article first published as TV Review: 'Suits' - 'No Way Out' on Blogcritics.

USA’s best series, Suits, wrapped up its third season last week with “No Way Out.” Mike (Patrick J. Adams) decides to stay with the firm, much to Rachel’s (Meghan Markle) dismay, since this leaving for a new career is Mike’s way out from under his fraud. But then Eric Woodall (Zeljko Ivanek, Damages, Argo) of the Justice Department hauls Mike in for questioning on illegal collusion, and the whole situation becomes unpredictable and tense.

Although unrelated to Mike’s lie about being a lawyer, this twist really makes Mike evaluate his current path. He’s a great lawyer and he loves working for Harvey (Gabriel Macht), his best friend, but does he really want the threat of hard time hanging over his head forever? Not only that, but Mike’s actions could get Harvey and others he cares about in trouble. Woodall seems to be a wake-up call, a chance for Mike to take stock of himself.

Rachel’s frustration with Mike for wanting to stay is justifiable, but taking his decision personally is not. She tries to paint it as Mike choosing Harvey over her, but that’s not it at all. Mike loves the family he’s finally got and doesn’t want to throw that away. These are natural feelings. He solicits Rachel’s advice because he really does take her seriously, but in the end, he has to do what is right for himself. I hope she can forgive him for it.

Had Mike gone through with leaving early in “No Way Out,” before the Justice Department gets to him, Harvey would feel betrayed. Harvey tells Mike he should leave the firm, but he doesn’t want Mike to go. Their relationship could have been severely damaged, Harvey feeling like Mike is ungrateful for everything Harvey has done for him. Because of the events of the season finale, though, Harvey understands why Mike has to go, and their bond is stronger than ever, both having demonstrated their unconditional loyalty. Very clever story structure, Suits staff.

Could Mike ever go back to Pearson Specter? It doesn’t seem likely. It’s a huge shame that one of the leads, arguably one of the two most important people on the series, has to be away from the main group. He still has connections, living with Rachel, palling around with Harvey, and his new company being a client of his old. But it won’t be the same. The problem is, if Mike gets his law degree now, he risks exposing his past wrongdoings. And once he gets away from the guillotine, it’s hard to imagine he’ll want to stick his head back in. So he’s probably gone for good, unless there’s a non-lawyer job opening.

Jessica (Gina Torres) has to be relived that Mike quits. She and Harvey have an engrossing conversation about how they are becoming the man they both hate. They don’t want their firm to be one of lies and corruption. Jessica goes along with Mike for Harvey and because it’s too late to avoid exposure herself once she finds out. But not being close with Mike, this will be seen as a win for her, a chance to take control again.

Unfortunately, Harvey won’t see it that way. Losing Mike and his girlfriend, Dana (Abigail Spencer), in the same day is rough, compounded when the woman he trusts most, Donna (Sarah Rafferty), clearly doesn’t trust Dana. Harvey likely will think Donna is glad that Dana is gone, which could cause serious tension in their working relationship. The scene between Donna and Harvey early in “No Way Out” in which Donna asserts she just wants Harvey to be happy is stressful, not reassuring, and they are not on the same page here.

There’s still the question of if Dana is trustworthy. She pulls away from Harvey just when Harvey is being a good man, finally, though he does lie to her about Mike for awhile. Still, coming clean about the secret to her may not be wise. Harvey trusts that Dana won’t tell, but I’m not so sure. Their relationships has been rocky as of late. If she continues to date Harvey after leaving the firm, I will consider them fixed and Mike safe. If she moves on, as appears to be where Suits is heading, Dana could easily grow angry and bitter and want to get even with Harvey later.

The way Suits brings things back around when viewers least expect it is part of what makes the show so great. This season finale finds Mike arrested for something he did some time ago, not anything recent events have brought up.  Mike gets away with it, yet again, but there’s always a plethora of other shoes just waiting to drop from the things the characters think they’ve left behind.

It’s gratifying to see Harold (Max Topplin) not only return, but stick by Mike as a friend. Harold may be wavering in his resolve, but he is reigned in, and his first instinct is to toe the line. Part of me holds out hope Harold can come back to Pearson Specter, since he is unemployed again now, but another part doesn’t think the show will go that way, choosing a more realistic approach to situations over serving fans’ desire. Yet, this little taste of Harold makes me miss him greatly.

Louis (Rick Hoffman) also shines in the small parts of the episode he’s in, as he always does for Suits. Harvey asking Louis for help with the Justice Department is a meaningful, and Louis terrorizing Harold again is even better. Louis is the most interesting personality in a show chock full of interesting personalities, and I love that Suits keeps giving Hoffman the material to chew through, as the performer does such a stellar job of it.

“No Way Out” is full of character moments in a tense situation. It serves the plot well, but more importantly, it gives the players all chances to not only shine, but grow. This is actually quite typical for Suits, just ratcheted up a little for a season finale. It’s why I can’t wait until it returns again.

Suits will be back on USA this coming June.

The "Secrets" of SUITS

Article first published as The "Secrets" of SUITS on TheTVKing.

Some episodes of USA's Suits are more intense than others, with a lot at stake and emotions running higher. And then there are the more typical installments, like this week's mid-season premiere, "Buried Secrets." It may not be a memorable episode that will rank among the show's best, but it's a solid entry with terrific character development, and that's what's most important to keeping a series engaging week after week.

"Buried Secrets" finds the cast segregated, each dealing with their own things. First up is Harvey (Gabriel Macht), who has told Scottie (Abigail Spencer) that he wants to spend his life with her. Step one on that journey is finding her gainful employment in the city before she takes a job elsewhere. Harvey has his eye on bringing Scottie into his own firm, but managing partner Jessica (Gina Torres), wary of Harvey's messy personal life, resists, forcing Scottie into an abnormal contract to cover the firm's butt.

It's not surprising that Jessica goes to these lengths. I will refrain from calling her heartless, but she does have good business sense, and taking Scottie on poses a risk to the long-term security of the company. Having just been through rocky times, Jessica is likely more protective than usual of the organization she has poured her entire life into, and wanting to ensure its continued survival just makes sense to her. She's not a bad guy, and she raises good, logical points when negotiating Scottie's hiring.

That Harvey is the emotional one in "Buried Secrets" says a lot. In the past, Harvey has hurt those he cares about by putting the firm or himself first, so for him to fight so hard for Scottie either shows emotional maturation on his part or a deep love we've never seen from Harvey before. Either way, this is a great development for his character, and whether it lasts or not (I'm guessing not), it will be interesting to watch him go through it.

Scottie and Harvey are almost done before they begin when Harvey makes a move behind Scottie's back. The result is her taking the job and moving to New York, but she's not happy with the way he did it. Thankfully, Harvey is in an apologetic and honest mood, allowing them to work through their differences, rather than sabotaging the relationship. Their banter, including Scottie landing the client that Harvey couldn't, show how they are equals, making her worthy of him and vice versa. Both will have to make sacrifices and it won't be easy, but for now at least, the couple has a real shot at working.

Mike (Patrick J. Adams) and Rachel (Meghan Markle) are much more solid this week. Discussing moving in together, their biggest obstacle is furniture negotiation. Now that Mike's secrets are out and they have both committed to one another, they should have smooth sailing, romantically speaking, for the near future.

Which doesn't make them boring. "Buried Secrets" finds Mike facing the lawyer that handled his parents' death case. Mike has always hated the guy and convinces Harvey to let Mike on the case, which Harvey probably shouldn't do, but the elder lawyer is feeling soft because of the aforementioned plot. The result is a very enlightening story about Mike's past and his view of his family, and on the fringes, Rachel shows the type of support most people only dream about receiving from a partner. It's a good, rich story for Mike, made better by Rachel's presence in it. Rachel is Mike's family now, so this has to last.

The thing that might bring Mike down is his lie about having attended Harvard and actually being a lawyer. For awhile, it's been a stable situation, with all of the main cast knowing except for Louis (Rick Hoffman). Unfortunately, Louis is the one who can't be trusted with that information, and he really begins to get on the scent in "Buried Secrets."

I don't like when Louis is cast as the villain on Suits because he's such a great, layered individual, brilliantly acted. This premiere avoids labeling Louis so simply. He does bad things sometimes, but usually his heart is in the right place. Louis likely thinks he will be protecting the firm by exposing Mike, so as much as fans may not want Louis to uncover the full truth, it's hard to blame him for following the clues. And, of course, it shows much intelligence and persistence to piece together the bread crumbs as Louis does, showcasing some of Louis' best qualities.

Louis' story, which includes a look at his weird, wonderful relationship with Sheila (Rachael Harris) and some amusing exchanges with Donna (Sarah Rafferty), is probably the major arc this half of the season will deal with. It's also a fine example of great storytelling, with no right side or wrong side, a number of intricate, moving parts, and delicate balances which may fall apart. I look forward to how this will unfold, even while dreading Louis figuring out Mike once and for all.

Suits airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on USA.

SUITS Should "Stay" On My TV

Article first published as SUITS Should "Stay" On My TV on TheTVKing.

USA's Suits aired their summer finale, "Stay," this week. It was an emotional roller coaster, with character development at the forefront, and larger plots taking a back seat to the personal stuff. We see several characters make some very important decisions, and several come to terms with how they feel about a woman. Basically, Suits doubles down on the main players in the show, terrifically reaffirming that this is not your typical legal drama.

Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht) is not soft. He has trouble with relationships because it's hard for him to open himself up. That's what ran Scottie (Abigail Spencer) away before, and it's what has made it difficult for him to have friends, save a select couple.

Yet, "Stay" sees his ice-cold heart crack and melt. Harvey offers Mike (Patrick J. Adams) as sound advice as he can, knowing he is not a relationship guru. He finds a way to connect to Ava Hessington (Michelle Fairley) emotionally, prompting her to drop her suit against Pearson Specter. And most importantly, when Travis Tanner (Eric Close) bullies and torments Scottie, he comes to her aid. This sets the stage for Harvey to not only realize his feelings for Scottie, but after some coaxing, admit that he wants her to stay and be with him.

This is a big step forward for Harvey. He'll never become a teddy bear or lose his edge, but he does have room for multiple facets in his life, and Dana Scott brings out a side of him we haven't really seen before. Can Harvey make a true relationship work, or will he sabotage it, as he does so many other things? Does he have the capability to just be happy?

Mike sort of follows in Harvey's footsteps, almost screwing things up with Rachel (Meghan Markle) because he doesn't want her to go to college at Stanford, far away from him. It's not until he realizes how unhappy Harvey is and does some serious soul searching that he can be supportive of Rachel no matter what her decision. It's true that long distance doesn't work, and it probably won't for Mike and Rachel, either. But at least Mike handles things graciously and allows Rachel the space to make her own decision, setting the stage for an eventual reconciliation when she returns, after they eventual break up when she leaves.

Except, her leaving is not how this plays out. It's not completely unexpected; she is way too valuable a member of the ensemble to just send out for a few years. So instead, we see her make a deal with Jessica (Gina Torres) that will allow her to continue to work at Pearson Specter after she graduates in exchange for sticking her neck out for Mike and Jessica, then tells Mike she's staying to go to Columbia. It's comes across as a more sweet vibe than girl-giving-up-her-dreams-for-a-man-sy, but there could be resentment and regret down the road from this decision...

Louis (Rick Hoffman) also has to figure out how to be romantic when his arrangement with Sheila (Rachael Harris) falters. For Louis, their tryst is as much about business as she is about pleasure. Sheila, however, wants more. They have a strange dynamic, both being such similar people, and neither particularly prone to a traditional relationship. But I'm glad they make it work because Louis deserves happiness, and she seems a good one to give it to him.

Yes, this makes "Stay" sound like it's all a bunch of mushy stuff, but that just isn't true. Like the characters themselves, there are many layers to the show. Donna (Sarah Rafferty) saves the day when she uses Stephen Huntley's (Max Beesley) feelings for her against him. There are intense deposition scenes. Jessica tricks Donna into spilling some gossip, then goes after Mike and Rachel to protect her firm. And Louis uncovers a startling secret about Mike.

We know Mike faked his Harvard tenure, but no one ever got the chance to stick a paper file in the big file room at the school? It's completely keeping in what we know of Louis that, left alone in said file room, he checks for Mike's file. This overlooked snafu could unravel the whole charade.

The question is, what will Louis do with this information? He's shown a great ability to do the right thing, which protecting Mike may or may not be, depending on perspective, even when that is against his purpose, and sacrifice for the greater good of the business. He and Mike have even been friends from time to time, though not lately. So it's very conceivable Louis could get past this. However, it's also very likely he may make some very big trouble before he realizes what he should do, or this may be the straw that finally breaks Louis's back and makes him stand up, or he could convince Jessica that it's wrong to keep Mike on staff. It's hard to tell.

This development does bring Mike's original story full circle, with the last main character finally finding out about his deceit. Well, on his way to finding out, anyway. The beginning of Suits is long gone, and the show continues to grow. It's sort of a relief that this should be the last time Mike's falsification poses a real threat, at least from the inside, and now the story can move on to other things. But given how well Suits delivers drama and tension, I'm also in no hurry to see this played out, as it should make an amazing thread in the back half of the season.

Suits will return this winter to complete its third batch on USA.

Not "Bad Faith" to Recommend SUITS

Article first published as Not "Bad Faith" to Recommend SUITS on TheTVKing.

This week's penultimate Suits of the summer, "Bad Faith," is an excellent installment. I say that not because of the backstabbing, brinksmanship, romantic drama, funny moments, and triumphant victories, of which there are plenty, but because of the way it serves nearly all of the major characters. This is an ensemble piece, and with each member of the cast fully able to pull their own weight, it's always gratifying when they get the chance to do so.

Right away, we have a magic scene between Donna (Sarah Rafferty) and Harvey (Gabriel Macht) discussing handbags. They've had a rough few weeks, and to witness the two getting back to what they are, seeing their relationship repaired, and the equal footing they really do stand on, is great.

The champion of "Bad Faith," though, is Louis (Rick Hoffman). The sometimes-despised man has both highs and lows, first screwing up a deal horribly, losing his cool when goaded by Nigel (Adam Godley), then saving the day, seemingly, when he not only swallows his pride in asking Harvey for help, but finds a way to land the firm a whale. This is Louis at his worst and his finest, and thank goodness the finest comes second.

Hoffman handles both ends of the spectrum in a sympathetic and layered way. Even when Louis screws up, fans root for him because we know why he does what he does, how often he is overlooked by his superiors, peers, and even inferiors, and we also know his heart is in the right place. This is a familiar type of person, someone who can work their hardest and try their best and still not be good enough. Yet, because he dusts himself off and does it again, he is noble and laudable.

Louis may be the most popular character on the show, and that is owed to both the material given him and the actor that brings him to life. While others are good or bad, sometimes both, depending on circumstance, Louis is only ever a typical man, neither evil nor perfect, his flaws realistically fleshed out. Whenever he is brought front and center, the result is rewarding, and "Bad Faith" hits those notes.

The fact that Darby (Conleth Hill) sends Nigel to negotiate, knowing the Jessica (Gina Torres) and Harvey are smart enough not to attend themselves, given their emotional investment in the process, shows just how intelligent Darby is. He is multiple steps ahead of our main players. They have met their match, even more so than in Hardman (David Constabile), with Darby.

Funnily enough, though, they may have defeated Darby if not for Harvey's own mistakes, proving that no matter great the foe, one is often one's own worst enemy. Because of how Harvey handled Ava Hessington (Michelle Fairley), Ava takes away her business, leading to misunderstandings and betrayal. It's a blow out of left field, one unexpected. There are too many pieces in play to keep track of them all at once, and a single oversight has huge ramifications.

This leaves negotiations between Darby and Jessica's firms at an impasse, with Scottie (Abigail Spencer) announcing the divorce is off. This leaves one wondering whether Pearson Darby Specter can somehow make a Hail Mary play that works at the last second, or sets up a fourth season even more embroiled in the serials arcs that make Suits so good.

Other great moments in "Bad Faith" are Mike (Patrick J. Adams) not realizing that his playing hardball with Robert Zane (Wendell Pierce) will hurt Mike's relationship with Robert's daughter Rachel (Meghan Markle), Mike asking Rachel to move into the apartment with him, Louis finally getting in on a Harvey / Jessica scheme, Harvey complimenting Louis sincerely, Katrina (Amanda Schull) playing cheerleader for Louis, and Donna pretending she just knows what's going on between Rachel and Mike. Excellent hour, all around.

Suits' season finale will air this Thursday at 10 p.m. ET on USA.

Make An "Arrangement" With SUITS

Article first published as SUITS Review Season 3 Premiere on Seat42F.

Grade: 90%

USA’s SUITS is back for a third season this week with “The Arrangement.” Taking place in the aftermath of last year’s finale, the employees at Pearson Darby (the firm’s new name) have to deal with broken trust and failing relationships. Everything is far from copacetic, or even status quo, as what has been shaken up has not yet begun to settle down.

The most painful split may be between the show’s two most central players from the beginning, Harvey (Gabriel Macht) and Mike (Patrick J. Adams). Mike having betrayed Harvey for Jessica (Gina Torres), he will do just about anything to win back Harvey’s trust. This is not helped at all when Jessica gifts Mike an office.

What’s scary is that there is no clear path to come back from this. Usually, either Mike or Harvey has a brilliant idea that can save the day. But Mike fails to come up with anything more spectacular than a little research, which isn’t all that impressive to Harvey, and Harvey doesn’t seem to want to try. If Harvey is swatting away all of Mike’s olive branches, is there a point in even sticking them out?

It’s good that this has shaken Mike to the core, though. Mike can sometimes be a little too overconfident, and somehow skates by when anyone else would fall. Losing Harvey as a mentor and friend should be a wakeup call to make sure he keeps himself in check. Mike is a good guy, for sure, but it will not hurt him to take a step back once in awhile and think more about those closest to him.

Similarly, the rift could end up helping Harvey if it teaches him to embrace forgiveness. Harvey tends to hold a grudge, as evidenced in the way he treats Louis (Rick Hoffman), and especially in how he is now at odds with Jessica. Harvey likes to sort people into ‘friends’ or ‘enemies,’ and when a person is put in one box or the other, it is very hard for them to get out again. Maybe through making up with Mike, which surely must happen eventually, Harvey will be a better man, one more willing to let past faults go, his own as well as others’.

It’s sad to see Harvey and Jessica against one another, as cool as it is to anticipate a battle between gods of the legal world. Their clash will be epic, and yet, it is emotionally painful that they are against one another. It’s a situation where they just need to agree to disagree, and Harvey needs to see Jessica as his boss, which is what she is. Unfortunately, they are both too headstrong for peace to be found. Unlike with Mike, Harvey’s reconciliation with Jessica is not assured, as her character frequently verges on the edge of antagonist.

These warring factions make it all the more easier for Darby (Conleth Hill, Game of Thrones) to establish control. He is the one in charge now, above Jessica even, and while he sometimes takes a seemingly relaxed approach in dealing with the lawyers, there is cold resolve in his eyes. He knows what he is doing, and because Jessica, Harvey, and Mike are in no place to unite and stand up to him, he is easily able to put them in the places that he wants them in. For now, anyway.

I don’t know why I jump straight into thinking Darby is a bad guy. He helps the firm out when they need it, and he hasn’t done anything untoward to the beloved main characters. Darby even grants Harvey a favor in “The Arrangement,” something he certainly does not have to do. Maybe it’s because I’m remembering the unpleasantness brought on by the previous partner, Hardman, or maybe it’s because we expect Harvey to always get his way on his own terms, and Darby will stand in the way of that, but there’s something that keeps Darby at arm’s length.

Perhaps the most surprising development in “The Arrangement” is Donna (Sarah Rafferty) turning on Mike. It shouldn’t be a shock, given Donna’s absolutely loyalty to Harvey, and the fact that, in essence, Mike betrays her, too, but I didn’t see this coming. Donna is previously Mike’s supporter, and the surest thing to convincing Harvey to give Mike a second chance. But if she wants to shut Mike out, Mike has an even steeper climb back into good graces.

Mike’s hope for fixing things with Donna are his compassionate heart, which Donna does notice, though maybe not this week, and his relationship with Donna’s friend, Rachel (Meghan Markle). I will not spoil where Mike and Rachel end up in their dance in the premiere, but suffice it to say, both their strong feelings for one another and Rachel’s extreme disappointment in Mike are major factors. Where they land could definitely mean something in how Mike and Donna interact going forward.

Other things that are great in this wonderful episode are the scene where Donna gently questions Harvey about his feelings for Scottie (Abigail Spencer), a guest appearance by a second Game Of Thrones alumni, and Louis engaging in a battle of wits with the scorned Nigel (Adam Godley). Best of all, none of these things are resolved in the first hour, so there’s a lot to anticipate in the coming run, and fantastic guest stars will recur.

What SUITS does well is to build large, character-driven arcs. It is not at all a procedural or typical lawyer show. It is about people who all do what they think is best, and sometimes there can be more than one right side to an issue. SUITS operates in shades of grey and in nuance, rather than broad strokes or permanent us versus them labels. “The Arrangement” takes what has built over the first two years and matures it into the next natural step. Very exciting.

SUITS airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET on USA.

Suits goes to "War"

Article first published as Suits goes to "War" on the TheTVKing.

The characters in USA's Suits have had a rough season, what with Daniel Hardman (David Costabile) returning to the firm he helped found, trying to wrest control away away from the current partners, and then other firms smelling blood in the water and circling. In the season finale, "War," though, the biggest threat comes not from the outside of Pearson (Hardman?), but from the inside.

It's hard to tell which person the threat lies with. Jessica Pearson (Gina Torres) thinks the best course for the firm that she runs is to merge with a British company run by Edward Darby (Conleth Hill, Game of Thrones). However, Harvey (Gabriel Macht) disagrees, and does his best to thwart the arrangement.

Does Jessica have the firm's best interests in mind? Or is she just trying to put Harvey in his place? She's right that he acts like he has equal ownership in the place, so she has a point in wanting to humble him. But if Harvey truly believes that combining forces with Darby would be a mistake that will cost them all, then he might have good intentions, too. It's likely both Jessica and Harvey are motivated by selfishness and pride, as well as their stated purpose, so it all comes down to differing viewpoints, and not being able to back away from a confrontation with each other.

When combined against a common enemy, Jessica and Harvey are on the same page. Now, they clearly are not, making the workplace not nearly so harmonious. Is it because they do believe different things, or because they have been in fight mode for awhile, and are having trouble getting out of it? They still have aggression, and without Hardman or someone to direct it against, they end up turning on each other.

I worry about how things will progress in season three. By the end of "War," it seems that all trust between Jessica and Harvey is gone, both having cheated and played dirty to get what they want, with Jessica coming out on top. Harvey appears to be willing to play her game and get along, but it could just be a show, with him biding his time and plotting his next move. And maybe Jessica assumes that is what he's doing, so she's wary of him. There is a lot of tension there, and until the air clears, there will much discord between two characters, both beloved by fans.

What is very much up in the air is how Brady will fit into the chemistry. Will he be hands off, leaving Jessica to run things as she sees fit? Or will he interfere, meaning that Harvey is right, and Jessica will have to make up with Harvey to throw off the yolk of yet another dictator? Will he try to broker peace, or let them fight it out?

Sadly, the way Jessica wins is by using Mike (Patrick J. Adams), blackmailing him into turning on Harvey, his mentor and friend. Harvey takes the betrayal very personally, trying to fire Mike, who is now protected be Jessica, but who doesn't want to stay there that way.

Mike is put in a very difficult position. Jessica is his boss's boss. Mike can be forgiven for confiding in her initially, since he's seen Harvey support her all this times. Mike tried to find a way out himself, with double blackmail, but it didn't work. I don't know if Harvey could have protected Mike had Mike refused Jessica's orders. Surely, at some point, Harvey has to realize this. On the other hand, if Harvey thinks Mike put self-preservation above loyalty, understanding isn't going to do a whole lot of good, one way or the other.

We see just how bad things are for Mike in the file room at the end of "War." He is near tears, feeling like he has lost everything, and in a way, he's right. Adams does a superb job handling the roiling emotions, and it's a terrific scene for the actor, dealing with the fall out from a no-win scenario.

Then Rachel (Meghan Markle) comes in, mad at Mike for dodging a favor, and it's just too much. I've long been wanting Mike to tell Rachel the truth, and in this moment, if he doesn't, he could lose her forever. And so he spills his guts, and it results in hot sex, which they both need right then. They may be in dark places, professionally speaking, but at least they have each other, and that will help them. It's a bright spot on the horizon, one that will hopefully last this time.

I'm glad Mike and Rachel get the happy romantic scene, since Harvey's admirer, Scottie (Abigail Spencer), is tossed to the curb. Or is she? At Donna's (Sarah Rafferty) advice, Scottie sends a pretty clear message to Harvey about her interest in him. Even though Harvey is skeptical at first, it's enough to spur him to convince Brady not to fire her.

But will Harvey choose to work with her in New York, or send her to London? I'm guessing London, which would effectively end things between them. However, Harvey has shown some signs this year of maybe wanting to settle down, and if Scottie is a possibility, this could make for a whole other Harvey in season three, maybe one who is willing to extend an olive branch and an apology to Jessica.

Of course, Harvey could also be interested in Donna. Yes, I am glad the show doesn't go there because it's such a predictable move, but one of these days Donna is going to have to give a straight answer, while looking the questioner in the eyes, about how deep her feelings for Harvey go.

I would be remiss is I did not mention Louis (Rick Hoffman) in discussing "War." Not only does he have an amazing scene with Donna early in the episode, and we see him be a friend to Harvey, and he does the right thing in regards to Rachel, but he also has his own subplot with a potential new friend working for Brady, whom Louis sabotages a fledgling relationship with because he can't sacrifice the pride he has in his job.

I don't know if I like Louis more for sticking to his guns, even if it costs him a comrade, who I really hope pops up again, or am frustrated that he doesn't show his compassionate side here. We know he has one, and the interactions he has with each of the other cast members are phenomenally good. I do believe Hoffman's performance this year to be Emmy-worthy. Yet, Louis is a frustrating man, and it's hard to know when to love him or loathe him sometimes.

I have heard that opinions on this Suits finale have been mixed. For any detractors, I recommend watching again and just looking for the character moments. The movie and TV references are funny (nice Downtown Abbey one this week), and the cases are intriguing, but the leg up Suits has over its peers is just how well defined and performed the people featured are. These actors are doing incredible work, surely backed up by some truly smart writing. The moments that soar are the ones that display honest communication between any two of the main characters. This is why I love Suits, and will defend it vigorously.

Suits will return for a third season this summer on USA.