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Suits – “Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner” Retrospective. There’s an Ophelia in All of Us.

Season 4, Episode 2

Air Date: Wednesday, June 18, 2014, 9/8c on USA

Rating: ★★★★★

 

“Sometimes, bitter memories become bittersweet.” – Donna

Harvey (Gabriel Macht) deciding his next move.

Mike (Patrick J Adams) and Harvey (Gabriel Macht) continue their battle as investment banker and lawyer but things become complicated when someone from Rachel’s (Meghan Markle) past comes back into her life. Will Mike and Rachel’s relationship survive the return of Logan Sanders (Brendan Hines), and what will it do to Harvey and Mike’s friendship?

The Rachel/Logan reunion is an interesting direction for the writers to take. I thought for sure Mike’s new secretary Amy (Melanie Papalla) might be the cause of any strain in Rachel and Mike’s relationship but that doesn’t happen…yet. Will Mike continue to be ok with Rachel working with Logan? Somehow, I doubt it.

Louis (Rick Hoffman) is one the reasons I enjoy Suits because Hoffman’s performance and timing are brilliant. The opening scene, where Louis is practicing his presentation for Jessica (Gina Torres) in front of a chair with post-it notes representing her eyes and lips is hilarious and classic Louis. I especially love when Katrina (Amanda Schull) nods to the chair and says, “Jessica.” Just goes to show the respect Jessica commands at the firm even if it is just a chair standing in for her.

That respect is also why I was slightly disappointed with Jessica (Gina Torres) in “Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.” I understand writers have to create circumstances to mix things up but Jessica always seems to have a feel for what is going on in the office. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to happen in this episode. Love makes you do so many crazy things and maybe it’s because we haven’t seen Jessica in a relationship before that makes her seem off.

D.B Woodside looking dapper.

Speaking of relationships, despite my early excitement to see more of D.B Woodside, who plays Jessica’s new ex-boyfriend, Jeff Malone, he has quickly replaced Katrina as my least favorite character on Suits. Apparently, new hires at Pearson Specter don’t go through a sexual harassment in the workplace seminar. Every time Malone opens his mouth, I cringe because it comes across as insincere and manipulative. I keep thinking back to the bizarre images Louis printed out for his presentation of why Jessica should choose him over Malone. Thankfully, the credits list him only as a guest star so he shouldn’t be around too long. What do you think it will take for him to leave, and who or what will be behind it?

While on the topic of guest stars, I was thrilled to see Sergio Di Zio in “Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner” playing Todd, a nervous Felton Securities employee who is deposed by both Louis and Malone. Di Zio has always come across as a standup guy in his acting career, and I especially enjoyed seeing him again since his days as Mike ‘Spike’ Scarlatti on Flashpoint.

While they have had scenes together before, the banter between Rachel and Harvey is something new and entertaining. Together, the two make a great team, especially when Harvey gets ready to take on Mike in court.

Rachel: “If you broke privilege, what are you gonna [sic] tell the judge?”

Harvey: “I don’t know but until I think of something, I’m going to confuse the shit out everyone I can.” 

And confuse he does. I got a kick out of watching Harvey and Mike argue their case in front of the judge. The humor and cheap shots in that scene is what makes “Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner” so enjoyable to watch. The only thing missing is some obscure movie reference, used so often by these charactes.

I continue to not fully understand the maneuverings used by Mike and Harvey. While it helps, it’s not important to totally understand what is being argued as long as you get the tone and motivation behind it, which I do.

Donna (Sarah Rafferty) is the glue that holds the firm together.

Despite my gripes, “Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner” is a wonderful episode. Plus, while currently at odds with each other, in many ways Mike and Harvey’s relationship is stronger than ever. Harvey is putting Mike through the ringer, not out of spite but to make Mike stronger, and it seems to be working.

Seeing Mike and Harvey talking as friends is wonderful but it’s Donna (Sarah Rafferty) who continues to shine this season. Not only does she have a touching scene getting Jessica back in touch with things at the firm, but her scenes with Louis can simply be described as beautiful. It’s hard not to tear up when Donna tells Louis the story about her Hamlet audition. For a brief moment, I found myself wondering whether Donna is telling the truth or just telling a story that Louis needs to hear. I quickly realized it didn’t matter as Donna is doing it because she truly cares about Louis. It is a magnificent way for the writers to convey Donna and Louis’ relationship, and a great way to wind down “Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.”

 

Tweet me @staffaroadtrip or leave a comment below to let me know what you think about “Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.”

 

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.

Like Suits on Facebook.

 

Photos: © 2014 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.