Two Steps Back, One Forward. Retrospective: Suits - “Yesterday’s Gone”

Season 3, Episode 12

Air Date: Tuesday, March 13, 2014, 9/8c on USA

Rating: ★★★★★

“Get it through your head; I’m not Superman. I failed and I don’t know what to do.” – Harvey

Jessica Pearson

Jessica (Gina Torres) learns her ex-husband Quentin (Russell Hornsby) has succumbed to his battle with ALS. Further complicating things, Jessica and Harvey (Gabriel Macht) have been named co-executors of his estate, which doesn’t go over well with Quentin’s girlfriend Lisa (Sharon Leal). Meanwhile, convinced Mike (Patrick J. Adams) never went to Harvard, Louis (Rick Hoffman) puts a plan into motion to expose Mike as a fraud by inviting one of Mike’s professors from Harvard as a guest lecturer. Will Mike be exposed or will Harvey come up with a plan to stop it in time?

After an endless assortment of names on the law firm wall, it finally seems like things have settled down at Pearson-Specter. While Jessica and Harvey have always had a professional relationship, the dynamics have changed since becoming partners. I’ve been pleased to see the evolution of both Jessica and Harvey as they learn to work together given Harvey’s new role. Harvey isn’t the same man he was last season; he’s more respectful and seems to care what others around him are going through, especially when it comes to Scottie (Abigail Spencer) and Mike.

Jessica also goes through a personal transformation in “Yesterday’s Gone” as she lets her emotional feelings for Quentin and disdain for Lisa cloud her judgment when it comes to carrying out Quentin’s final wishes. Thankfully, Harvey helps Jessica see the light.

Harvey: “Jessica, you loved him. I know you’re hurting, so is she. Whatever your history with her, so is she.”

Jessica and Lisa

Jessica and Lisa are able to put their differences aside and do what is best to honor Quentin’s memory. I’m not sure, though, that these two will be exchanging cards next Christmas.

“Yesterday’s Gone” is the episode Suits’ fans have been longing for. From the very first episode, the audience has known Mike’s secret and over time, a select few at Pearson-Specter have figured it out, too. We knew if anyone found out, Harvey would handle it but the real unknown was always what Louis would do if he discovered Mike’s secret. After all, he would betray his own mother if it helped him get ahead in the long run.

I got a kick out of the roller coaster ride the writers created in “Yesterday’s Gone.” Instead of building up to a resolution at the end, the writers created several setbacks. Just when you think things are resolved, they get even worse for Mike. It is almost frustrating to watch Mike and Rachel’s (Megan Markle) manipulations as they try various ways to persuade Louis to let it go, only to keep having it blow up in their face. The real surprise comes when Harvey decides it is time to step in and fails. I don’t remember another time when Harvey is beaten at his own game like this. There is a scene where Mike tries to get Harvey pumped back up and Donna (Sarah Rafferty) steps in and simply says “Mike.” Just the one word is chilling enough because you know things are bad.

Many of you might not know Harvard Professor Gerard (Stephen Macht), who Louis brings in to help expose Mike, is Gabriel Macht’s real life father. I laughed as Harvey keeps putting down Gerard knowing his father is saying things like, “I see you’re as pompous as ever,” and referring to him as “You smug son of a bitch.” Macht Sr. has been acting since the 70s and even auditioned for the role of Star Trek’s Captain Picard. More recently, Macht Sr. guest starred on Castle and The Mentalist but this is the first time he has appeared on screen with his son.

Usually, you don’t notice editing on a TV show but I thought director Anton Cropper and the editing team did a wonderful job putting together the final scene where the two main storylines intertwine with no real dialogue other than a voiceover by Jessica. What makes it so unique is despite going back and forth between two very different scenes, Jessica’s words fit both scenes and the dialogue is very well scripted and performed.

“Yesterday’s Gone” is not only a powerful episode, it has the explosive confrontation between Louis and Mike I have been wanting to see. One of the things that makes Suits such a great show is the writing of casual conversations. Scenes with Louis and Mike in the associates’ area talking about their love of the law, and Mike and Harvey talking about the value of friendship—these scenes make you feel like you’re listening in on a real conversation rather than watching an acted scene. It’s one of the reasons I really enjoy the show.

What did you think? Will Louis finally put the Mike-going-to-Harvard thing to rest? Tweet me @staffaroadtrip or leave a comment below to let me know what you think about “Yesterday’s Gone.”

For more on the show, go to http://www.usanetwork.com/series/suits/.

Follow Suits on Twitter, as well as some of the cast: <Mike> Patrick J Adams, <Harvey> Gabriel Macht, <Rachel> Meghan Markle, and <Louis> Rick Hoffman.

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Greg Staffa

I provide testosterone to the site. You won’t be reading about how nice a actress looks in a dress or how much of a hunk Matt Bomer is in my reviews. I describe colors using words like brown, not taupe. My twitter name is @staffaroadtrip because I love road trips and have done two different 48-state road trips since 2008. My favorite show is White Collar.