Suitsis a flashy and intriguing drama that delighted fans for nine years with its high-stakes legal battles, cutthroat takeovers, and complex personal relationships. At the center of the chaos were lawyers Harvey Specter and Mike Ross, who never paid much heed to rules as long as they got the job done and developed an unconventional partnership.
Its sharp writing was elevated by Gabriel Macht and Patrick J. Adams’ dynamic performances, who never once made the 1970s-inspired aesthetic seem dull or repetitive. Since its 2011 premiere,Suitshas developed a devoted fan base that religiously followed Mike’s story as he illegally and brilliantly worked as a lawyer without a degree, and Harvey as he rose through the ranks at his Manhattan law firm despite facing numerous hardships.
In its tenure,Suitsalso built an impressive ensemble of supporting characters, from Rachel and Donna to Katrina and Louis. The show ended with its ninth and final season back in 2019 and withtalks of another spin-off making its wayto the audiences, it is only fair to look back at its ambitious run and rank each season from worst to best. So as we go back and review every season of TV’s most stylish and twisted legal show, brace for mixed emotions and some nostalgia.
After the shocking departure ofPatrick J. Adams and Meghan Markle at the end of the previous season,Season 8had a lot of groundwork to lay. Instead of focusing on the show’s core, which was Mike’s fraudulent hiring, we steer into new directions and see Harvey and Robert using a past conflict to decide who becomes managing partner.
The season also promotes Katrina Bennett (Amanda Schull) and Alex Williams (Dulé Hill) to series regular while introducing Katherine Heigl as senior partner Samantha Wheeler.
Heigl’s character acts as Zane’s right hand but is nowhere close in power and screen presence as the stars who left. Louis’s storyline was also a bit of a mess.
Season 8 was proof thatSuitswas nearing its end because of the frayed narratives, excessive focus on character drama and paying little heed to the genre of law, and pulling the plug on the very momentum that made the show binge worthy. The one good thing that came out of the season was Harvey finally realizing he loves Donna.
Despite bringing back some legal drama, the witty banter between Harvey and Mike, and reaching a milestone of 100 episodes on television,Season 7was when big changes were underway forSuits.
The pacing is fairly interesting, with Mike beginning to work pro bono cases at Pearson Specter Litt and Donna wanting to pursue her ambitions; Harvey seeking control, Rachel passing the bar exam, and Louis wanting a stable relationship – all of which picks up after losing Jessica, who chose to leave the firm to focus on herself in the middle of Season 6.
None of these narratives resolve in the first few episodes, but the season is tense and takes hugely-popular characters leaving professional domination, betrayal and manipulation and going in new directions in their career. And yet, the storyline feels choppy and styled like a soap-opera. The plot grows slightly convoluted at points in its attempt to strengthen the characters’ individuality. Which would have been a good thing hadSuitsalso actually focused on the legal aspect of it all.
Season 9ofSuitswassimply painful to process. Not only were fans saying goodbye to a beloved long-running drama but they were also unsatisfied with how the creators chose to tie loose ends and wrap major plot points.
At just 10 episodes (which is relatively less than other seasons of Suits), the series saw Mike Ross returning for a couple of episodes to face one of his greatest challenges yet in the New York legal world, following which Harvey and Donna get married and move to Seattle to be close with Mike and Rachel.
The law firm that they had built had undergone significant changes in the past decade and Harvey and Mike only had each other to rely on – a bittersweet callback to the first few seasons. These points made Season 9 better than Season 7 and Season 8, but it still felt underdeveloped and more like a reboot series aside from the final few episodes, which were sentimental.
In a way, Season 9 also expertly and movingly brings the iconic saga ofSuitsto full circle by giving the fan favorite characters the sendoff they deserved.
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Perhaps the best way to describeSeason 4ofSuitsis to call it a filler season. Nothing major happens, there are no significant plot developments, but it is still a good season and particularly exciting to watch because it sees each of the characters come into their own. Despite working for an investment firm, Mike teams up with Harvey to outsmart Sean Cahill and take over Gillis, Rachel attends law school, Louis hands in his resignation.
The tightly constructed storylines and meticulous legal cases allow the characters to showcase their skills and establish their professional standing.
There is mounting tension and external pressure, leading to interesting struggles for all the characters. Season 4 also stands out as one of the most dramatic seasons because the stakes are higher and the personal and political conflict that emerges between colleges is at its peak. As usual,Suitshas gorgeous cinematography that breathes new life into a familiar and cutthroat New York setting.
Considering the fact thatSuitsis a legal drama, it is only a matter of time before certain storylines start to feel stale and repetitive.Season 3avoids this mistake by making some major adjustment in character relationships. Harvey and Mike are seen being the unbeatable duo they are, targeting expansion by taking on high-profile clients and somewhat bizarre cases. Meanwhile, Mike’s relationship with Rachel hits a dramatic turning point as they move in together.
Amidst all thecomplex cases and courtroom showdowns, Season 3 puts a major focus on Mike’s secret catching up with him and him hoping he will come clean and still get out of the mess unscathed. That obviously does not happen.
While other seasons have flashier moments, Season 3 works towards cementingSuits’reputation for multi-layered characters and willingness to embrace unpredictability. It is both a triumph and a setback but either way, it was when the show entered its prime.
The dynamics at Pearson Specter Litt have been ever evolving, but never as intensely as inSeason 6. Borrowing from the previous season’s success and popularity, the sixth season delves into Harvey’s vulnerable side.
With Mike gone, he struggles to fill the gaping hole left in his personal and professional life. But he deals with his issues with his mother and the panic attacks it caused. He’s still using blackmail as a means to win cases, but he’s growing as a character. New tensions surface with engrossing cases and test the bonds between headstrong colleagues.
Towards the center, however, Season 6 takes a sharp turn. Mike gets out of his two-year prison sentence after striking a deal with an inmate. Harvey persuades him to return to the firm. This is also when Jessica leaves the firm. But it is Donna, who was an underdeveloped character this entire time, who finally gets an interesting storyline. Overall, Season 6 deconstructs the dynamic and takesSuitsto the next level to earn itself a place among the show’s finest seasons.
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The pilot season that started it all saw ambitious college drop-out Mike Ross accidentally finding an ally and mentor in the hotshot attorney Harvey Specter. He hides his secret of never attending law school and begins learning the roles at New York’s prestigious corporate law firm, Pearson Hardman, under Harvey’s guidance. Together, the two climb the career ladder and outmaneuver the unscrupulous financial law partner Louis Litt and profit-obsessed managing partner Jessica Pearson.
Season 1built intrigue from the first episode itself and It established Suits as a compulsively watchable legal drama. Debuting ten years ago, the season was a pioneer as it combined high-stakes procedural storylines with complex personal relationships. BeforeSuitscame, legal shows followed a formula, which it broke and became a massive hit. But while itfeels just as fresh and impactful as ever, it’s still not the best among all.
By its fifth season,Suitswasalready one of TV’s most enthralling legal dramas. But it reached further greatness by delivering a neat and nerve-wrecking series of episodes.
Some principal storylines included Mike and Rachel’s long-standing “will-they-won’t-they” relationship finally peaking as they get engaged; Harvey struggles to get past his trauma following Donna’s departure by confiding in his new therapist, Paula, eventually dating her and having his heart broken; Mike facing allegations and pleading guilty.
Gripping from beginning to end,Season 5balances its emotional moments out by giving hope for the firm and characters’ futures then snatching it away in the most devastating ways. It shows thatSuitsstill had the power to surprise viewers. The fearless depiction of human costs, glamorous workplaces, rivalries and sneak attacks, and unforeseen consequences of actions is creative and realistic.
Season 2includes some of the series’ best episodes, most of which explore what happened after the triumphant first chapter ended and set up further seasons for acclaim and success. Mike and Harvey are forced to fight new battles inside the courtroom as razor-sharp cases that leave their backs against the wall.
Meanwhile, the relationships between other characters evolve in intriguing ways. Mike grows closer to Rachel but his secret complicates things; Jessica learns the truth about him; and rising competitor Louis Litt poses a threat. Through it all, the season also tests Mike and Harvey’s partnership.
Displaying the writers’ talent for sophisticated long-form storytelling andunconventional plot twists, Season 2 wastes no time tightening the threats introduced in the first season. The return of a former partner named Daniel Hardman also leaves the viewers on the edge of their seats. Overall, its intricacies, clever arcs and smooth pace make Season 2 the best season ofSuits.
