Suits is a USA Network legal drama created by Aaron Korsh that stars Patrick J. Adams as Michael "Mike" Ross and Gabriel Macht as Harvey Specter. The first episode debuted on June 23, 2011, with a 90-minute premiere.
Season 1 (2011)[edit]Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams) is a brilliant college dropout. With his natural intelligence and eidetic memory, he makes a living taking the LSAT for others. To make the extra money he needs to keep his grandmother in a private nursing home, he agrees to deliver a case of marijuana for his best friend Trevor (Tom Lipinski). The deal happens to be a sting operation which Mike astutely discovers and narrowly avoids, instead stumbling into a job interview with Harvey Reginald Specter (Gabriel Macht), a lawyer at Pearson Hardman and arguably the "best closer in New York City."
Recently made senior partner, Harvey must hire a Harvard Law-educated lawyer as an associate, as per firm policy. Harvey interviews Mike, and Mike uses his eidetic memory and genuine legal knowledge to prove to Harvey he is undoubtedly the best candidate. Mike is consequently hired, despite neither receiving a college degree nor attending Harvard, as Harvey decides he will pretend that Mike is a Harvard Law graduate.
The series focuses on Mike and Harvey as they try cases for the firm while maintaining Mike's secret. Only Harvey's legal secretary and confidante Donna Paulsen (Sarah Rafferty) knows the secret at first.
At the firm, junior partner Louis Litt (Rick Hoffman), Harvey's jealous rival and direct supervisor of the associates, is suspicious of Mike's Harvard credentials. Meanwhile, Mike struggles to distance himself from Trevor, who has stopped dealing drugs but cannot escape his past. When Trevor leaves the state, Mike begins dating Trevor's ex-girlfriend Jenny Griffith (Vanessa Ray). At the same time, Mike befriends paralegal Rachel Zane (Meghan Markle) at the office, and the two soon develop a mutual attraction, complicating his relationship with Jenny. Trevor returns to New York, only to learn that Mike is dating Jenny. In revenge, he tells the firm's managing partner Jessica Pearson (Gina Torres) the truth about Mike.
Suits was renewed for a second season of 16 episodes on August 11, 2011, which premiered on June 14, 2012, with the mid-season finale on August 23, 2012. The remaining six episodes of Season 2 began airing January 17, 2013, on USA, and January 23, on Bravo Canada.
Recently made senior partner, Harvey must hire a Harvard Law-educated lawyer as an associate, as per firm policy. Harvey interviews Mike, and Mike uses his eidetic memory and genuine legal knowledge to prove to Harvey he is undoubtedly the best candidate. Mike is consequently hired, despite neither receiving a college degree nor attending Harvard, as Harvey decides he will pretend that Mike is a Harvard Law graduate.
The series focuses on Mike and Harvey as they try cases for the firm while maintaining Mike's secret. Only Harvey's legal secretary and confidante Donna Paulsen (Sarah Rafferty) knows the secret at first.
At the firm, junior partner Louis Litt (Rick Hoffman), Harvey's jealous rival and direct supervisor of the associates, is suspicious of Mike's Harvard credentials. Meanwhile, Mike struggles to distance himself from Trevor, who has stopped dealing drugs but cannot escape his past. When Trevor leaves the state, Mike begins dating Trevor's ex-girlfriend Jenny Griffith (Vanessa Ray). At the same time, Mike befriends paralegal Rachel Zane (Meghan Markle) at the office, and the two soon develop a mutual attraction, complicating his relationship with Jenny. Trevor returns to New York, only to learn that Mike is dating Jenny. In revenge, he tells the firm's managing partner Jessica Pearson (Gina Torres) the truth about Mike.
Suits was renewed for a second season of 16 episodes on August 11, 2011, which premiered on June 14, 2012, with the mid-season finale on August 23, 2012. The remaining six episodes of Season 2 began airing January 17, 2013, on USA, and January 23, on Bravo Canada.
Season 2 (2012–13) Co-founding partner, Daniel Hardman, returns to the firm, and Jessica and Harvey fear he wishes to return to his former position as managing partner. Jessica allows Mike to continue working, despite discovering his secret.
Harvey is accused of burying evidence and faces being disbarred. Donna finds and destroys the document, and is fired by Jessica. Hardman and Jessica disagree over settling the case, eventually leading Hardman to challenge Jessica for the position as managing partner. Hardman becomes managing partner, but it is short lived as Mike and Harvey discover that Hardman forged and planted the document that Harvey and Donna supposedly buried. He is voted out of the firm, and Jessica regains the managing partner position.
Mike's grandmother dies, and he finds himself in a romantic entanglement with his now-married first love. Rachel finds them together, leading to a rift in their relationship. Hardman returns to battle with his old firm, working as a contract lawyer for Rachel's father, well-known trial attorney Robert Zane, on multiple gender discrimination suits.
Jessica agrees to a merger with the U.K. firm of Harvey's competitor, Scottie, headed by Edward Darby (Conleth Hill), enabling them to defeat Hardman. Harvey tries but fails to stop the merger. Mike reveals his secret to Rachel after she is denied admission to Harvard.
On October 12, 2012, USA Network renewed Suits for a third season, consisting of 16 episodes. Season 3 premiered July 16, 2013, on USA; July 17, 2013, on Bravo Canada; and October 15, 2013, on Channel 7 Australia. The season was split, with six episodes airing after March 6, 2014. On October 24, 2013, Suits was renewed for a fourth season of 16 episodes which premiered June 11, 2014.
Harvey is accused of burying evidence and faces being disbarred. Donna finds and destroys the document, and is fired by Jessica. Hardman and Jessica disagree over settling the case, eventually leading Hardman to challenge Jessica for the position as managing partner. Hardman becomes managing partner, but it is short lived as Mike and Harvey discover that Hardman forged and planted the document that Harvey and Donna supposedly buried. He is voted out of the firm, and Jessica regains the managing partner position.
Mike's grandmother dies, and he finds himself in a romantic entanglement with his now-married first love. Rachel finds them together, leading to a rift in their relationship. Hardman returns to battle with his old firm, working as a contract lawyer for Rachel's father, well-known trial attorney Robert Zane, on multiple gender discrimination suits.
Jessica agrees to a merger with the U.K. firm of Harvey's competitor, Scottie, headed by Edward Darby (Conleth Hill), enabling them to defeat Hardman. Harvey tries but fails to stop the merger. Mike reveals his secret to Rachel after she is denied admission to Harvard.
On October 12, 2012, USA Network renewed Suits for a third season, consisting of 16 episodes. Season 3 premiered July 16, 2013, on USA; July 17, 2013, on Bravo Canada; and October 15, 2013, on Channel 7 Australia. The season was split, with six episodes airing after March 6, 2014. On October 24, 2013, Suits was renewed for a fourth season of 16 episodes which premiered June 11, 2014.
Season 3 (2013–14) The merger between Pearson and Darby International is complete. Harvey, stinging from Jessica's refusal to make him a named partner, begins plotting with Darby to take her down. Mike tries to mend his relationship with Harvey and seeks to clarify his new relationship with Rachel.
Harvey settles a case with his old mentor and nemesis, Cameron Dennis but his client, Ava Hessington (Michelle Fairley), is arrested for murder. Darby sends his "fixer", Stephen Huntley, to New York to help with the case, but Harvey realizes Darby wants Huntley to help him take the firm from Jessica. Harvey plans to take control from Jessica, but she confides her own plans to add him as named partner. Ava looks set to be convicted, until Mike discovers Huntley was actually responsible for the murders. Darby eventually agrees to testify against Huntley, only later realizing his own plea bargain will leave him unable to practice law in the US. This allows Jessica to begin dissolution of the firm. Louis takes the lead on this, which leads to complications. Darby appoints Scottie to negotiate in the dissolution case, promising a named partnership if she wins.
Ava sues the firm for malpractice, with Travis Tanner as her attorney, but Harvey is eventually able to get her to withdraw the suit. Harvey tells Scottie he wants her in his life. Jessica learns of Mike and Rachel's relationship and threatens to fire Mike unless Rachel signs an affidavit saying she knew of Mike's fraud. She does so on the condition that Jessica waive the firm's "Harvard rule" so she can apply there on graduation. She is accepted to Stanford but eventually decides to go to Columbia. Mike's secret is nearly discovered by Louis, with the latter eventually being convinced that Mike only "fixed" a grade in a single class.
Mike realizes he will never be able to make a name for himself in law with the threat of his fraud being discovered, and considers a career change. In the season three finale, Mike is arrested, which threatens exposure for him, and Harvey and Louis try to free him. Mike realizes the problems that his situation causes for the firm, however, and decides to take a job offer as an investment banker to resolve things. This new job makes Mike a client of the firm, and he jokes with Harvey, telling him that Harvey now technically works for him.
Harvey settles a case with his old mentor and nemesis, Cameron Dennis but his client, Ava Hessington (Michelle Fairley), is arrested for murder. Darby sends his "fixer", Stephen Huntley, to New York to help with the case, but Harvey realizes Darby wants Huntley to help him take the firm from Jessica. Harvey plans to take control from Jessica, but she confides her own plans to add him as named partner. Ava looks set to be convicted, until Mike discovers Huntley was actually responsible for the murders. Darby eventually agrees to testify against Huntley, only later realizing his own plea bargain will leave him unable to practice law in the US. This allows Jessica to begin dissolution of the firm. Louis takes the lead on this, which leads to complications. Darby appoints Scottie to negotiate in the dissolution case, promising a named partnership if she wins.
Ava sues the firm for malpractice, with Travis Tanner as her attorney, but Harvey is eventually able to get her to withdraw the suit. Harvey tells Scottie he wants her in his life. Jessica learns of Mike and Rachel's relationship and threatens to fire Mike unless Rachel signs an affidavit saying she knew of Mike's fraud. She does so on the condition that Jessica waive the firm's "Harvard rule" so she can apply there on graduation. She is accepted to Stanford but eventually decides to go to Columbia. Mike's secret is nearly discovered by Louis, with the latter eventually being convinced that Mike only "fixed" a grade in a single class.
Mike realizes he will never be able to make a name for himself in law with the threat of his fraud being discovered, and considers a career change. In the season three finale, Mike is arrested, which threatens exposure for him, and Harvey and Louis try to free him. Mike realizes the problems that his situation causes for the firm, however, and decides to take a job offer as an investment banker to resolve things. This new job makes Mike a client of the firm, and he jokes with Harvey, telling him that Harvey now technically works for him.
Season 4 (2014–15) Suits was renewed for a fourth season, with the first episode airing on June 11, 2014. It aired every Wednesday on USA network.
The season begins with Mike working for investment banker Jonathan Sidwell, creating an awkward situation when a takeover battle for Gillis Industries pits Mike's company against Pearson Specter client (and Rachel's former boyfriend), Logan Sanders. This leads to a battle between Mike and Harvey and a collusion claim between the two by the SEC. Mike and Rachel are at odds due to a moment of passion between her and Logan Sanders, causing Mike to move out for a short period.
By the season's sixth episode, Charles Forstman, an investor Mike went to in a last-ditch effort to save Gillis Industries, tells Sidwell that Mike was going to cut him out of the deal and Mike is fired. In actuality, Louis is the one who has made a shady deal with Forstman, forcing him to embezzle money through international banks. Jessica and Harvey offer Louis a reward for his work. He wants to be named partner, but Jessica declines. When Mike decides to accept a job with Forstman, which Louis cannot allow, Louis uses his reward to re-hire Mike at Pearson Specter instead.
Mike officially starts working back at the firm in the eighth episode. In the ninth episode, Louis resigns after the SEC looks into the deal between Forstman and Sanders. Louis tries to find a way to take clients with him to help him get a new job, but is stonewalled because of his non-compete clause. Mike helps Louis by getting him an interview with Robert Zane, who later tells Louis he will only hire him if he can steal one of Harvey's clients.
Katrina Bennett gives Louis the name of a company to go after, which Louis successfully steals, though Mike is able to use Walter Gillis to get the company back for Harvey. Mike visits Louis for a second time, and inadvertently gives away a clue to Louis that he never went to Harvard. Louis confronts Jessica, getting her to admit her hypocrisy, then threatens to expose Mike unless he is made a named partner.
Louis settles back with the team. He comes to terms with Donna, Rachel and Harvey, but he still cannot forgive Mike because of his lies. Mike tries to apologize but it doesn't work. After a roadtrip to a client of Harvey they fight and Harvey breaks them up. After the fight both of them calm down and have a moment of peace with each other. This moment solves the wrangle between them.
The season ends with Harvey going after Forstman in the Eric Woodall case. Mike proposes to Rachel by giving her the ring Mike's grandmother used. In the meantime, Donna tries to get what she wants from Harvey but in the end leaves him and becomes Louis' secretary.
The first 10 episodes aired in 2014, and the remaining six episodes began airing on January 28, 2015.
The season begins with Mike working for investment banker Jonathan Sidwell, creating an awkward situation when a takeover battle for Gillis Industries pits Mike's company against Pearson Specter client (and Rachel's former boyfriend), Logan Sanders. This leads to a battle between Mike and Harvey and a collusion claim between the two by the SEC. Mike and Rachel are at odds due to a moment of passion between her and Logan Sanders, causing Mike to move out for a short period.
By the season's sixth episode, Charles Forstman, an investor Mike went to in a last-ditch effort to save Gillis Industries, tells Sidwell that Mike was going to cut him out of the deal and Mike is fired. In actuality, Louis is the one who has made a shady deal with Forstman, forcing him to embezzle money through international banks. Jessica and Harvey offer Louis a reward for his work. He wants to be named partner, but Jessica declines. When Mike decides to accept a job with Forstman, which Louis cannot allow, Louis uses his reward to re-hire Mike at Pearson Specter instead.
Mike officially starts working back at the firm in the eighth episode. In the ninth episode, Louis resigns after the SEC looks into the deal between Forstman and Sanders. Louis tries to find a way to take clients with him to help him get a new job, but is stonewalled because of his non-compete clause. Mike helps Louis by getting him an interview with Robert Zane, who later tells Louis he will only hire him if he can steal one of Harvey's clients.
Katrina Bennett gives Louis the name of a company to go after, which Louis successfully steals, though Mike is able to use Walter Gillis to get the company back for Harvey. Mike visits Louis for a second time, and inadvertently gives away a clue to Louis that he never went to Harvard. Louis confronts Jessica, getting her to admit her hypocrisy, then threatens to expose Mike unless he is made a named partner.
Louis settles back with the team. He comes to terms with Donna, Rachel and Harvey, but he still cannot forgive Mike because of his lies. Mike tries to apologize but it doesn't work. After a roadtrip to a client of Harvey they fight and Harvey breaks them up. After the fight both of them calm down and have a moment of peace with each other. This moment solves the wrangle between them.
The season ends with Harvey going after Forstman in the Eric Woodall case. Mike proposes to Rachel by giving her the ring Mike's grandmother used. In the meantime, Donna tries to get what she wants from Harvey but in the end leaves him and becomes Louis' secretary.
The first 10 episodes aired in 2014, and the remaining six episodes began airing on January 28, 2015.
Season 5 (2015–16) On August 11, 2014, Suits was renewed for a fifth season which will again consist of 16 episodes. On April 7, 2015, USA Network revealed it will premiere on Wednesday, June 24, 2015.