This episode was chock full of drama and set up some really great storylines for the rest of the season, so let’s get right to it!
We open with Harvey easily jogging in a cool black hoodie, juxtaposed with Louis speed walking and pumping his arms at a frenzied pace, just like those suburban moms you see every morning in the neighborhood. I know you know what I’m talking about. For some reason, his red track jacket vaguely reminds me of that red onesie Chuck Bass wore that one time when he went jogging. What an iconic Gossip Girl moment. I’m taking a moment to reminisce. Anyway, we cut to both of them in suits as they walk into the office at the same time, discussing the Hessington case. I love when they work together and are getting along. Too bad it doesn’t last for more than ten seconds into the episode.
Conference room. Katrina and Louis are one side of the table, while Harvey and Mike are on the other. Everyone banters a bit until Harvey, of all people, reminds them to be adults. Each side disagrees on whether Ava should make a statement –Harvey is vehemently opposed to it, saying that Cameron Dennis will rip her to shreds and she’ll definitely look guilty of murder, which is a valid point. Louis, who is dealing with the takeover of Hessington Oil and not the murder aspect, says that she looks as guilty as “Jean Valjean with a loaf of bread in his pants” and says her public persona makes her look guilty anyway. I love a good Les Mis reference. He says she needs to make a statement in order to keep control of her company. Katrina mentions that they all know she’s guilty, and everyone exchanges looks of silent agreement. Harvey decides that it’s not up for discussion and that Ava is not making a statement. Louis smugly says that it’s too late because he’s already set up an interview for Ava with the press.
We cut to a guy of the press, who is on the phone with a man who is supposedly Ava’s “assistant” and cancelling the interview. In reality, the “assistant” is Mike, speaking with a bad British accent. Did Mike get a haircut? I have to say, it doesn’t really suit him (I could make puns for days, people). Mike convinces the press man to go away, and Harvey meets Ava inside the restaurant where she was supposed to have the interview. Harvey explains his actions, but Ava is adamant about making a statement to defend herself. They argue a bit and Ava leaves in a huff, telling Harvey to fix both the murder and the takeover.
Back at the office, Donna is wearing a gorgeous new blue dress that Rachel compliments. Steven interrupts their conversation and begins to flirt with Rachel, who rebuffs him, albeit kindly. He leaves and Rachel calls him “trouble,” echoing Donna’s words from last week. Rachel is under the misconception that Steven is into her, but Donna let’s her know that he asked her out last week and the flirting was just to make Donna jealous. Rachel asks why Donna passed on the date, but Donna rhetorically asks, “Why should I go out with him just because he’s charming and hot,” and Rachel adds, “and witty and British?” Um, I don’t know which version of Steven you two are seeing, but he’s none of those things. Except British. And certainly not hot. Donna says she doesn’t mix business with pleasure, but they realize he’s only around for six weeks and she seems to rethink her policy.
Harvey’s office. Jessica finds out about the interview Ava was supposed to give and they are both displeased with Louis for setting it up. Louis barges in and is pissed that Harvey sabotaged the interview. Jessica steps in and points out that Ava cannot make a statement while on trial for murder. Louis also points out that Hessington Oil is his client, not Ava, and that if they get the company board to vote her off, they can keep the company as a client. Harvey is opposed to going behind Ava’s back, but Jessica is suddenly on board. She tries to make Harvey submit to her authority, but Harvey snaps that Darby gave him this case, and Darby wants him to focus on Ava, not Hessington Oil. It seems to knock Jessica down a peg or two, which is needed. She seems a bit power hungry at this point.
Harvey and Mike walk down the hall and Harvey tells Mike to watch over Katrina during the whole process so they know what Louis is up to. There’s a Forrest Gump reference that acts as Suit’s Obscure Movie Reference of the Week, and hey, I actually understand this one! Although, if you haven’t seen Forrest Gump, look at your life, look at your choices, etc.
Jessica’s office. Louis thanks her for backing him up earlier in the day, and offers to do some dirty work behind the scenes to get Ava voted off the board. Jessica gets up on her high horse and says she doesn’t operate that way and doesn’t want to go behind Darby’s back. I only mock her because of the lack of resolve she shows later on. Her character is so wishy-washy when it comes to any sort of morality.
Copy room the next day. Steven and Donna are inside. They flirt and there’s a whole metaphor about secretarial work and sex, but I’ve changed my mind about these two. The more I look at Steven, the more he seems like a 50-year-old creeper who really just needs a decent haircut. He offers her the Macbeth tickets again, and this time she accepts.
Louis and Katrina walk down the hallway. Louis tells Katrina to keep an eye on Mike and she readily agrees, despite her hatred for him. Louis wonders if he told her to murder someone if she would and she responds with, “gun or knife?” Louis: “If you were less attractive I’d love you.” Hee! Louis needs to find Female Louis again –they were great.
Conference room. Mike and Katrina work together to figure out a way to take down Giannopoulos (the guy who’s going to take over Hessington Oil) and they come to a sort of epiphany together. It involves saying shit about 20 times. I mean, it’s a reference to The Wire, but I’ve never seen that, so moving on.
Toronto. Jessica meets Darby to convince him that Ava needs to leave Hessington Oil due to the murder trial. Darby disagrees and tells her that Ava is staying where she is. He also chastises her for using company money to fly up to Toronto instead of just calling him. Ouch. I’m sure Jessica hated hearing that.
Meanwhile at the office, Katrina comes to Louis with the information she and Mike found. She credits Mike with the discovery and tells Louis to take him along so he can watch Giannopoulos go down. Louis is down for the idea and says he’ll tell Harvey, when Harvey walks right in. Louis tries to tell him, but Harvey’s all, “I have an actual important murder trial to think of. And Mike’s going with you to Giannopoulos.” Louis, of course, hates being told what to do, and immediately says no to Mike going with him and berates Harvey for butting in, telling him to get out. Harvey leaves with a murderous look. Louis: “What just happened to him?” Katrina: “He got Litt up.” Hey, Katrina shares my love of puns! She’s really not so bad.
Harvey’s Office. Ava is inside and angry that an article has been published in the newspaper, making her look like a greedy corporate executive. She still wants to speak at her trial and defend herself. Harvey’s had enough and basically says if she’s so keen to speak, he’ll show her what she’s in for when Cameron Dennis questions her on the stand.
We cut to Louis at Giannopoulos’s office, and he’s met by some sort of male secretary who says he won’t let him see Giannopoulos. Louis shows him the evidence Katrina and Mike found to bring down G (he gets an abbreviation because his name is too long), but the secretary laughs and shows Louis that they already know everything he’s showing them and that G has made provisions to stay out of trouble. Louis leaves looking like a kicked puppy. Poor thing.
Back at the office, Mike is cleaning up when Katrina walks in. They discuss the case and Katrina tells Mike she told Louis to bring him along because he deserved the credit. This melts Mike’s stone cold heart and he agrees to a truce. They shake hands. I can’t help myself; I really like these two together. It’s probably a lost cause, though.
Bathroom. Rachel runs into Donna, wearing a black dress and looking like a million bucks. Rachel deduces that she’s going on a date with Steven. Donna realizes she’s agreed to a “hot and steamy affair.” Honey, I don’t think you’re getting hot or steamy if it’s Steven. Just warning you.
Night with Louis and Jessica. Jessica tells Louis that she has given him free reign –he can go to the board and convince them to ditch Ava. Oh I’m sorry Jessica, what happened to your “I don’t operate this way?” Ugh.
Theater. Donna and Steven. Some boring flirting. I’m already over these two. Donna finds out Steven organized dinner with Daniel Day Lewis after the show, which is pretty impressive. I guess she gets so turned on by this that she convinces him to ditch the show and they run off to have their own version of fun? I don’t know, it’s weird. Whatever.
Deposition room. Harvey and Mike are deposing Ava to let her know how it will be on the stand during trial. Harvey is mean and harsh to his fullest potential, but Ava retaliates with the truth, tearing up and letting them know that the murders sicken her and she has made the company try to compensate for all families who have been displaced due to the pipeline. She adds that after the trial, she will shut down the entire project. She leaves the room and Mike and Harvey realize that she didn’t do it. Didn’t I call this last week? If I can read Ava better than Harvey, who’s known her for years, he really needs to brush up on his people-reading skills.
Cut to Louis convincing a board member to out Ava Hessington from Hessington Oil, in exchange for retaining Pearson Darby as the law firm for the company.
Mike tells Katrina that they deposed Ava and figured out she’s innocent. He shows her the recording of the deposition to convince her.
Cut to Katrina telling Louis of Ava’s innocence.
Harvey tells Mike that the new plan is to let Ava talk to the board and convince them to let her stay. He tells Mike to make Louis do it.
Segue to Louis sitting in his office, watching the deposition tape. Jessica knocks on his door and tells him to go home, but he tells her that he can’t because Ava’s innocent. Jessica considers this for a second, then says mildly, “Well how about that.” Louis tries to convince her to let him go back to the board so he can tell them to stop the oust, but Jessica remains firm that they did the right thing for Hessington Oil. So now she decides to be firm about her beliefs? Where was this when she agreed to go behind Darby’s back? Sheesh. Louis valiantly tries to change her mind but she silences him and walks out.
Copy Room. Donna and Steven agree to continue their arrangement. Blah. Rachel overhears the conversation and she excitedly asks Donna how the night with Steven was. Rachel asks if Harvey knows and Donna realizes she never told him: “I never thought about Harvey. I’m Donna. How could I have not thought of that?” Heh. She decides to tell him as soon as she seems him.
Harvey and Mike meet Ava outside the office and she informs them that she was just voted out from her own company. Harvey and Mike are shocked because they thought the vote was happening later in the afternoon. Ava is understandably extremely angry and Harvey looks frustrated. We cut to him coming into Jessica’s office and accusing her of selling Ava out. Jessica says it’s not personal. Harvey counters that it is personal, and that she’s pissed at herself for agreeing to only 49% of the company and that she can’t stand being number two before he storms out.
Harvey walks into his office when Donna comes in and asks if she can speak to him, but Harvey ignores her and asks her to get Darby on the line. He then asks where she was in the morning, and when she sputters that she was in the copy room doing some things for Steven, he says (a bit territorially), “Now you’re working for Steven? You work for me!” Donna looks confused and apologizes. Harvey asks what she wanted to tell him, but she defers and says it was nothing. He’s usually not so cranky with Donna. Hm.
Katrina is waiting at Mike’s desk. She lets him know that she enjoyed working with him and that she tried to stop the company from ousting Ava. They say goodnight. Rachel comes in and acts a little jealous of Katrina, which Mike calls sweet. The Tinkly Piano Music of Love swells in the background as Mike tells Rachel that he trusted her with his secret and “his life.” His life? A bit melodramatic, Mike, don’t you think? He says I love you and she says it back. They make out. There’s a really dramatic revolving shot of them kissing, which makes me laugh. This is not The Notebook. No one just spent seven years apart. No need to make the kiss look so dramatic, Mr. Director.
We end with Darby and Jessica. Darby has flown into New York and he confronts Jessica about what she did to Ava. They argue about the merger and the 51/49 situation, which Jessica resents and Darby seems to lord over her. Jessica accuses Darby of letting his feelings for Ava cloud his judgment about the case. She says that she will not let personal business get in the way of her business, and that she just made $14 million, so she wins for the moment. She storms out of her office, leaving him looking annoyed.
This merger doesn’t seem to be working out very well, so I’m curious to see how it goes, especially with Harvey plotting to take down Jessica eventually. The rehabilitation of Katrina’s character and the slow deconstruction of Jessica’s was enough to keep me interested this episode, even though I’m tired of Ava Hessington and her company and her murder trial. It’s just so boring. I really hope we move on soon.
What did you guys think? Comment below!
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