Courtesy of Universal Content Productions

The original cast of “Suits.”

Editor’s Note: Minor spoilers for “Suits.”
I’m a sucker for a good legal drama, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that one of my favorite TV shows of all time is “Suits.” After its run on USA Network from 2011-19, the show was finally added to Netflix in 2023, which is when I found it. 

“Suits” follows the life of a college dropout named Mike Ross, played by Patrick J. Adams. Ross is blessed with a photographic memory, but he enters the legal profession through — at best — dubious means. 

While in the midst of a drug deal, Mike attempts to evade the cops and finds himself in an interview room for law firm associates. There, Harvey Specter, played by Gabriel Macht, sees Mike’s potential talent offers him a chance at being a lawyer, but with an ultimatum — he must pretend that he went to Harvard Law School, since the firm hires only Harvard Law graduates. 

From there, the show cleverly plays off of the chemistry between Mike and Harvey through various legal situations. Throughout the show, there’s always the suspense that Mike may be caught for being a fraud, which makes the show extremely compelling. Mike also finds the love of his life, Rachel, played by Megan Markle (now famous as a member of the British royal family), when working at the law firm during the first season. Meanwhile, Harvey expands his relationships with hit characters such as Louis Litt, played by Rick Hoffman, and Donna, played by Sarah Rafferty. 

Unfortunately, despite my love for the show’s early seasons, it’s clear that “Suits” begins to lose its edge after Season 5. It dragged on for another two seasons before Adams exited the series in the Season 7 finale, reportedly due to struggles with alcoholism, and Markle also made her departure to begin her new life with Prince Harry. Once Adams left, the show struggled to fill the void. Starting Season 8, the original tension that kept things interesting fades, and what’s left feels like a drawn-out version of what it once was.

The last two seasons attempt to shift focus onto other characters, but the result is a series that feels forced. Louis, while entertaining, takes on more screen time in ways that often border on exaggerated caricature rather than character growth, which becomes extremely irritating as he continues to repeat past mistakes. 

Donna and Harvey remain at a stalemate with their relationship until the very last episodes. New characters such as Samantha Wheeler and Alex Williams don’t click with the existing ensemble. “Suits” begins to rely more on recycled plotlines and unnecessary drama, making the final stretch painful to watch. Just as how Harvey overthrew Jessica to become managing partner, Louis does the same only about two seasons later. The journey of Samantha and Alex mirrors Mike’s journey early on, making their stories repetitive and boring. 

Personally, I believe that the series should’ve ended when Mike is caught for being a fraud at the end of Season 5. Not every story needs a happy ending, and Mike’s secret is the pinnacle of the entire storyline. Viewers had been waiting for the moment where his secret comes out for years, and it delivered a satisfying payoff that felt like a natural ending. Without the dramatic tension over  whether his secret will come out, “Suits” isn’t “Suits.” Dragging the story out beyond that point just to force a happy ending felt unnecessary. 

Like many shows before it, “Suits” serves as a cautionary tale: Sometimes it’s better to end shortly after a story’s true climax rather than dragging the series on and risking tarnishing what made the show special in the first place.