Suits: Managing Partner (8x10)

I was a little bit underwhelmed by some aspects of this finale, but if this is what the show is about now, I can't exactly complain when this is what I get. Let's dive in!

Cons:

This isn't a "con" so much as it is just... a statement. I don't care about this show nearly as much as I used to. Also, I've never been a fan of flashback stuff as it is, and this was a flashback episode about Robert and Samantha, the two characters I care about the least. So this episode was not designed to be a winner for me personally. I don't think the episode itself did a bad job with the material, it's just not my preferred material.

The problem with flashback episodes in Suits is that they almost always spend a lot of time showing us something that could have been told very easily. We learn in this episode that back when Sam was an associate and Robert was a partner, Samantha saved Robert from allegations of collusion and got the current name partners ousted. Samantha was instrumental in making Rand Caldor Zane a reality. That's why Robert is so loyal to her. We see this revelation come out through a series of scenes in the past between the two of them. But the same information might have been imparted through a conversation in the present day. Maybe Samantha tells Harvey, or Robert tells Harvey, or the two of them discuss it, or Samantha confides in Donna... all of these scenarios would allow for the characters, as we know them today, to develop further.

Pros:

Every once in a while, I remember the time that Louis physically attacked Mike when they went on that little road trip together, and I find it hard to be in his corner. But I know I'm not supposed to be thinking about that, and I do have to admit that over the last couple of seasons, the show has done a good job of convincing me that Louis really has grown and changed as a person. All of this to say... I'm happy for him and Sheila. I really am. Turns out, they're going to have a baby! But also, both of them have just gotten pretty crazy promotion opportunities from their jobs. This is a pretty basic setup for conflict, and I really liked the way everything went down. At first, Sheila wants the job and the baby, and Louis is concerned, because this goes against the parenting plan they had, which said that Sheila would stay home with the baby and then Louis would take over when Sheila's job heads in to recruitment season. Now, Sheila is talking about taking a full time, year-round job. How is this resolved? Well, at first Louis agrees to take a step down at work. And then, Donna tells him he needs to step up instead, and be Managing Partner.

I love that this episode resolved the immediate conflict between Sheila and Louis, while setting up a pretty big obstacle for them to overcome together when the rest of the season comes around. Also, Louis becoming calm and zen upon realizing Sheila was pregnant was... perfect. You might expect someone as high strung as Louis to get really freaked out, but the news has the opposite effect on him. He suddenly knows, with perfect clarity, what's really important in life. And because of this, he can take on managing partner. He doesn't care what Harvey and Robert think about it, because being managing partner isn't his greatest goal in life. It's something he can do to help his firm, something he feels confident about, but it's just one piece of a much bigger whole. It was honestly the perfect way for Louis' character to grow even more. I also admire how well Louis' personal journey slotted in to the A-plot story of the week.

And speaking of that A-plot. I'm just going to ignore the silliness of Sam and Alex being allowed to go toe to toe because of conflict waivers. It makes no sense. The utter ridiculousness of Robert warning them to not use privileged information... I mean, if either one of them did that, the case would be thrown out. It's all ridiculous. But whatever. Taking the story at face value, I really liked the back and forth that Samantha and Alex had going, and how Robert, Harvey, and Donna each fit in. First it seemed like Samantha had the upper hand, then Alex, then Samantha, and then... Alex wins. He does. He actually pulls out a trick and wins the day. Both of them cross some lines, but neither of them does anything too heinous.

So... Alex's name goes on the wall? No. Samantha goes to Robert and tells him that he owes her, and that he should overrule Harvey and put Samantha's name up there. Robert decides to do it, keeping his promise to Samantha over his promise to Harvey to let the two of them battle it out. The end result is very close to being a total mess, but luckily it's Donna to the rescue.

For years, Donna has been the peacekeeper who comes in and smooths things over, manipulating here, offering advice there. When she was doing all of that as a secretary, that was one thing. But now, as the COO, she has real stakes in the firm, and a real say in the important stuff. She even gets a vote. So when she and Louis collaborate and oust Robert as managing partner, it's really down to Donna's cunning. What she's doing isn't a coup. It's a strategy to keep the firm together. Louis is managing partner. Louis gets to make this call. And... both of their names are on the wall.

Ignoring how stupid it is for ZSL to make another name change so soon, I'm pretty happy with this result. It would have felt dissatisfying for Alex to get it, even though he won, because his client is a jerk. And it would have felt even more dissatisfying to Sam to get it, because she lost, and it would have involved Robert breaking his promise. Louis and Donna coming in and making the call felt like the only way this could have ended. I admire the fact that even though Louis stayed out of this thing for the most part, it felt natural that he should step in at the end and fix it.

The Darvey fans out there are probably disappointed at the glacial pace at which the Donna/Harvey relationship is being explored. If indeed it is being explored. I've never been super invested in their potential romance, but I can empathize. That said, the brief moment at the end, where they flirt and walk off arm in arm to go get drinks, was pretty adorable. I hope we can maybe turn the heat up on their relationship a little bit, perhaps increase the frequency of these little flirty moments, so that when this show ends, they can at least suggest a happy future for the two of them.

So there you have it. Alex and Samantha have come to a tenuous peace, they both get to be name partner at a big New York law firm, and Louis is the new managing partner, with a baby on the way, and a celebratory hug from Harvey. Things are about to get... well, hopefully interesting. I don't think I want this show to come back for a Season Nine. I'm just not invested in it like I once was. That said, there are still plenty of elements to enjoy!

7/10