Louis I'm going to kill you. I swear to God. I cannot forgive him for this. I don't even know what to do about it. Ugh. I'm going to go ahead and jump right in to the plot, and then I'll yell at Louis some more.
In the present day, Jessica tells Harvey he has to patch things up with Louis. Harvey knows that this won't happen unless he can get Louis to forgive Mike. So, he tells Mike to meet him at his car dealer, and then he goes to Louis and tells him that he wants to offer him 50% of McKernan Motors, a very important client for Harvey. When Harvey, Louis, and Mike all show up, Louis and Mike are pissed off that they have to go on this little road trip together. In the car, Harvey acts as mediator as the two of them throw insults around. Louis goes too far when he accuses Mike of lying about being an orphan, and brings Mike's grandmother into it. When they stop for gas, Harvey goes inside and leaves the two alone. Louis ends up attacking Mike and pinning him to the car. Harvey comes out and puts a stop to it.
Louis and Mike then have a real conversation about their issues. Mike apologizes for the lies, and Louis apologizes for saying that stuff about Mike's grandmother and his parents. In this episode, we also learn that Mike never learned to drive, and Mike admits to Louis that he was always too scared to get behind the wheel because of what happened to his parents. Harvey, Louis, and Mike arrive at McKernan Motors. Harvey says that he promised Louis 50%, but didn't say he was keeping the other 50%... that goes to Mike. Harvey has Ray give him a ride back. Once Louis and Mike are done talking to their new client, they'll take the car back together. Louis will teach Mike to drive on the way home.
This episode is also full of flashbacks. Six years previously, Mike was still working as a bike messenger. He meets a girl named Claire who interns at a law office, and the two of them hit it off. When she talks about how she needs a guy who's doing something serious with her life, Mike lies and says he goes to law school at Colombia. Trevor, who has just graduated from college, wants Mike to move in with him. He offers to pay his rent for a full year, as a way to make up for getting Mike kicked out of college. Mike's grandmother is totally against the idea, because she knows that Trevor always pulls Mike down and stops him from reaching his full potential. Mike helps Claire out with a case, but another man working at the firm exposes Mike's secret. He's not really in law school. Claire angrily dumps him, saying that Mike's lies are even worse than the fact that his life is a mess. Mike moves in with Trevor, despite his grandmother's wishes.
For Harvey and Louis, six years ago means that the two of them are 5th year associates. Donna tells Harvey that they've just landed Michael Jordan as a client, but that instead of celebrating together, Harvey has to go out for drinks with Louis. The two of them drink to Fairchild, an old senior partner who has recently died. Louis has an idea - they can convince Hardman to promote them both to junior partner, because maybe two kick-ass junior partners are worth as much as one new senior partner. Harvey likes the plan so much that he doesn't take Donna's cop-out fake-emergency phone call to escape from Louis.
The two of them approach Hardman, who tells them no - one of them can be junior partner, but not both. They have to bring in McKernan Motors to convince him. Harvey succeeds first, but then Hardman tells him to drop the client in favor of a bigger one. When Harvey refuses to do it, he has to go to Louis for help to figure out how to keep them. Louis helps Harvey, but then Louis gets the junior partner job instead of Harvey - he goes behind Harvey's back and gets the bigger client. Harvey tells Louis that they can't be partners in this anymore - Harvey would never have done anything like this. Louis stabbed Harvey in the back. Donna talks to Jessica and realizes that Jessica knew all along what Hardman was up to. Harvey isn't quite ready to make partner yet. He still put his personal achievement ahead of the firm by sticking with a smaller client instead of going with a bigger one. However, Jessica is confident that some day he'll make a great partner for the firm.
This episode is oddly book-ended by Rachel. In the beginning, she and Donna are out for drinks. Rachel tells Donna that she knows that Donna told Louis that Rachel got a job for Katrina. Rachel isn't mad - in fact, Louis even came to Rachel and asked if they could be friends again. Rachel said things couldn't be the same until Louis forgave Mike. At the end of the episode, we get Rachel's flashback interview with Jessica. Jessica knows that she's Robert Zane's daughter, but says she's hiring her because she's impressed, not because of her family. Rachel, giddy, leaves the office to start prepping for her new job.
Okay. Do I have problems with this episode? Yes!
First of all, I can't forgive Louis. At the end of that episode, we're supposed to get that Louis and Mike have worked through their crap and that they're going to be okay now. Harvey proudly leaves the two of them alone, saying that his job here is done.. and I'm sitting her going: no! Louis tried to strangle Mike. He also insulted his parents and his grandmother. Mike made a couple of petty comments but honestly, Louis was way over the line. There's the bromance enthusiast inside of me that just wanted more of Harvey defending Mike from Louis' terrible behavior, but that's not all this is. I just can't believe we're supposed to be okay with Louis after what he did in this episode, and for that matter what he's been doing for the past three episodes. No. It's too much.
The other kind of big thing is that Mike's flashback sections don't really do much. Harvey and Louis' flashback story is really important, but for Mike, it was really just an excuse to bring back Trevor and Grammy. To be honest, this whole plot line just highlights the fact that clearly Mike has some sort of compulsive liar problem. I think we were supposed to feel sorry for him in all of this, and of course I did a little bit, but it also makes me wonder what the hell is wrong with this guy that he would lie to the world about being a lawyer again, after how poorly it worked out the first time.
That being said, this episode is one of the objectively best ones this show has ever had. The flashback episodes are always a really special treat, even if it means less Harvey/Mike time in the present story line. Let's go over some of the excellent things going on here.
Louis and Harvey in the flashback. This origin story of their enmity makes so much sense! They both (sort of) stabbed each other in the back, but Harvey did everything above board, and Louis used underhanded tricks. It makes sense why Harvey would say he couldn't trust Louis anymore. Also, I think it's important to note that Louis won with his backhanded methods because that's what Hardman respects in a partner. Jessica probably wouldn't have pulled the same scheme if she were the managing partner.
And let's talk about Hardman, shall we? He was back in all his sinister glory! I loved it! He is such an over-the-top villain in some ways, but in other ways he's a good meter off of which to measure the other lawyers. Hardman is extreme in his amoral approach to the law. But some of the things that Harvey, Mike, Louis, and Jessica have done? Yeah. Not looking so good, even when measured against Hardman's actions. I loved the divided loyalties here, as Jessica has her pet 5th year (Harvey) and Hardman has his (Louis). In that round, Louis won, but we know that Harvey got to the top faster in the end.
I just have to say it - that scene at the end with Rachel and Jessica was the cutest thing ever. I mean, it sort of didn't make sense within the context of this episode. It seemed like it was only there just as a way to say - hey look, this is fun, Rachel's in the flashback too! But I don't really mind the randomness. Her cute little jump of excitement after she got the job just made me fall in love with her even more than I was already. So. Precious.
Donna had a lot of typically bad-ass moments in this episode, too. Apparently she was the one who signed Jordan, more so than Harvey. That made me laugh. Also, Harvey is apparently the only associate with his own secretary, which is just perfect. At one point she tells Harvey to get out of his office, because she has work to do. I also liked Donna's brush-off of the guy in the bar at the beginning, and the way she assured Rachel that she's hotter than Missandei from Game of Thrones (debatable... they're both pretty gorgeous). We also had the conversation between Donna and Jessica during the flashback, which was a bit more serious... Jessica makes a comment about how she's where she is for a reason, and Donna's where she is for a reason. It's all about seeing the bigger picture. It's a good point, actually. Donna has a one-track-mind when it comes to Harvey. Even though she has other friendships, she'd sacrifice any of them for Harvey if she had to.
Even though I was annoyed that Louis got off the hook so easily, I'll admit I did love the very last exchange between Harvey, Louis and Mike, where Harvey jokes about Mike being a fraud, and Louis offers to teach Mike how to drive. As Louis and Mike walk into the client's office, Louis starts rambling on about how much sugar was in the energy drink Harvey gave him, and Mike says "I'm gonna need you to let me do the talking."
Again, even though Mike's flashback plot was sort of aimless, I really enjoyed seeing Grammy and Trevor again. Even though Trevor is such a jerk. Also, that was Troian Bellisario, Patrick J. Adams' real-life fiance playing Claire, so it was cute to see them working together.
Obviously here comes the part where I cry with happiness because Mike/Harvey. First of all, I absolutely love it when Harvey and Mike just burst into each other's apartments. It's so domestic and sweet and I cannot even with these two. Mike remembers the details of their first case together - not because of his freaky memory, but because he's sentimental. That made me smile! (Side note - they should do more with Mike's memory. He hasn't used it to impact the plot at all recently). Then there's the fact that Harvey does defend Mike - maybe not as much as I'd like him to, but still. He tells Louis to knock it off, and after witnessing their fight in the gas station parking lot, he goes to Mike first and puts a hand on his back. Mike brushes him off, but you can see where Harvey's priorities lie. It's that moment at the end that gets to me, though...
See, this episode is ultimately about Harvey and Louis, which is why I can forgive the lack of bromantic interactions between my two favorite guys. However, there is this little thing at the end... Harvey gives Mike half of his first and most precious client. Oh my God. It's an even bigger deal because of all the stuff about loyalty in this episode. Giving that client to Mike and Louis to share is his way of saying that he trusts them. It's... adorable. Mike has this precious look on his face when he realizes what Harvey is doing. He looks slightly overwhelmed and touched, and then he makes a joke to lighten the mood. A minute later, Harvey re-states that he trusts Mike again, by telling him he's allowed to learn to drive on the way back. Aww!
Essentially, even if it had its flaws, any episode that involves a road trip and Harvey acting like a stern father the whole time is an episode I'll probably be coming back to watch in the future.
That being said, this episode is one of the objectively best ones this show has ever had. The flashback episodes are always a really special treat, even if it means less Harvey/Mike time in the present story line. Let's go over some of the excellent things going on here.
Louis and Harvey in the flashback. This origin story of their enmity makes so much sense! They both (sort of) stabbed each other in the back, but Harvey did everything above board, and Louis used underhanded tricks. It makes sense why Harvey would say he couldn't trust Louis anymore. Also, I think it's important to note that Louis won with his backhanded methods because that's what Hardman respects in a partner. Jessica probably wouldn't have pulled the same scheme if she were the managing partner.
And let's talk about Hardman, shall we? He was back in all his sinister glory! I loved it! He is such an over-the-top villain in some ways, but in other ways he's a good meter off of which to measure the other lawyers. Hardman is extreme in his amoral approach to the law. But some of the things that Harvey, Mike, Louis, and Jessica have done? Yeah. Not looking so good, even when measured against Hardman's actions. I loved the divided loyalties here, as Jessica has her pet 5th year (Harvey) and Hardman has his (Louis). In that round, Louis won, but we know that Harvey got to the top faster in the end.
I just have to say it - that scene at the end with Rachel and Jessica was the cutest thing ever. I mean, it sort of didn't make sense within the context of this episode. It seemed like it was only there just as a way to say - hey look, this is fun, Rachel's in the flashback too! But I don't really mind the randomness. Her cute little jump of excitement after she got the job just made me fall in love with her even more than I was already. So. Precious.
Donna had a lot of typically bad-ass moments in this episode, too. Apparently she was the one who signed Jordan, more so than Harvey. That made me laugh. Also, Harvey is apparently the only associate with his own secretary, which is just perfect. At one point she tells Harvey to get out of his office, because she has work to do. I also liked Donna's brush-off of the guy in the bar at the beginning, and the way she assured Rachel that she's hotter than Missandei from Game of Thrones (debatable... they're both pretty gorgeous). We also had the conversation between Donna and Jessica during the flashback, which was a bit more serious... Jessica makes a comment about how she's where she is for a reason, and Donna's where she is for a reason. It's all about seeing the bigger picture. It's a good point, actually. Donna has a one-track-mind when it comes to Harvey. Even though she has other friendships, she'd sacrifice any of them for Harvey if she had to.
Even though I was annoyed that Louis got off the hook so easily, I'll admit I did love the very last exchange between Harvey, Louis and Mike, where Harvey jokes about Mike being a fraud, and Louis offers to teach Mike how to drive. As Louis and Mike walk into the client's office, Louis starts rambling on about how much sugar was in the energy drink Harvey gave him, and Mike says "I'm gonna need you to let me do the talking."
Again, even though Mike's flashback plot was sort of aimless, I really enjoyed seeing Grammy and Trevor again. Even though Trevor is such a jerk. Also, that was Troian Bellisario, Patrick J. Adams' real-life fiance playing Claire, so it was cute to see them working together.
Obviously here comes the part where I cry with happiness because Mike/Harvey. First of all, I absolutely love it when Harvey and Mike just burst into each other's apartments. It's so domestic and sweet and I cannot even with these two. Mike remembers the details of their first case together - not because of his freaky memory, but because he's sentimental. That made me smile! (Side note - they should do more with Mike's memory. He hasn't used it to impact the plot at all recently). Then there's the fact that Harvey does defend Mike - maybe not as much as I'd like him to, but still. He tells Louis to knock it off, and after witnessing their fight in the gas station parking lot, he goes to Mike first and puts a hand on his back. Mike brushes him off, but you can see where Harvey's priorities lie. It's that moment at the end that gets to me, though...
See, this episode is ultimately about Harvey and Louis, which is why I can forgive the lack of bromantic interactions between my two favorite guys. However, there is this little thing at the end... Harvey gives Mike half of his first and most precious client. Oh my God. It's an even bigger deal because of all the stuff about loyalty in this episode. Giving that client to Mike and Louis to share is his way of saying that he trusts them. It's... adorable. Mike has this precious look on his face when he realizes what Harvey is doing. He looks slightly overwhelmed and touched, and then he makes a joke to lighten the mood. A minute later, Harvey re-states that he trusts Mike again, by telling him he's allowed to learn to drive on the way back. Aww!
Essentially, even if it had its flaws, any episode that involves a road trip and Harvey acting like a stern father the whole time is an episode I'll probably be coming back to watch in the future.
8.5/10
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