Relationships Matter. Retrospective: Suits - “Shadow of a Doubt”

Season 3, Episode 5

Air Date: Tuesday, August 13, 2013, 10/9c on USA

Rating: ★★★★★

“Outside mud is a clear violation of club policy. There are rules, Nigel.” – Louis

Mike “Harvey” Ross

“Shadow of a Doubt” isn’t your typical episode of Suits; instead, it’s more of a tune up. Just like a car, you need to adjust things now and then to make sure everything runs like it should. “Shadow of a Doubt” gives each character an opportunity to work on their various relationships, and thankfully, they all come out stronger because of it.

Donna (Sarah Rafferty) and Stephen (Max Beesley) take their sexual arrangement to the next level while trying to keep it quiet in the office. It’s no surprise that Louis (Rick Hoffman) is quick to notice something is different with Donna when she and Rachel (Meghan Markle) are discussing her relationship with Stephen . Rafferty and Hoffman have some of my favorite on-screen banter, usually at Hoffman’s expense. I love their exchange as Louis tries to figure out why Donna, in his terms, is “glowing.” It’s funny, and one of the best double entendres in the episode.

Louis: “Well, promise me you’ll keep doing whatever it is you’re doing.”

Rachel: “I think she can do that.”

Louis: “No, I’m serious, Donna. Morning, noon, and night—five times a day if necessary.”

Donna: “I will do my best.”

A Glowing Donna

Donna also knows it’s time to tell Harvey (Gabriel Macht) about Stephen. I couldn’t help feeling that Donna feels a little let down by Harvey’s lack of emotion. As much as I think she wants his blessing, I wonder if there is some resentment given the hints about their romantic past. I thought we would see more of a reaction from Harvey because day or night, she has always been his, even if only professionally.

Mike (Patrick J. Adams) and Rachel’s personal relationship is tested when Mike asks her to join him on an embezzlement case. They are very cute together, especially when they bargain with each other.

Rachel: “You want me to be the Mike to your Harvey.”

Mike: “I do want you to be the Mike to my Harvey.”

Rachel: “I get to ask half the questions.”

Mike: “Harvey doesn’t let Mike ask half the questions.”

Rachel: “Fine. One-third.”

Mike: “Harvey doesn’t negotiate with Mike.”

Rachel: “Mike doesn’t have sex with Harvey.”

Mike: “One-third of the questions seems reasonable to me.”

Mike gets a wake-up call of sorts when Rachel speaks to Beth Clark (Lesley Faulkner), Graeme Stinton’s (Drew Nelson) lover and embezzler. When Rachel tells Beth the fear of Stinton being caught will cast a shadow over the rest of their lives together, Mike can only wonder whether this applies to his and Rachel’s relationship as well.

On top of that, Mike realizes Rachel is extremely skittish over him joining her for dinner with her parents as her “boyfriend.” I loved seeing Wendell Pierce again as Rachel’s father Robert, who we last saw in “He’s Back.” There is something I only can describe as fatherly that I enjoy about him. The family dinner scene was particularly entertaining to watch because the dinner conversation flows like a real one would with the various exchanges coming from all directions. Later, there is a nice scene between Mike and Robert just sitting around talking but I appreciate how it furthers their relationship. That is important given that Mike is dating his daughter. It also leads to quite a shock when Mike learns something about Rachel he didn’t previously know. While I know it wouldn’t have been possible, I wish Jessica had merged with Robert so his character could be around more for our viewing pleasure.

There are rules, Nigel.

Louis and Nigel’s (Adam Godley) relationship also seems to have improved. After all, what two men wouldn’t bond over a beautiful diva cat? While I am still processing everything that happens between them, given their unique personalities, hopefully this will mark the end of their childish antics against each other. Somehow, I doubt it.

The real surprise in “Shadow of a Doubt” is the relationship between Harvey and Jessica (Gina Torres) after she offers him the senior partner status he has been coveting for so long. I didn’t see this coming and it removes the tension that has been building between them. Harvey sums it up perfectly when he responds: “I want to know if this is a gesture or if it’s a move.” Jessica never really answers him but given Darby’s (Conleth Hill) 51% stake in the firm, I assume he has signed off on this. Does this smooth things over at the new Pearson Darby Specter, or is this simply another move in the international game of chess everyone is playing? What do you think?

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.