Carpe Diem. Review: Suits - “I Want You to Want Me”

Season 3, Episode 2

Air Date: Tuesday, July 23, 2013, 10/9c on USA

Rating: ★★★★★

“Cause when I’m done with him, Mike Ross will be begging to be my associate.” – Louis Litt

Can Harvey take down Jessica?

Having lost his position overseeing the associates, Louis (Rick Hoffman) jumps at the opportunity Jessica (Gina Torres) offers him to pick one associate to mentor. His obvious choice is Mike (Patrick J. Adams) but first he has to get the blessing of Harvey (Gabriel Macht). Since Harvey still wants nothing to do with Mike, he is all too happy to give it.

I wasn’t a fan of the rift between Mike and Harvey that was created in last season’s finale. Without these two men together, something feels off. In “The Arrangement,” Louis said it best when he told Mike Harvey was no longer Superman; he’s Batman, and Batman needs Robin.

The division helps set up a very entertaining Louis-themed episode that even those who are not Louis fans will enjoy. Hoffman gives an outstanding performance as he tries to court Mike into allowing him to mentor him. It’s fun watching a giddy Louis acting like he is in high school trying to get a date to prom.

Harvey doing what he does best, looking cool.

So often, Louis’ actions have contained ulterior motives but in “I Want You to Want Me,” they come across as sincere. Picking Mike has nothing to do with Harvey and you feel excited for Louis because you see his passion and what drives him. Louis is no Harvey and it was fun watching Mike process some of Louis‘ quirks, including a trip to a spa for a mud bath experience together. Despite the rocky past Louis and Mike have, their chemistry is awesome, and for a moment, Harvey is but a distant thought.

Harvey, meanwhile, is working on the Ava Hessington (Michelle Fairley) case, which in many ways mirrors Harvey and Mike’s situation. While the audience sees the similarities in the betrayal of a person each trusted, it is lost on Harvey, who still can’t think straight when it comes to Mike. I think this dialogue explains it best:

Ava: “I just realized when I get back to London, my right hand is going to be gone.”

Harvey: “Your right hand sold you out.”

Ava: “You made it seem like he did it for his own personal gain. But he did it for his own survival.”

Harvey: “He still did it.”

Ava: “But that doesn’t mean I’m not going to miss him.”

With Ava’s case settled, Donna approaches Harvey and asks, “Harvey, if this whole thing is Jessica’s fault, maybe it’s time we consider forgiving Mike.” It’s amazing the power a secretary can have over her boss. Harvey realizes she is right, and sets out to find Mike.

But Mike is already in Louis’ office letting him know he would like to be a part of team Litt. Louis runs out of the office to grab a gift he got them to celebrate when Harvey walks in.

Harvey: “I can’t let you do this.”

Mike: “Let me?”

Harvey: “Don’t do this.”

Mike: “I already said yes, I can’t go back on my word.”

Harvey: “You’re not going back on your word. You’re going back, where you belong.”

Despite my wanting the rift between Mike and Harvey to be over, having it play out the way it does with Louis watching in the background was heartbreaking to see. You have to be a zombie not to feel for Louis as he walks away, tossing a cake that says “Welcome to Team Litt” into the garbage.

I am very eager to see how Louis reacts to all of this. Once again, Harvey gets what Louis wants. In his mind, I’m sure he’s wondering whether Harvey is taking back Mike once he realized Mike was going to say yes. What will happen to the relationship between Mike and Louis? They seemed so perfectly matched. Somehow, I doubt Louis will just let it go. And what will Jessica think about Harvey and Mike being together again, especially since she‘s the one who caused the split in the first place?

“I Want You to Want Me” is a great episode especially if you’re a Louis Litt fan. While the writing is great, Hoffman does an excellent job delivering it. He brings a sincerity and compassion we really have not seen in Louis before. Speaking of things we have not seen before, I’m still trying to get the image of Louis’ bare backside out of my mind.

Just because Harvey and Mike are together again, that doesn’t mean all is well at Pearson-Darby, and with Harvey wanting to take down Jessica, my guess is things will get worse before they get better. What did you think about this week’s episode of Suits?

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.