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.

Suits makes a "Discovery"

Last night's Suits on USA was called "Discovery." Mike (Patrick J. Adams) mouths off to Harvey (Gabriel Macht), and in retaliation, Harvey assigns Mike to Louis (Rick Hoffman). Working a case together, Mike actually comes to respect Louis, forming a pleasant bond. That is, until Louis plants a recorder in Harvey's office and hears the pair calling him pathetic. Meanwhile, Harvey asks Donna (Sarah Rafferty) to dig into an old case when he is accused of forgery by Tanner (Eric Close, Without a Trace).

"Discovery" has some of the best Louis scenes of the series so far. Here he is, exposed and raw, and at his best, professionally. Mike gets to see how talented he is, and also how much it hurts Louis to always be put down, never getting his due. It opens up a vein of sympathy, really making Louis a sympathetic character in a way that he has never been. He may be a dick, but he's good a reason for being that way.

Sadly, Mike's relationship with Louis is over almost before it begins. This isn't really Mike's fault. Mike is smart enough to know that Harvey isn't going to listen to a flat out defense of Louis. Thus, Mike finds himself agreeing with Harvey's negative comments just to get a little bit of a good word in. Louis doesn't realize this, focusing just on the bad stuff Harvey and Mike say.

The thing is, Harvey doesn't trust Louis for a reason. While viewers get to see Louis as a good man, Harvey knows the depths that Louis can sink to, and also his limits. I mean, Mike does, too, confronting Louis about his bad behavior. But while Mike still tries to look past that, Harvey has no patience left for that. In this, Louis has made his own bed, and has no one to blame but himself for the way he is treated.

Louis isn't the only one with insecurity, though. Harvey feels pretty righteous standing up for himself against Tanner, but he is vulnerable. Whether he purposely acted in the wrong or not, there is something here that seems to be Harvey's fault. And with Tanner determined to bring Harvey down, viewers certainly haven't seen the last of this story. Which is fine, because it's cool to see a less confident, not quite so smooth, version of Harvey.

The question is, how much support does Harvey have? Because he's going to need all he can get. Jessica (Gina Torres) is with him, of course, but now Hardman (David Costabile) is in the loop, too, because Louis tells him everything he overheard to get even. Hardman claims that he will be working on Harvey's behalf. And he may, if only to protect the firm. But by showing this weakness to Hardman, especially is Hardman helps beat it, leaves Harvey, and by extension, Jessica, vulnerable to further manipulation from the returned partner.

Hardman is the possible bad good who is seemingly on the good side, for now, while Donna is currently the good girl who did wrong. She discovers an incriminating paper in the files, and her name is signed to the document. This might mean that Harvey is culpable for fraud, and it's Donna that left him exposed. This is her worst nightmare, and she will do anything to make up for it. But how will she tell Harvey this, knowing how bad it looks, and is there anything she can do to protect him and herself?

Despite the seriousness of this discovery, the file search does lead to a wonderfully funny moment featuring Donna and Mike. As Harold (Max Topplin) catches them, they pretend they have had sex to cover for it. While amusing, this opens up an interesting pairing. Any chance Suits might ever consider going there? Donna may be a bit older than Mike, but she's still extremely attractive, and he would be lucky to have her. Then again, this would seem a bit wrong, so it's probably not a good idea.

Equally disturbing is Harold's worship of Rachel (Meghan Markle). There is a very sweet moment when Harold hits on Rachel in "Discovery," but the two are so mismatched that everyone knows it will never happen. Well, everyone but Harold. His earnestness is charming. Hopefully he will find love. Just not with Rachel.

Another excellent entry for one of the best shows running this summer! Catch Suits Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET on USA.

Check out my new website, JeromeWetzel.com! If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for all of my Suits articles! First published as Suits makes a "Discovery" on TheTVKing.com

"She Knows" about Suits

USA's Suits returned tonight with a game-changing premiere called "She Knows." Whereas season one is a two man show that often feels like a procedural, it's clear immediately that season two is a serial with a much more dynamic plot. More twists are packed into this episode than one would expect, and some really cool new stories are set up.

First, the title of the installment must be addressed. Jessica (Gina Torres) is the epitome of cool as she deals with the revelation of Mike's (Patrick J. Adams) secret. Her conversation with Mike, fishing for info before ordering his termination, is a wonderful scene between two fantastic performers. She is smooth and guarded in the best possible way. The follow up to this, deciding to see just how good Mike is, is just as classic. Both moments send chills down fans' spines, especially those that have admired Torres for years, through her previous work. It's a triumphant hour for her as an actress.

Jessica understands that keeping Mike employed at Pearson Hardman threatens the entire company that she has poured her heart and soul into, especially now that "She Knows," so she demands that he be fired. No one can blame her for this. The firm is sort of like the child she never had. Her reaction is completely understandable, even if firing Mike would kill the series. Thus, the plot twist necessary to keep him around.

What is more painful for Jessica than learning Mike's secret is hearing of Harvey's (Gabriel Macht) betrayal. This is someone that she trusts implicitly. Harvey may not always do what she'd like him to do, but she is sure that he has her best interests at heart, and that he cares about her. This belief seems to be gone now. For Harvey to go behind her back like this makes him loathsome, and it will take a long time before he can start earning back her trust.

Yet, in the same episode we discover such an ugly part of Harvey, we also observe how good he can be. Tasked with firing Mike, of whom he has become very fond, Harvey can't bring himself to do it. Harvey has connected with Mike in a way that he never has with anyone else. For the first time, Harvey has found someone worthy of his mentoring. Which is why the scene where Harvey can't fire Mike not only redeems his character, but is just as memorable as the Jessica/Mike stuff.

One thing some might overlook is how Donna (Sarah Rafferty) handles the entire situation. She knows that Harvey must fire Mike, and doesn't try to stop him. But she is supremely proud of Harvey for not being able to go through with it. She also neglects to listen in on Harvey and Mike's conversation, very unusual for her, because she, too, has formed an attachment to Mike, and it would be too painful for her to hear it. This reveals another, softer side of her character, and one that is most welcome.

Speaking of Donna's sides, her conversation with Rachel (Meghan Markle) in the bathroom is something new. Donna and Rachel start to form a bit of a friendship in season one, but now they are really confiding in each other. It's nice to see such a strong, healthy bond between gals on television, a medium which doesn't always handle these types of relationships so well. How thrilling to be in on the ground floor as the pair get to know each other!

Most of this review has been about Mike's secret and how that plays out. But the truth is, there is a heck of a lot more going on in this episode, and that pushes Mike to the back burner. The series' ability to make Mike's story not the most important thing in the episode is a testament to Suits' great writing, especially since Mike's secret was a huge cliffhanger at the end of season one.

Hardman (David Costabile, Breaking Bad, Damages), as in Pearson-Hardman, the firm at the center of the series, decides to return to work. This may have been an entirely preventable turn of events. Harvey and Jessica practically panic when they learn Hardman's wife is dead, thus negating the blackmail they have used to keep him away for the past five years. But it's their aggressive plays to keep him on the sidelines that bring him back into the fold. Would he have returned if they hadn't acted? It's impossible to know. However, there is little doubt that what they decide to do certainly hurries this along.

Hardman threatens the firm even more than Mike. He used to be the boss. We don't yet know what he was like, or how he will be, as he is seemingly changed, upon his return. Too many main characters distrust him to be fooled, and there has to be secrets here. Hardman will definitely shake things up in ways that cannot be foreseen. Plus, there is now the threat of him finding out about Mike, which could ruin Jessica and the others.

Interestingly, Suits still manages to squeeze a case-of-the-week story in among all of these other happenings. Mike goes against the firm to help out a struggling author, only to learn some deeper truths. The screen time devoted to this story is miniscule, and what is spent on it is more about Mike's character than the case itself. As such, this isn't nearly enough to make this a procedural episode, and actually comes across as a very intriguing tale.

There are numerous twists and turns in "She Knows," as well as wonderful moments for each of the principal characters, including Rick Hoffman's Louis and recurring player Max Topplin's Herald, to shine. This is a fantastic hour of television, and one that certainly heralds, excuse the pun, Suits rising to a whole other level this year. Anyone who watches this episode would be hard pressed to dismiss the series with any negative comments now.

Suits airs on USA Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for all of my Suits set visit articles! Article first published as TV Review: Suits - "She Knows" on Blogcritics.

An Interview With Suits' Max Topplin

USA's Suits is the legal series that is NOT a case-of-the-week, standard procedural. Instead, it is character-driven, examining the morality and relationships between a group of people at a law firm. Moving into season two, big changes are afoot. This includes more development for side characters, including Herold Jakowski.

You may not remember much about Herold. He is an associate that gets dumped on by Louis a lot. But that is going to change. Not the dumping, of course, but that lack of standing out. Max Topplin, the wonderfully charming, funny actor who portrays the character, has a lot to say about Herold's future. Not only will he get some serious screen time in the webisodes, but he will also be doing some crazy things in the coming weeks in the regular installments!

Herold is the class clown. He takes himself seriously, but he is socially awkward, and is always trying to catch up to the page everyone else in the office is on. His tendency to break into dance doesn't help him with this much, and his allergy to cats will come into play, too.

Herold is the everyman viewers will want to root for. He is a person many can relate to, far less put together than the smooth operators running the law firm. He may be a bit bumbling, which helps bring the much-appreciated humorous element of Suits to the forefront. He's also earnest and sincere, honest and genuine. He's more an accidental obstacle than an antagonist, and he's certainly not playing the "game" in which the others compete for power. It's a great character that must be delicately handled to avoid becoming a joke of himself. If today's conversation is any indication, Max seems to understand this, and have a handle on it.

As an associate, the natural relationship that will be building for Herold is his interaction with Mike. They will soon be friends, and maybe even confidantes. Unfortunately for Herold, Mike's brain works faster than the average person, and he doesn't have much patience in waiting for others to catch up. This should lead to some strained scenes between the two, which, given Herold's track record, will probably also be funny.

What of Herold's love life? After all, the geek is always going to pine for the girl. Max promises that Herold will make a play for Rachel in season two. It will definitely go very much as one would expect it to, which will make for a fantastic comedy scene! But no serious woman is on the horizon for Herold. At least not yet.

That being said, Herold is Team Women, not just Team Rachel. He will take any girl! Asked who would be his dream guest star to finally give Herold his sweet, sweet love, Max immediately jumps to Jennifer Love Hewitt. He pitches that the star of The Client List and Ghost Whisperer could play a nerdy, sexy, socially awkward librarian with dentures. Hear that casting department? Make this happen, stat!

Herold is already in Louis and Mike's circles pretty heavily, and as mentioned, he will go for Rachel, but what about Harvey and Jessica? Sadly, he has not captured their attention. It is Max's fervent hope that Herold will become a punching bag for the two of them soon, as well. He is sure a glutton for punishment!

Max may be playing second string for now, but that doesn't mean he will stay the meek scapegoat forever. Look for him to go toe to toe with Louis soon. Albeit in a role playing exercise, and Louis will put him back in his place. But it's a scene to look forward to, and a chance to root for this perpetual underdog!

Louis will not remain at the top of the heap. He has always had to kowtow to Jessica, but she doesn't put the hammer down to often. Now that Hardman, Jessica's partner, is back in the office, Louis is going to get it from multiple sides. Which means that, like most bullies, he will probably pass the torment down to the next level, with Herold being the obvious target.

Will Herold become the next Louis? It's a distinct possibility, seeing the parallels between their characters. But Herold seems too sunny of a person to be beaten down so easily into the miserable human being Louis can be.

The ratings of Suits have been something to really celebrate. Max mentions that, in Canada, 600,000 viewers is huge. He seems absolutely awestruck by the news that millions more tune in around the United States on a regular basis. This man is clearly living his dream, and is grateful for every minute. Which makes Max someone to root for every bit as much as his character, if not more so.

Asked about the difference between himself and his character, Max has a ready answer. He says he could date dancers, while Herold would not stand a chance. Though Herold would believe that he could, and go for it with gusto. Are they so different, after all?

On a final note, Max would really like to get going on twitter, but hasn't really been sucked into it yet. He asks that fans entice him to be more active! Just tweet @MaxTopplin and try to engage him. If he's half as entertaining on social media as he is in person, it should be well worth the effort!

Click here for all of my Suits articles! If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Article first published as Talking with Max Topplin of USA's Suits on TheTVKing.com.

A Visit to the Set of USA's Suits

Recently, I was lucky enough to represent BlogCritics and TheTVKing on a visit to the Toronto set of USA's Suits, along with 18 other Internet media folks. This was an absolutely wonderful experience, getting a really cool view of things that few fans get the opportunity to see. The people involved, those organizing the trip, and those taking the time to sit with us for lengthy interviews, couldn't have been more gracious and generous. I would like to share some of the highlights of that visit with you now, and look for follow up articles from me soon that go more in-depth on some of the events mentioned in this article.

In the interest of full disclosure, I must mentioned that this trip was completely paid for by the studio. I did not have to shell out my own money to go, and for that I am extremely grateful. Television reviewing is a passion of mine, and I devote a lot of time to it, but I do not earn a living doing so. Not even close. Without the kindness of the folks organizing this trip, this is an opportunity I would never have been able to afford.

In spite of this, I will attempt to write with as little bias as possible. I am extremely grateful, to be sure, but also take my role as a journalist very seriously. I admit to a certain amount of wonder and enthusiasm during the duration of the event, but then, that's natural for someone who is a fan of TV in general, and Suits in particular. As such, the gushing comes from a place of personal joy, rather than because of bribery.

We flew into Toronto this past Thursday, arriving at the Hyatt Regency hotel downtown. The accommodations were very nice. There was plenty of time to get settled before gathering in the lobby for dinner. We walked across the street to a French restaurant called Zazou, where we were escorted up to a private dining room.

As we waited for things to begin, we got to know each other, exchanging names and websites, and pawing through our goody bags from USA. These people could not have been nicer. Many of them knew each other from previous events, but they were welcoming to a newbie like me, too. The organizers sat among us, enjoying and participating in our conversations, every bit as much a part of the group as those of us flown out to observe and write.

We were served an interesting cuisine complete with dessert and plenty of wine. Among the choices were the infamous frog legs, which I can now report do taste quite a bit like chicken, but with a consistency and texture closer to fish.

During dinner, we got the opportunity to watch the second-season premiere of Suits, which airs on Thursday, June 14th. The episode is called "She Knows," which should leave you with little doubt about what Trevor told Jessica just after the fantastic season finale ended last summer. The version we saw was missing a handful of scenes, which had just been filmed in New York, but what those scenes will contain is impossible to tell. It felt like a complete episode to me.

A full review of "She Knows" will be forthcoming, but suffice it to say, the questions left hanging last season are addressed almost immediately. What's more, there are far bigger things going on than that, which completely changes the game for the characters. Sure, there will be lasting repercussions to what "She Knows," but that's not even close to the whole story. More plot is packed into this hour than most shows do in an entire season! And all six main characters get their moments to shine, not just Harvey and Mike.
With full bellies and lots of discussion having been had over the twists and turns of a great hour of television, we returned to our hotels to get some sleep before the next day's set visit.

Late the next morning, after a great breakfast buffet in the hotel, we boarded a bus and were driven outside of the city to the television studio where Suits is made. It isn't much to look at as your drive up. Surprisingly, it sits in a huge warehouse where you can also drop off your recycling, and a roller derby team practices. But the place is huge! And what they've done inside is amazing!

The first place we were escorted to is the Peason Hardman conference room. Apparently, this set has been completely revamped for season two, with a reception area and elevator bank added so that those scenes will not have to be shot on location anymore. Extra glass let us see the elevators right from the table, and the magnificent backdrop of the city skyline hung behind us. From our seats, we could only see set, so if one didn't look around the corner at the lights, or too closely at the painting, one could easily believe they were in an office building downtown!

Working from the conference room all day (the electric outlets can be used!), actors were brought to us for group interviews. Articles will be written about each interview individually, but for now, a few highlights.
First up was Patrick J. Adams, who stars as Mike. He could not have been nicer. Patrick actually seems a lot like Mike, in personality, anyway, and he appeared to enjoy spending time with us. He really is terrible at impressions, and he is definitely a geek, referencing Lost and Star Trek during the interview. Not only did he stay for nearly half an hour in the conference room, and posed for a group photo, but he also offered us a tour of the set!

I'll go into more detail in a separate article covering the set tour, but again, here are some highlights. Besides the elevator bank, the sound stage we were on included a new bathroom piece, with interchangeable stalls and urinals, Rachel's new office, the file room, and another office who belongs to someone I cannot name at this time without spoiling something big, which I will do in other articles. Patrick then jumped on a skateboard and led us to another stage, where they had constructed a full courtroom for season two, not far from where Mike's apartment is housed!

If you look at the picture I've included, that's me reflected in the glass behind Patrick while he gives us the tour!

On the way back to the conference room, we bumped into Max Topplin, who plays recurring character Harold. He was just exiting the third sound stage, where he had been filming some webisodes. He followed us back to the conference room, and got to tell us a few things, including what his role will be going forward. An energetic and entertaining young man, Max really matched the spirit of enthusiasm the rest of us felt at being there!

Then, lunch! It was quite a trek to find the lunch room, but the spread was fantastic. There were many options, and in copious amounts. Tucked away in the basement, it wasn't as glamorous as dinner the night before. But the folding chairs and tables were spruced up with tablecloths and flowers, so that was nice!

Returning to the conference room, there was a total surprise! See, in the same building, as we walked down the corridor, we could see that Covert Affairs was being filmed right across the very big hallway. Those doors were closed to us, but someone came through them for a visit. Christopher Gorham, who plays Auggie, was filming webisodes for that series, and stopped by in full costume! He talked about location shooting, the positive impact he's feeling from the blind community, being a sighted actor playing a blind man, and what's next for Auggie and Annie! One gets the feeling he would have said more, but he kept stopping himself, and asking input on what he was allowed to reveal from producer Gene Klein.

Later, we would actually get to talk directly to Gene, who works on both Covert Affairs and Suits, which was very exciting! Not only did he gives us some teasers about both shows, but he also talked further about the webisodes, and shared stories from the writer's room. Among the topics covered with Gene were the show's music and clothing brands.

But directly after Chris, Meghan Markle and Rick Hoffman gave us a few minutes in between takes. They had just come from the set, where Rick had been screwing up all his lines while feeding to Megan, who was the one actually being filmed! Gene later told us that Rick nailed everything when the camera turned to him. Rick and Megan have a great chemistry, with Rick joking a lot, and sort of staying in character, albeit being much nicer than Louis is.

A little while later the room went absolutely wild when Gabriel Macht showed up wearing a tuxedo! At first, he claimed he was not filming, this was simply what he wore every day, but when pressed, he admitted otherwise. Gabriel's interview took a more serious tone than the others, with him really thinking about, and analyzing, his character. In fact, he kept saying I, then correct himself by saying Harvey. It was very clear just how important and dear this role is to him.

During a break, we were allowed to visit the third set, where filming had been going on earlier. We saw Jessica, Louis, and Harvey's offices, Donna's desk, the associates' bullpen where Mike works, and the library. It was incredible to see the level of detail that went into each piece, from doctored photos to business cards to Jessica's very, very uncomfortable chair! Not only that, but most of the books in the library were real, and there were a heck of a lot of them!

By this time, the day was feeling long, not helped by the fact that the "outside" lights had been turned off in the conference room, making it appear to be night. But things picked up when Sarah Rafferty, on her day off, no less, came to see us! She reveled in her character of Donna, and actually got a few spoilers from the reporters, based on things others had said earlier! She mused that Donna should date George Clooney and Brad Pitt, or at least characters those actors play. The biggest spoiler we learned from Sarah? Donna is not always right, and viewers will soon get to see this in a big way come episode five of the season!

After Sarah left, Gina Torres was the final visit of the day. She was well worth the wait, though! Perfectly poised, she exhibited a warmth her character doesn't always display. There was such a gravitas she exuded just by being in the room! She discussed her character at length, and wished Jessica would just get some already and loosen up!

Then, we weary reporters emerged from the studio to discover that, contrary to how it felt the past couple of hours, it was still bright daylight outside! Boarding the bus home, where we would be turned loose on our own until our return flights, most the next day, there was a sense of exhaustion and satisfaction. What an experience! I do not believe it is one any of us will soon forget!

Writing this, less than an hour before I check out and fly home, I must again thank all of those involved for putting this together! USA, 360 Media, and the tireless work of Terry, Justin, Jennifer, Amanda, and all the rest really went to great lengths to put this trip together. I am extremely grateful. It was an amazing experience!

I look forward very much to watching Suits this coming summer. Keep an eye out for my set visit and interview articles, as well as reviews of select episodes, including the season premiere. This trip gave me so much to write about, and I will be providing a steady stream of content about Suits for the next couple of weeks!

Watch Suits on USA, returning for season two on June 14th!

Read all of my Suits coverage and reviews here.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! A shortened version of this article was first published as A Visit to the Set of USA's Suits on Blogcritics