Suits is "Blind-Sided"

Grade: 94%

USA’s SUITS returns this week with “Blind-Sided.” Hardman’s name is being scraped off the office door, and that chapter of the firm’s ugly history is over. So everything is now copacetic. Or is it?

The following does not ruin the ending of the episode, but does contain major spoilers, as it is pretty difficult to talk about the series without mentioning what is going on. You have been warned.

Louis (Rick Hoffman) is excited by the return of Sheila Sazs (Rachael Harris). Not only is she there for Louis sexually, but she also has a business prospect for him – an associate named Maria Monroe that he can hire for himself, now that he’s a senior partner.

But Jessica (Gina Torres) shuts Louis down, shaming Louis, the little power he now has ripped from his grasp, made even worse when Jessica’s excuse, that they are in a hiring freeze, is proven immediately false as Harvey (Gabriel Macht) hires a new associate of his own. It’s incredibly frustrating for Louis, and it definitely hurts things with Sheila. Does Louis really deserve to be treated like this?

More than that, is it dangerous to the firm for Jessica to act this way? Jessica’s motivations might not be vindictive, but she is fine with Louis believing that they are, and that could prove to be a problem for her down the road, should Louis ever find someone else to side against Jessica with. Jessica’s overconfidence may be her undoing, believing that she can handle anyone that threatens her position.

The real purpose behind Jessica’s act, of course, is to protect Mike (Patrick J Adams). Maria is a force to be reckoned with, as is immediately obvious, and Donna (Sarah Rafferty) tells Harvey, who in turns tells Jessica, that Mike’s secret will be threatened by Maria’s presence. If word gets out that Mike isn’t actually a lawyer, it could threaten the whole firm. Mike’s secret is the gift that keeps on giving, to paraphrase a quote from the show.

Unfortunately, in “Blind-Sided,” Mike is beset by personal issues, and is not earning his keep. Jessica isn’t happy that she has to bend over backwards in the first place for Mike, but because Harvey thinks Mike is worth it, she usually does. Now, with even Harvey tired of Mike’s shenanigans, how much time does Mike have before he is kicked to the curb? He doesn’t seem the sort that would blackmail Jessica and Harvey to keep his job, so if he stops being useful, he could easily be gone.

“Blind-Sided” sees Mike at his worst. Not only has it been just one short week since his grandmother’s death, which he is still dealing with, but he’s continuing his affair with a married woman, Tess (Elisabeth Hower), is back to smoking pot, and memories of his parents’ death are dredged up by the case he works on. We have never seen Mike this erratic, and while there is definitely still sympathy to be felt for the guy, we need our heroes to overcome their obstacles, not allow themselves to take the low road, as Mike is doing.

Can Mike get himself back on the right path before it’s too late?

Harvey also crosses a line in this episode, engaging in bribery to help the case. This is in stark contrast to the soft, warm side of Harvey we see during his date with Zoe (Jacinda Barrett) earlier in the hour. So which is the real Harvey? Is he ready to open himself up and settle down? Or is he still someone who will do whatever it takes to win in court?

Both Harvey and Mike do right and do wrong in “Blind-Sided,” and yet, Harvey comes off as a good guy, while Mike is painted as bad. No matter how much Mike insists, there is no strict right or wrong, and circumstances color viewers’ opinions. What SUITS doesn’t show is just as important as what it does, a subtlety that makes the rich layers of the installment all the more memorable.

That’s why SUITS continues to be USA’s best show. What happens on the surface, and the dialogue delivered, do not tell the whole story. Instead, we get these brilliant characters whose decisions affect others, not just themselves, and who won’t always agree on the course of action. Their complicated chemistries and interactions build on one another to make this a smart serial, not a common lawyer procedural.

There’s also a fair amount of romance tossed in, with Mike still on shaky ground with Rachel (Meghan Markle), who claims to not be the goody-goody she comes across as, and Harvey and Louis’s affections for Zoe and Sheila, respectively. “Blind-Sided” allows all of the main guys to tend to matters of the heart, but also reveals that they can’t necessarily control how these things play out, a nice, realistic touch. When will it be the ladies in the cast’s turn to get wooed?

The trademark charm and witty dialogue that have become a hallmark of SUITS continue, with great one-liners delivered by Donna, Harvey, and Louis, in turn. It’s fantastic to have compelling plot, but add to that some zingers that stand out, and it raises the overall quality of the thing considerably.

You won’t want to miss SUITS, returning to finish their second season January 17^th at 10 p.m. ET on USA.

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Article first published on Seat42F

'I Just Want My Pants Back' a home run for MTV

MTV's I Just Want My Pants Back brought its freshman run to a close last night. Each of the characters have shown growth, but find themselves reevaluating their lives. Jason (Peter Vack, Bully) finally finds Jane (Kelli Barrett, Remember Me) again, but it is not the happy ending he hopes for. Tina (Kim Shaw, The Good Wife) is scared things are getting too serious with Paul (Josh Casaubon, One Life to Live). Stacey (Elisabeth Hower, New York Lately) tries to be supportive as Eric (Jordan Carlos, The Colbert Report, Ghost Town) considers dropping out of med school.

The title I Just Wants My Pants Back doesn't define Jason's entire plot arc, but it certainly informs on his romantic situation. He has a casual hookup with Jane, whom he falls for, and becomes sort of obsessed with finding again. But that isn't all that is going on in his life. He is not only seeking a long-term partner, but also gainful employment. As a young man in his twenties, Jason is an easily identifiable protagonist, struggling through the rough start of adulthood, and looking forward to stability.

Which doesn't stop him from drinking and partying on the way. By the season finale, though, Jason has matured considerably. He has secured a career, and he turns down Jane's offer of sexual relations because she has a boyfriend. It's a bold, brave step for Jason, showing he isn't all about the quick pleasure, but rather, can still make rational decisions. He likes Jane a great deal, but knows things are looking up, and refuses to fall into a messy situation. What a great conclusion for him in season one!

Tina, who parties a lot harder than Jason, has considerably more trouble doing the right thing. She likes her job, though doesn't take it more seriously than it deserves to be. More importantly, she understands that her dating life has been a sea of wrong decisions. Paul offers a more grown up option, and Tina almost blows it because she is afraid. Afraid of what? Of not being fun anymore? Or of getting her heart broken? Thankfully, Tina also makes the right choice in the end.

Quick note, the chemistry between Tina and Jason is expertly performed. They do not have any sexual tension whatsoever, a difficult feat to pull off for two young, single members of opposite sexes. Nice.

Stacey and Eric are already doing wonderful when I Just Want My Pants Back begins. They are happily together and both on track for stellar careers. But Eric rocks the boat when he decides to drop out of med school. Stacey finds the decision hard to accept, but her affection for her partner eventually trumps financial concerns. This is something that crops up for many couples, and the way these two work through it seems to point to a good long-term outlook for them.

One can be forgiven for being skeptical of any MTV program, based on a long track record of less than impressive programming. However, similarly to Awkward. last summer, I Just Want My Pants Back shows that good writing can prevail. The goofy title becomes fun rather than annoying when applied to something this good. This show has created realistic, complex characters, is consistently humorous, and the story isn't always predictable. Rather than being junk TV, it's a high quality series worthy of attention. Please watch it in reruns, or during its second season, should it get one, which is certainly deserves.

I Just Want My Pants Back airs on MTV.

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