Suits Season 6 Finale — “Character and Fitness” Recap. The Hearing.

Season 6, Episode 16

Air Date: Wednesday, March 1, 2017, 10/9c on USA

Rating: ★★★★★

“You are never getting my vote.” – Gibbs

<i>Suits</i> Season 6 Finale — “Character and Fitness” Recap. The Hearing. 1

Waiting for a decision.

Mike’s (Patrick J. Adams) hopes of becoming a real lawyer are unexpectedly derailed when Assistant United States Attorney Anita Gibbs (Leslie Hope) joins the board that will decide Mike’s fate. Will Mike and Harvey (Gabriel Macht) find a way to have Gibbs booted or is the outcome of Mike’s hearing already pre-determined?

I always get anxious when watching a season finale. Writers have a tendency to shake things up with something shocking that leaves fans dangling for months as they wait to learn the outcome of the cliffhanger. Given some of Suits’ season-ending twists throughout the years, my fears seemed warranted. Thankfully, my concerns were unnecessary as the series delivers the season finale fans have been looking forward to for years. That said, there’s a lot about this half of the season that left me scratching my head.

Perhaps it’s because of the shortened half of the season, but some of the emotions at play feel rushed. It’s surprising how quickly things escalated between clinic manager Nathan (Peter Cambor) and Mike during episodes like “Teeth Nose Teeth” or with clinic worker Oliver (Jordan Johnson-Hinds) and Mike in “Character and Fitness.” While I understand Nathan’s and Oliver’s frustrations with Mike, I would have enjoyed watching their emotions play out more naturally. Not to mention, whatever happened to Marissa (Athena Karkanis); does she still work at the clinic?

I’m at a loss when it comes to Louis’ (Rick Hoffman) relationship with Tara (Carly Pope). Given what happens in “Character and Fitness,” I can’t help but feel their scenes are a waste of time. Nothing that happens moves the storyline forward or adds to their character development. It’s obvious, at least to me, that Louis and Tara’s relationship is simply used as filler — time that could’ve been used to enhance other storylines.

<i>Suits</i> Season 6 Finale — “Character and Fitness” Recap. The Hearing. 2

What will Donna decide to do?

Meanwhile, Donna (Sarah Rafferty) and Benjamin’s (David Reale) venture with Stu (Ian Reed Kesler) to produce “The Donna” hits a legal snag that forces everyone to take a pause to rethink their efforts. I was skeptical when “The Donna” was first introduced but as things progressed, the Siri type device grew on me, until “Character and Fitness.”

I appreciate Donna’s frustration as her lifelong dream is dealt a major setback; how bothered she is by Louis after he is unable to make a deal with a competitor; and how the money being offered isn’t worth all the time she invested. But then it dawned on me; Benjamin did all the work and Stu put in all the investment money. While it’s Donna’s voice and personality behind “The Donna,” she only recently learned of Benjamin’s device. So while I understand what the writers are trying to do with her character, Donna’s reaction is out of place given her actual involvement. Once again, I wonder if the shortened second half of the season contributed to another rushed storyline.

Now that I’ve told you what didn’t work for me, let’s discuss what does.

In my review of “The Hand That Feeds You,” I wrote how disappointed I was that the chances of seeing more of Mike’s prison counselor, Julius (Malcolm-Jamal Warner), appeared slim to none. So imagine my surprise when Mike asks him to be a character witness at his hearing. I loved their scene in the street; it is absolutely riveting. Julius has always seen right through Mike’s BS. Warner gives an outstanding performance, especially when Julius makes his case in front of the board. For some odd reason, I could hardly contain my excitement as he discusses Mike’s attributes while confronting Gibbs. Julius’ dialogue could go down as one of the best speeches in the series. As thankful as I am the writers found a way to bring Julius back, I wish they could write a new story arc to keep him around next season.

Just when I thought Julius’ appearance couldn’t be topped, the unexpected happens. I doubt I was the only one who teared up as Jessica (Gina Torres) makes her return. I reminisced in my “Admission Of Guilt” review about all the times Jessica referred to Mike as “that damn kid.” Mike and Jessica have shared some rocky times throughout the years so to see the two reunited in “Character and Fitness” is absolutely heart-rending.

Television dramas are often known to have emotional and powerful scenes. What makes shows like Suits stand out are the plot points that take years to build as the audience gets to know the characters on an emotional level. Jessica’s scene at the board hearing isn’t dramatic simply because she hasn’t been seen during the last six episodes, it’s because of all her appearance represents.

I forgot about all my gripes the moment Warner appears in “Character and Fitness.” Then, to bring back Torres is simply the icing on the cake. In the end, few will be talking about “The Donna” or Louis’ relationship with Tara; they’ll be talking about Mike’s future, and perhaps Torres’ new series, a Suits spinoff.

Series creator Aaron Korsch shaped a beautiful series that finally sets the table for new beginnings when Suits returns this summer for the seventh season. I certainly can’t wait to see what happens next.

Tweet me @staffaroadtrip or leave a comment below to let me know what you think about “Character and Fitness.”

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, <Donna> Sarah Rafferty, 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.