Well this week on Suits, all semblance of an interesting plot was sacrificed for the sake of exploring unnecessary romantic relationships. I’m joking –but only sort of. I mean, is it just me, or was that pretty mild for a summer finale? If we didn’t have that last scene with Louis, I don’t think I would have much to look forward to when it comes back.
We open in a crowded bar, where Harvey goes to meet Scottie. She stares him down and he apologizes for not believing her last week. She chastises him for thinking so lowly of her, but Harvey sort of waves that aside and tells her to honor the dissolution and let Darby suffer. Scottie, loyal as she is, doesn’t want to leave Darby to fend for himself. Harvey attempts to persuade her to leave the firm before all this goes down, but Scottie is adamant that she wants to stay and help. They end up in a temporary truce, agreeing to work together against Ava’s lawsuit.
We cut to Rachel’s apartment, where she and Mike are arguing again about Stanford. Mike, who has successfully done a 180 from last week and turned into a complete asshole, whines that they love each other and I guess according to him, that should trump Rachel’s decision about her education and future career prospects. He’s totally right. If you live in the 19th century. Rachel, unlike I would be, is patient and explains to Mike that she wants to pick which school is best for her without factoring him in first. Mike disregards this and makes it all about himself, leaving in a snit. Dump him now, Rachel.
Office. Jessica asks Harvey how it went with Scottie, and when he says it didn’t work out, Jessica says they’ll make Scottie separate from them forcibly. Harvey is against starting a war with her, but Jessica says he knows it’s the way to go. Jessica tells Harvey to go find Ava and offer their testimony against Darby’s in exchange for getting their names off the lawsuit. Harvey looks squeamish at the thought of going behind Scottie’s back this way, but doesn’t protest.
We cut to Harvey in a hotel room, and who does he find in there but Teddy from Nashville! Tanner will always be Teddy to me, and he plays a douche on both shows so really, it’s not much of a stretch. Turns out that Tanner is Ava’s attorney and will be handling the lawsuit. This should be fun. Except for the fun part.
After the credits, Mike and Harvey walk down the hallway and discuss the situation. I don’t know how many times I’ve typed that exact sentence, but it’s got to be a lot. Mike asks to help, but Harvey teases him, saying that he has enough girlfriend problems to deal with. Mike gets a dig in about Harvey never having graduated emotionally from high school, but Harvey wins the round, telling Mike that he should be the expert, considering the only thing he’s ever graduated from is high school. You go, Harvey.
We get some annoying Samsung product placement (which, I guess, is why they were mentioned by name last week), and then pull away to see Louis talking to Female Louis! So many old characters in this episode. Lady Louis, as she will henceforth be known, attempts to seduce Louis, but he resists, saying he needs to focus on looking at the new Harvard candidates. Lady Louis whips out a picture of Louis back when he was at Harvard, and for some reason, this turns him on? They run to the bedroom.
Back at the office, Jessica advises Scottie about the upcoming deposition with Tanner. Jessica warns her that Tanner is ruthless but Scottie seems confident that she can hold her own.
Rachel continues to be the most patient human being ever and shows Mike details about Stanford. Mike continues to be the worst human being ever and shows no signs of giving Rachel a break and letting her do what she wants with her life. He complains that no one has ever made a long-distance relationship work, which, I think, shows how much faith he has in their relationship if he’s basing it on hypotheticals. Jessica slyly observes this entire conversation.
Lady Louis’s house. Louis is getting dressed and ready to leave, when Lady Louis shows him the perfect Harvard candidate, which thrills him. She then tries to persuade him to play hooky and go to an exhibit with her. Louis is tempted, but loyalty to work wins out. Lady Louis looks disappointed.
Meanwhile at the office, Jessica approaches Donna’s desk and asks her a few gossipy questions about the associates until she brings up Mike and Rachel. Donna looks stunned that Jessica knows but admits that they’ve been dating for a few months. Jessica is angry that Mike would tell Robert Zane’s daughter his secret, and tells Donna that she can’t let them know that she (Jessica) knows.
Harvey’s apartment. Mike, looking disheveled, comes to visit for some relationship advice and asks how Harvey can be so cold and detached with all his relationships. Harvey deadpans that he has a picture of Dorian Gray in his closet. A reference to one of my all-time favorite books? My love for Harvey just tripled. Harvey, not unkindly, tells Mike that he doesn’t really know anything about love and can’t give him much advice on the subject.
Louis visits Lady Louis again after he finds out that seven other firms have given offers to that perfect Harvard candidate. Lady Louis maintains that it’s all business and that it’s not personal. Louis is offended at this blatant lack of favoritism, but Lady Louis does not budge.
Deposition room. Ava finds Harvey inside and she tells him that she blames him for everything that went down. She also admits she’s looking forward to seeing Tanner take him down. Harvey asks why she came just to vent, but Ava says that she wanted to see if he was sorry, which she now sees he is not.
We continue in the deposition room as Tanner faces Scottie, Harvey, and Jessica. Tanner asks questions about Harvey’s deal with Darby, and then brings up the idea that Harvey knew about Stephen’s role in the murders before the trial. Harvey, of course, denies this, and Scottie defends him, but Tanner retaliates, telling Scottie that Harvey and Jessica attempted to go behind her back and proceed with the dissolution. Scottie, for the most part, is unfazed, but Tanner then spills that Scottie was engaged when she and Harvey last slept together. The man has so much dirt; I have to give him credit. Tanner gets up and leaves with a cheerful smile, leaving the rest of them looking slightly unhinged.
Mike walks into Rachel’s office and let’s her know that, magnanimous individual that he is, he will give her space to make her decision. What a novel idea.
In Harvey’s office, Scottie barges in, pissed about Harvey going behind her back. Harvey calms her down by telling her it was Jessica’s idea and that he tried to help her, but he had no choice.
We cut to Louis cornering Mike, asking him to persuade that Harvard candidate to come work for the firm. Mike awkwardly says that he doesn’t know the guy and asks why Louis is so set on having him as an associate. Louis tells him about the feud with Lady Louis. Mike helps Louis realize that Lady Louis was angry with him because she wanted exclusivity in their relationship. You’d think Louis would be more perceptive do that sort of thing.
Outside the office, Tanner approaches Scottie with a coffee, trying to convince her to testify that Harvey knew about Stephen before the trial. Scottie, bless her, continues to be loyal and tells Tanner there’s no way.
Cut to the deposition room again, where this time Tanner is deposing Scottie. Tanner goes in a completely inappropriate direction and accuses Scottie of forcing the merger on Harvey because he rejected her despite her love for him. Tanner then presents an affidavit in which Stephen states that Scottie knew about the murders. Harvey isn’t having any of his crap and calls for an end to the deposition.
Donna goes to Mike’s cubicle and asks him if she can talk to Stephen. Mike says that it’s a bad idea, but Donna claims that she needs to do something to help Harvey and Scottie.
We segue to prison, where Stephen comes out of the cell and into a holding room. Mike and Donna are waiting for him, and confront him about his deceitful affidavit. Stephen admits nothing and Donna asks to speak to him alone. Donna tries to convince him to retract what he said, and although he admits that he was lying, he says he won’t change his statement. At this point, Mike walks back in and lets Stephen know that every conversation in that room is recorded. Stephen looks pissed as Donna slightly smirks.
Mike’s apartment. Jessica, of all people, drops by and lets him know that she is aware of the relationship he has with Rachel. Jessica tells Mike that he has to get Rachel to sign an affidavit that puts her in jeopardy; if he doesn’t do it, he’s fired.
Lady Louis calls Louis to let him know she got his legal letter concerning their exclusivity, and rips it up, rightly saying that it’s the least romantic gesture ever. She tells him he needs to prove his commitment and tells him to meet her tomorrow.
Harvey finds Tanner and Tanner threatens to bring down Scottie so that her reputation is in shambles. He offers a settlement instead, which Harvey considers with trepidation.
Night at the office. Scottie thinks that it’s good that Stephen’s affidavit is dead, but Harvey hands her the settlement, telling her that Tanner will continue to come after her unless they agree to it. Harvey is at the end of his rope and pleads with Scottie to let him tell Ava to only go after Darby, not their half of the firm. Scottie gives up and agrees.
Rachel’s apartment. Mike enters and tells her about the situation with Jessica. Rachel has to sign an affidavit saying that she knows Mike is a fraud in order to stay at the firm. Mike resignedly says that the only way he sees out of this is if Rachel goes to Stanford.
Deposition room, again. This time, Harvey is deposing Ava. Jessica slaps the paperwork on the desk for the dissolution since Scottie agreed to it, so Darby is now officially a separate entity from Pearson Specter. Harvey walks over to Ava and sincerely apologizes for everything that has happened and tells her that if she believes him, she should direct her anger where it belongs (Darby). Ava silently seems to agree to this, and Harvey smugly rubs the loss in Tanner’s face.
Harvey approaches Mike, ready to celebrate the win, but Mike is still moody about the whole situation with Rachel and Jessica. Mike admits to Harvey what is happening, and Harvey looks sympathetic, though not particularly helpful.
Rachel, however, has figured out a plan and goes to Jessica’s office. Rachel wants to negotiate with Jessica –she asks her to waive the Harvard rule for her after she finishes law school so she can come work at Pearson Specter. The girl has got some serious guts. She convinces Jessica of her value to the firm, and Jessica looks intrigued.
Harvey and Scottie (in lieu of Harvey’s real boyfriend, Mike) celebrate together at Harvey’s apartment. They drink and banter and it’s cute until they bring up their relationship. Harvey tells Scottie that he wants to work with her at Pearson Specter because he cares about her. Scottie is not impressed and says that she doesn’t want to work with him if he only “cares.” Harvey looks frustrated and tries to reason with her but finally grabs her arm and says that he wants her in his life. This completely works and her eyes light up as she hears him say it. I mean, have some dignity, lady. HE SENT YOU BACK TO ENGLAND. A whole 3,000 miles away. Harvey clearly doesn’t love Scottie, as proven by last year’s finale, and will probably never more than “care” for her, so I don’t know why she suddenly gave in. This is so frustrating and unfair to both characters. I feel like their friends with benefits arrangement was so much better.
But speaking of women without spines, Rachel comes over to Mike’s to tell him that she decided Stanford was the better fit for her. I cheer for her independence until she rips up the list and tells him that he pretty much trumps everything else. Oh, barf. I was rooting for you, Rachel! Now she’s joined the hoards of other TV women who have based their decisions solely on boyfriends. Suits, I thought you were better than that.
We end with Louis and Lady Louis. Louis finds her in a room with the files of every Harvard student, ever. They agree to be exclusive and smooch, when Lady Louis leaves to tell her mother that Louis stopped being a pussy. Heh. She tells him not to touch the files, but Louis can’t help himself and looks through the drawers. First he finds Harvey, with a hilarious haircut, before looking for Mike. Louis can’t find the file and realizes that Mike isn’t there!
The cliffhanger was great, but the episode as a whole was kind of a tame summer finale, in my opinion. Overall, it’s been fun recapping this wonderful show and I hope you guys enjoyed it! We’ll all suffer the unbearably long hiatus together.