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<i>Suits</i> “Admission Of Guilt” Recap. Show of Force.

Season 6, Episode 14

Air Date: Wednesday, February 15, 2017, 10/9c on USA

Rating: ★★★★★

“Which one of you said that?” – Harvey

Will their plan backfire?

Harvey (Gabriel Macht) and Mike (Patrick J. Adams) walk a dangerously fine line after Mike agrees to partner with Harvey on a class action suit against Velocity Data Solutions. Will Harvey’s arrangement with Craig (Michael B. Silver), a member of the bar’s ethics board, to manipulate Velocity’s stock so Craig will help Mike pass the bar be successful, or will things blow up in their faces?

As much as I want to see Mike and Harvey working together again, I wish the storyline with Craig had been better established. Repeatedly, the Suits writers plant a seed of a storyline and allow it to slowly grow and develop. Yet with Craig, it only takes a scene or two to set up this major plot point. It’s hard to tell if the writers are rushing things or if Harvey is so desperate to have Mike back at the firm, he’s moving fast. Either way, I would have liked to see things laid out better.

Speaking of moving too quickly, It doesn’t take long for things between Mike and Nathan (Peter Cambor) to fall apart. I absolutely loved how Nathan was introduced in “She’s Gone” and hoped Mike still had insight to gain from Nathan about the law. This would have created an interesting contrast with what Mike has already learned from Harvey. Mike and Nathan’s scenes remind me of Mike’s time in jail, especially when he met with Julius (Malcolm-Jamal Warner), the prison counselor. Both instances were cut short abruptly by the writers and I view them as a missed opportunity to provide Mike with a mentor figure other than Harvey.

While things with Mike and Nathan are on the rocks, it’s great to see the bond between Mike and Oliver (Jordan Johnson-Hinds) at the clinic continue to grow. Watching Mike mentor Oliver reminded me of all the times Jessica (Gina Torres) referred to Mike as “that damn kid.” How times have changed! Will both Mike and Oliver eventually leave the legal clinic to join Pearson Specter Litt? With Jessica gone, the firm could use more diversity.

They make a great duo.

Oliver isn’t the only protegé showing promise now that Katrina (Amanda Schull) is back at the firm after a stint with Robert Zane’s (Wendell Pierce) firm. As talented and lovely as Schull is, I haven’t been particularly fond of Katrina since she was first introduced in “Blind-Sided.“ My dislike for her character grew stronger after she became Louis’ (Rick Hoffman) lackey, doing all his dirty work. That said, “Admission Of Guilt” shows a different side of Katrina, as she finally becomes a team player. Katrina’s scenes with Rachel (Megan Markle) are extremely well written and beautifully acted. Until “Admission Of Guilt,” I can’t remember an instance where anything Katrina said or did connected with me emotionally. I hope the writers find more ways to have the two work together more.

What I enjoyed about Louis’ “show of force” with Rachel and Katrina in an effort to wine and dine a client is that it doesn’t work. Even though the sting of losing one of Jessica’s top clients hurts the firm, it also makes it stronger. In the past, Louis would have been on the warpath blaming everyone but himself for the loss. Given how perceptive Donna (Sarah Rafferty) is, I was surprised to hear her ask Louis what happened. So much of Suits history revolves around a specific character trying to pull off a miracle against whatever conflict they are facing. Yet, listening to Louis, I realized the feeling of anxiety that has lingered for years at Pearson Specter Litt suddenly evaporates. Donna and Louis’ scene is subtle as far as dialogue and substance, but I wouldn’t be surprised if by the season finale, fans will look back to this moment and realize it represents the beginning of the next big turning point for Suits.

I’m slowly coming around to Donna’s little project with Benjamin (David Reale), the IT specialist at the firm. While I still think the idea of “The Donna” is silly, there are times when the bit is absolutely hilarious. I couldn’t stop laughing at Harvey’s conversation with the Siri type device when he interacts with it for the first time. Did anyone else notice the way Donna looks at the device after talking to Louis? Could Benjamin’s invention help pave the way to getting the client back? More importantly, will people who don’t know Donna be able to appreciate “The Donna?”

As much as I enjoy Suits, series creator Aaron Korsch has a tendency to rush through the new storylines that pick up after the midseason break in order to lay the groundwork for the next season. It’s not that the episodes are bad but with only six episodes to tell a season’s worth of stories, adjustments have to be made. I’d prefer if more time were given to flesh things out. Despite the rushed feel, “Admission Of Guilt” is an entertaining episode that does a good job of setting up the final two episodes of the season.

Tweet me @staffaroadtrip or leave a comment below to let me know what you think about “Admission Of Guilt.”

Tune in to Suits Wednesdays at 10/9c, only on USA Network.

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, <Louis> Rick Hoffman, and <Donna> Sarah Rafferty.

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Photos © 2017 USA Network, LLC, a division of NBC Universal, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

 

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.

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.