Suits: Two in the Knees (4x03)

DEAR LORD WHAT IS THIS SHOW DOING TO ME! It's amazing. Every episode of this season just keeps getting better and better. I'll try and restrain my enthusiasm long enough to get out a plot summary.

So Logan Sanders decides that the best way to take out Mike and Walter Gillis is to dig up personal dirt on Mike. Harvey protests, but Logan says if Harvey doesn't do it, he will. Harvey is stuck - Donna tells him to get Mike to quit, but Harvey knows that he won't. So, feeling terrible about it, Harvey goes to Gillis and tells him about Mike's past with drugs. Apparently, Gillis' son's death had something to do with drugs. Gillis immediately severs ties with Mike.

Mike confronts Harvey about it, and when Harvey insists that he was saving Mike, Mike reveals that he has Harvey's father's records, something that Donna told Mike Harvey was trying to procure. Logan Sanders still isn't happy. He wants Mike utterly destroyed. Harvey wants to go ask Mike to give up, but Donna suggests that he have Rachel do it instead. Rachel doesn't go to Mike. Instead, she goes to Logan and convinces him to stop the personal attacks on Mike. Logan owes Rachel because of something that happened in their past. Logan agrees, and backs off. Mike sends Harvey's dad's records to Harvey, via Rachel.

Earlier, Mike had asked Rachel questions about her relationship with Logan. We see a few flashbacks, and we learn a bit about what happened between them, including the fact that they fell in love, and Logan wanted to drop everything and marry Rachel. She said no. Later, Logan had a change of heart and wanted to get back together with his wife. He asked Rachel to lie to the court and say that Logan was the one who broke up with her, instead of it being the other way around.

Meanwhile, Jessica and Jeff Malone use Louis as a pawn in the case against the SEC. Louis mistakes Jeff's flattery for attraction, and believes Malone to be in love with him. Jessica continually rejects Jeff. She says that because she's the only female name partner in the whole city, she cannot afford to let her personal life put her career at risk. Jeff still seems determined to pursue her. Louis realizes that he was being used by Jeff to get closer to Jessica, and angrily says that he won't make the mistake of thinking he's made a friend again. Jeff tells Jessica that Woodall is about to start his attack, from his job with the SEC.

Okay. Complaints? Just one thing. It's something I'm just starting to notice right now, as we get into the swing of things. There are two A plots, and they don't really intersect much. Think about it. Louis, Jessica, and Jeff Malone are worried about one thing, and then Harvey, Mike, Rachel and Donna are concerned with something else. If I had to guess, I'd say that maybe one of the plots gets at least partially resolved at the midway point, and some twist spurs the other plot into the limelight. But at the moment, I'm finding my focus divided. I really, really like both of the plots. A lot. But which one is supposed to be the main threat? The threat to the firm, or the threat to Harvey and Mike's friendship?

Now for a list of everything I loved about this episode. Or... rather... a partial list. I could never write it all.

Rachel and Mike love each other so much! I was actually really touched by the scene at the end between the two of them. I've always liked them as a couple, but it's only rarely that I feel a big investment in their happiness. Mike's insecurities make sense, given how few people he has in his life who truly care for him. The idea of losing Rachel is perhaps more terrifying for Mike than is typical.

And even the love triangle aspect got more interesting this week, as we learn that Logan and Rachel weren't just having an affair... they were seriously in love. It adds an aspect of humanity to Logan's character, especially since he was willing to back off of Mike, for Rachel's sake. Also, my heart really hurt for Rachel during the flashback where we saw Logan lying about Rachel to his wife. The poor thing. Anyways, as far as love triangles go, this one has my interest at the moment.

Then there's Louis' misunderstanding about Jeff. I don't think I can even list all of the hilarious moments in this plot thread. You've got Donna saying "shut the front door" and then Louis making a not-so-subtle reference that the "back door" is what he's more worried about. There's Louis telling Donna that he said he eats cock for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and having to explain, exasperated: "it was a different kind of cock, Donna." And the "ebony and ivory" comment was also superb.

This subplot was about Louis incorrectly believing that Malone was gay, but instead of constantly repeating that, he said he thought Malone was in love with him. Donna does bring up Malone being gay, but that's the only reference to sexuality made here. When Louis turns Malone down, he's genuinely apologetic, thinking that he's hurting someone. He shows no disgust or unwillingness to continue working with Malone. And Malone takes absolutely no offense at the mistake. He actually finds it amusing, and uses it to his advantage in trying to get closer to Jessica. Yes, yes, yes. I'm so happy that this plot thread wasn't offensive. It could have been, so easily.

But it wasn't all fun and games... I felt very sad for Louis when he realized that he had become a pawn and made a fool of himself, yet again. I think the saddest part is that Jeff and Jessica weren't trying to make a fool out of him... they were basically just ignoring him. He was nothing but an obstacle and a pawn to both of them in this situation. Unlike in past plots of this nature, I think Jeff and Jessica will be properly shamed for their poor treatment of Louis. There seems to be some progress going on.

One thing that is sort of bothering me, though... Jeff Malone is coming dangerously close to "I know you want it" territory. I get that he likes Jessica, and he sees a potential future with her. But no means no, dude. I hope Jessica sticks to her guns for the time being. She's a really strong character. I don't want Malone to bulldoze over her.

One of the scenes that made me the most giddy in this episode was the coffee scene between Mike and Donna. I loved seeing the friendship between the two of them explored, in a moment where just the two of them could talk without Harvey being there at all. And Mike gave Donna a kiss on the cheek! I nearly died from happiness.

Rachel and Harvey's relationship also continues to delight. In particular, I liked it when Rachel realized why Harvey did what he did, and even though she had heard the story from Mike, she was instantly able to see it from Harvey's side as well. And poor little Harvey's face as Rachel figures it out... he says "Mike doesn't see it that way." Aww.

Is there anyone still surprised that I saved Mike and Harvey for last? Honestly, I cannot even handle how much I love these two. I think it's pretty obvious why I loved this episode. Logan calls Mike Harvey's surrogate son. Amazing. Harvey tells Donna that if it were anyone other than Mike, he'd do what Logan wanted, no question. Amazing. Harvey feels terrible about telling Gillis about Mike's past. It tears him up inside. He agrees with Gillis that he's a piece of shit. Amazing.

And then you've got that confrontation between Mike and Harvey. "Seven months ago you were goddamn here." Ahhhhh! In a moment of passion and anger, Harvey lets the truth slip out: he misses Mike. He feels betrayed that he's gone. But Mike, equally angry, interprets this to mean that Harvey can't stand Mike succeeding without him. That's not it at all, Mike! Harvey wants his friend back, that's all!

And the look on Mike's face when he realized Harvey had betrayed him in the first place was just so heartbreaking. Also, take a closer look at their confrontation... Mike wants to make things personal, so he tells Harvey that he left because of Harvey's prideful, superior personality. Even though it's not true, Mike lies in that moment so that Harvey will feel bad.

And then Mike gives Harvey the records! Yay! This bromance is the best, I swear. I can't wait to see what happens next, and I'm super sad that there's no new episode next week.

9.5/10