Suits: Motion to Delay (8x09)

You know I don't usually comment on how unrealistic this show can be, but this week it was actually distracting.

Cons:

I work in a law firm, but even though I'm not a lawyer, through just general osmosis I could count several things that were very wrong with this episode. For one, Katrina and Brian never should have gone directly to confront that woman who was apparently infringing on their client's copyright. She has a lawyer, meaning they speak to the lawyer, not to her. Big no-no. Also, Brian lying about who he was to get a piece of evidence against someone? Wasn't there a whole plot thread where Donna nearly got arrested for that very action? Here, it's presented as a risky move, but neither Brian nor Katrina seem to contemplate the fact that they could get caught, and Brian could be disbarred. And the line about Brian's precedent being a "genius move" was silly. That was some first-year law school shit. Then there's Sam and Alex. Conflicts in a law firm don't exist just for litigation... it's also a big conflict even if they're trying to reach a settlement. The scenario where Alex and Sam sit in a room with their two clients to talk it out is crazy and never would have happened, what with Alex and Sam both being a part of the same firm.

There was this moment with Harvey and Robert referencing The Terminator and doing crappy Schwarzenegger impressions, and... well, it was kind of weak. The idea is that they're both in crappy moods because of what's happening with Bratton Gould, so of course their energy is a little low. But their exchange of quotes had none of the zing and pop that Harvey and Mike used to have. It doesn't even have the chemistry that Harvey and Robert usually have in a room together. It was just mildly awkward and sort of... dead.

Pros:

I really like Katrina and Brian. There's a moment where Brian talks about how his wife doesn't really understand his love of the law, and it just made the situation all the more difficult. You know why this whole sexual tension thing with them works? Because Brian is a genuinely good person who has done absolutely nothing inappropriate with Katrina. He has been a friend and colleague, and if feelings have developed, one-sided or not, he hasn't done anything to foster them. Katrina's feelings for Brian make perfect sense, and they're also pretty darn unattainable. I don't want them to end up together, or to even have a moment where it looks like Brian might cross the line. That would make Brian a shitty guy, and he's not. The two have great chemistry as mentor/mentee, too, and I hope we see a lot more of them in the back half of the season.

Of course, we should mention that Katrina gets senior partner in this episode, which is really exciting. I love that Louis tries to surprise her with a new office, but Katrina, pragmatic as ever, obviously already knows what's going on. It was also nice to see Katrina have some good conversations with both Louis and Harvey in this episode. This show doesn't have a lot of the mentor/mentee dynamic left, what with Mike and Rachel both being gone. They were the mentees. Katrina is sort of mentoring Brian, but that dynamic is a little different. So it was nice to see Katrina going to Harvey for help, and nice to see Louis give Katrina comfort over her complicated love life.

The Sam vs. Alex thing is a little ridiculous, as I've mentioned in past reviews, but if we take it for what it is, I like what this episode brought us. One of the key elements that was established in Sam's first episode is that she's kind of like Harvey used to be. Hot-headed, used to getting her way, willing to cross some lines. And yet, Sam has been butting heads with the leadership of the firm in a way that is just not sustainable. In this episode, we see the strain start to show. Alex complains about Sam, and then later Harvey and Louis agree - she's being unreasonable. They go to Robert and back Alex for the next name partner of the firm. Of course, things end up shaking out differently, but I like the fact that someone is noticing Sam's behavior and objecting to it.

I always like it when past behavior comes back to bite people in the ass, especially on this show where the characters get away with a lot of crap. Bratton Gould attacking Harvey and Robert makes perfect sense. I also like the slightly shocking twist with Bratton's terminal illness and subsequent death. Robert is obviously a bit torn up about it, and he has known the guy for a really long time, so that makes sense. But there's also this odd bereft feeling, as Harvey, who was gearing up for a fight, suddenly realizes he's won without trying. It's not satisfying at all, and it was nice to see this sort of thing happen instead of the usual, where Harvey makes a bunch of moves, and eventually wins the day.

It was odd to have Frank Gallo come back into the story, and I'll admit I was waiting for more Mike mentions than we got, but it was still interesting to use this old story to stir up the drama for this episode. Suits is better than a lot of other shows out there in making the past feel relevant, as old foes and allies can pop up at any time and stir the pot. Still, I have to voice my displeasure once again that they gave Gallo a redemption arc at all. The dude tried to kill Mike, more than once. Come on! Some things should be unforgivable.

That's all I've got for this one. Just one more episode before the mid-season hiatus. I'm really curious if this show is going to get a Season Nine, and if so, what on earth it will look like.

7/10