Suits “The Painting” Recap. Female Mike Ross.

Season 6, Episode 12

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

Rating: ★★★★★

“You told the truth.” – Nathan

Reunited?

Distraught over Jessica (Gina Torres) and Mike (Patrick J. Adams) abandoning him, Harvey (Gabriel Macht) visits his estranged mother, Lily (Brynn Thayer), hoping to salvage their broken relationship. The visit isn’t without drama as old wounds quickly reopen and emotions flare. Will the two be able to bury the past and move forward, or will the feelings of betrayal widen the rift between mother and son?

In my season four review of “Fork in the Road,” I wrote, “I’ve never been a fan of flashback episodes because they always seem like an easy way for writers to provide a backstory or fill plot holes they previously missed.” Those thoughts still hold true as the writers again explore Harvey’s past. The problem with “The Painting” is previous episodes have already thoroughly laid out details about Harvey’s relationship with his mother. As a matter of fact, the topic was addressed so well that when Donna (Sarah Rafferty) simply mentions Lily to Harvey in “She’s Gone,” it has an emotional impact for the viewers.

In past reviews, I’ve praised the Suits writers for how much they respect the fans’ knowledge of the show. Characters and storylines can suddenly become relevant again after being absent for a few seasons, and the writers trust the audience’s memory so much, they don’t have to create unnecessary dialogue. Yet, “The Painting” has several scenes involving Harvey and Lily that although new, provide little as far as updated information. I felt like I was watching scenes I had already seen because of the vividness of how Harvey has spoken about his mother throughout the seasons.

That said, I really enjoyed Harvey and Lily’s scenes in this episode. For fans, it’s fascinating to finally have the context to the painting A. Elliott Stemple (Patrick Fischler) blackmails Harvey for in “Accounts Payable” and how it relates to Harvey and his mother. Their efforts to reconcile are powerful to watch and I applaud the writers for making the road to forgiveness a rocky one rather than taking the easy way out. I would have enjoyed seeing more scenes between the two in “The Painting” rather than flashbacks of what had already played out in my mind. Thayer does a wonderful job conveying the emotional weight of a mother reuniting with her son; the chemistry between her and Macht is extraordinary. With all we know about Lily from past episodes, it’s hard to believe this is the first time we’re actually seeing her.

At least they’re talking.

“The Painting” is one of Macht’s finest performances. There’s a rawness to Macht’s scenes with Thayer, making it easy to feel their characters’ pain. Harvey has tried so hard throughout the years to maintain the appearance of being in control that’s it’s captivating to see him so vulnerable. I wonder if the effects of Harvey and Lily’s reunion will carry over to the firm.

Harvey isn’t the only one facing his past as Mike continues to deal with the fallout of his jail sentence when job hunting. I absolutely love how the writers have taken their time addressing who Mike is now that he’s free from prison. Were you as surprised as I was when Nathan (Peter Cambor) shows up with an offer for a job at his legal clinic?

I’ve been a fan of Cambor’s since first seeing him on N.C.I.S. Even though his first appearance on Suits in “Fork in the Road” was brief, I welcome his return and absolutely love the bond he’s quickly formed with Mike. Cambor brings a calmness to his character that provides an excellent contrast to Harvey’s brashness. With Nathan constantly mentioning the clinic’s lack of funds, I couldn’t help but wish there were some law firm in need of rebuilding its image that wouldn’t mind taking Nathan’s clinic under its wing.

Series creator Aaron Korsch always does a wonderful job of introducing secondary characters who are fascinating. Clinic workers Oliver (Jordan Johnson-Hinds) and Marissa (Athena Karkanis) are a perfect example. It’s hard not to be enthralled as Mike assumes the role usually filled by Harvey when he is forced to address Marissa’s ideology. The role reversal is done in a way that fits the characters and makes the confrontation between Marissa and Mike even more riveting.

Despite my umbrage over the flashbacks, “The Painting” is an excellent episode that not only fills in some blanks but lays the groundwork for the rest of the season. Korsch and the writers have done an amazing job shaking up the series without fundamentally changing the characters. With only four episodes left this season, I can’t wait to see how things play out.

Tweet me @staffaroadtrip or leave a comment below to let me know what you think about “The Painting.”

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.

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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.