Thoughts on the TV Series, "Suits" (Seasons 1-4)

"Suits" is an American television drama that airs on the USA network.  It takes place in New York City and focuses on a law firm and its many employees, managers, clients and cases.  The crux of the tension in the show is derived from the fact that one of the firm's new hires (in Season 1) is Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams) a young man who never attended law school.  The show constantly makes this secret a source of anxiety and tension with his coworkers who include hotshot lawyer and senior partner of the firm, Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht) who hired Mike, Louis Litt (Rick Hoffman) another prominent lawyer at the firm, and the firm's managing partner, Jessica Pearson (Gina Torres).  There are other supporting players in the drama including paralegal, Rachel Zane (Meghan Markle) and secretary Donna Paulsen (Sarah Rafferty).

The show is sharp-witted and often technically verbose.  The teleplays are well-written and efficiently-crafted.  There is a lot of legal dialogue to follow that can be confusing and disorienting but if you pay close attention, the momentum of the show can be captivating.  The characters are well-rounded and their differences and unique qualities help to bring an entertaining cohesion and chemistry to their interactions.  Louis Litt is probably the most interesting character for his Machiavellian personality.  He is often repulsive in some of his actions, but this reprehensibility makes him charismatic and engaging to watch.  Mike Ross has a photographic memory and genius-level intelligence which makes for some compelling scenes and stories.  His abilities are made use of throughout the show to invoke surprise and awe.  This is demonstrated from the very first episode when he impresses Harvey so much that he hires him on the spot, despite having never attended Harvard or any law school for that matter.

The show is interesting for its mixture of some episodes which resolve themselves after one episode with story-lines that drift over several, sometimes disappearing, then reappearing again at a later time in the season, perhaps a different season altogether.

The romantic scenes sometimes seem extraneous and feel false.  There is burgeoning romance that develops between Mike and Rachel.  It is my least favourite area of focus in the show but that is a minor quibble. 

This is a compelling show.  Like the characters in it, the series
demands intelligence from the viewer.  To focus on and engage one's self with "Suits" can be a rewarding experience.