Suits 2011

Suits is one of the longest-running shows that I have watched completely through, and overall I think it remained pretty consistent. Every season for me falls generally within the 6/10 to 8/10 range, with nothing super incredible standing out but also no truly bad seasons. Some were largely forgettable for sure, but there were also some fantastic season arcs near the middle of the show's run. Seasons 1-4 were alright, and then season 5 improved almost every character and the show reached its peak for the next 2-3 seasons, before dipping again in the end a bit after Mike's exit. It didn't always have the best balance in characters, but character relationships were a strong point, particularly between Harvey and Mike. Louis remains my favorite character of the show, but most of the other main characters were also enjoyable and most of them also have arcs that end pretty nicely by the end of the series. The comedy in the series is also pretty good overall, but in later seasons it wasn't as good for me. The show also had a bad habit of introducing what felt like major stakes and conflicts only for them to be resolved almost immediately, so the pacing was not always the best and it was hard to feel tension. Season 5's arc of Mike on trial remains the best arc of the series, as it came as a surprise midway through the season and they spent proper time developing it over many episodes. Overall, not a show that blew me away ever, but not one that let me down severely either.

6.8/10 -- Good

One of the biggest saves in TV history. As I was initially re-watching this, I had numerous misgivings. I remembered it jumped the shark at some point and I was wholly proven right. Lous is, to me, the most controversial character in TV history. The sheer amount of shit he can pull and still be given second chances time and again; it's preposterous. He ascends the corporate ladder by stabbing Harvey in the back while concurrently playing the victim. He moves on to try many a time to fuck him over, even attempting to get him fired. And yet, Harvey still calls him the best lawyer he's ever seen and an even better friend in the end. I struggled to put up with such an infuriating dynamic. Every single time he pulled some shit I was livid. Nonetheless, he managed to somewhat redeem himself at the end. He got some characterization and he eventually became a man of character. Plus, I'd be lying if I said all that shit he pulled didn't keep me enthralled. Donna's path as a character shares plenty of commonalities with his, but thankfully she pulls less shit. Though, I'm not sure I understand how madly in love Harvey is with her, or how she has such a pharaonic amount of intangible value that she deserved to get a Name Partner level vote as a secretary.

The series has positives aplenty, however. It's unremittingly engaging from day one, even becoming enrapturing at times. It manages to be poignant where it's apt and has very well-written dialogue. The law is something I was scarcely interested in before, yet Suits somehow managed to get me so deeply interested I'd ask around about the actual procedures. Further, let's not forget about Mike. He's the only honorable character through and through and he's the one who deserved to carry himself with the holier-than-though attitude that Faye Richardson does. He actually understands morality. Faye merely employed the law as a means to impose herself upon others. She doesn't understand Harvey's moral code which saved her from disbarment and familial anguish. She's so hypocritical, she goes for Harvey's license for something illegal he did for ethical reasons right after he let her go for the exact same reason. And she this she's the apotheosis of morality. In conclusion, I feel this show has value in many ways and is definitely something that's accessible and recommendable to anyone.