Suits – “Not Just a Pretty Face” Season Finale Retrospective. Goodbye but not Gone.

Season 4, Episode 16

Air Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2015, 10/9c on USA

Rating: ★★★★★

I’d Like to see Cahill back next season.

Old wounds are re-opened when SEC investigator Sean Cahill (Neal McDonough) reaches out to Harvey (Gabriel Macht), admitting he hasn’t been able to link his former corrupt SEC boss Eric Woodall (Zeljko Ivanek) with billionaire Charles Forstman (Eric Roberts). Will Harvey be able to face his past in order put away Forstman away for good in this final episode of season four?

I have said countless times I’m not a fan of flashbacks and that opinion continues in “Not Just a Pretty Face.” Part of the fun about watching a magic trick is letting go and enjoying the magic, not sitting there trying to figure out how the trick is done. The same analogy applies to Harvey and Donna’s (Sara Rafferty) friendship. I’ve always enjoyed the mystery and never felt their relationship needed to be explained. The writers obviously feel differently as a flashback reveals what happened during Harvey and Donna’s first meeting that makes them the Harvey and Donna we now know. While enjoyable to watch, I couldn’t help feeling like the magic behind Donna and Harvey was being exposed.

“Not Just a Pretty Face” also pulls back the curtain on Harvey and Forstman’s first meeting. We learn how Forstman screwed over Harvey at the expense Harvey’s deadbeat (at the time) brother Marcus (Billy Miller). The mere thought of Marcus sends waves of guilt over Harvey; it’s interesting how the writers use Marcus less as a physical character and more as an emotional trigger.

Awww or Ewww?

Rest in peace Norma, the secretary we literally never knew. In a way, it’s amusing for a show to kill off a character who was never on screen. Despite having never appeared on Suits, Norma was the subject of many running gags and a part of me feels like I really knew her. Rick Hoffman gives another great performance when Louis, with Donna’s help, is forced to address his conflicting feelings about Norma, once again solidifying how important Louis’ relationship with Donna is becoming.

I enjoy how Suits creator Aaron Korsh and the writers trust their audience to remember little details from past episodes rather than spoon feeding them reminders. “Not Just a Pretty Face” has several references that casual fans might miss but longtime viewers will appreciate, especially when it comes to Louis remembering Norma.

What did you think of Harvey’s brother?

Appreciation of others has been a key theme throughout the second half of the season – Louis wanting respect after becoming a named partner; Rachel (Megan Markle) seeking Harvey’s approval; Louis wishing he appreciated Norma more; Malone (D.B. Woodside) wanting Jessica’s trust to tell him her secrets. The biggest of all is Donna’s desire for something more from Harvey. For weeks, viewers have seen cracks in the emotional wall on Donna’s side of the relationship that are oblivious to Harvey so it was only a matter of time before something happened.

Donna’s departure as Harvey’s secretary isn’t as big a surprise as her announcement of where she’s headed next. While the moment is heartbreaking, I immediately began thinking about next season, wondering how the news will affect Louis, who has always coveted whatever Harvey has. Will Harvey blame himself for pushing Donna away and take his anger out on Louis? Or will he reconsider his relationship with Donna? I don’t see him just sitting there, accepting the status quo.

I was surprised by how unsurprised I was by Mike’s (Patrick J Adams) proposal to Rachel. “Not Just a Pretty Face” has such a great flow to it that by the end of the episode, seeing Mike pop the question is the only logical outcome. It will be interesting to see how long the engagement period lasts. Does anyone think the two will marry quickly?

The writers have done a wonderful job creating a reflective atmosphere in the last few episodes where even I found myself thinking about how I view the characters on Suits. With the intensity this season, I think it’s healthy for the show’s characters to take a look in the mirror and like Donna, evaluate where they stand in life. I admire the contrast the writers have created with Harvey and Donna splitting up, and Mike and Rachael coming closer together, and whether it will have an impact on everyone down the line. With Donna gone, will Harvey’s connection with Mike grow even more or will Mike be too distracted by the wedding plans? I’m curious to see where Rachel stands with everything going on. Rachel is striving to become a lawyer but I wonder whether Harvey will treat her more like a secretary now that Donna’s gone.

Season finales tend to stress me out given the cliffhangers writers seem to feel are necessary in order for the show’s fans to return the following season. My guess is season five will pick up months later with Donna back in the groove of things with her new boss and Rachel deep in wedding plans. I am hopeful that next season will start off on a more peaceful note and can’t wait to see what the people behind Suits will bring us next.

Tweet me @staffaroadtrip or leave a comment below to let me know what you think about “Not Just a Pretty Face.”

To stay current with Suits during the hiatus, 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.

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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.