Suits

One of the series my wife and I picked up and we are glued to our tv. Really liking it so far we are in season 5.

"Suits" of any legal show that has come along over the years (and there have been many) most reminds me of "L.A. Law" -- the classic legal show that began in the 1980s. In spirit and in structure, it has a similarly deft mix of comedy and drama; it has the slick and literately nimble repartee among characters; and it has the deep mining of character personality down sometimes to the existential bone. Gabriel Macht as law firm associate Harvey Specter, imbues his character with a stolid reserve combined with a smug arrogance, yet can be a grudging soft touch when the occasion calls. Macht with a George Clooney air (indeed that was referenced in the dialogue at one point!) plays Harvey with an understated confidence that works unerringly as a kind of bedrock of the show, which most shows need -- all the more interesting when his character is tested to almost inhuman lengths in later seasons. Patrick J. Adams, at first with a kind of Doogie Hauser vibe, growing as one of the more intriguing and morally strong characters on the show as Mike Ross -- a young loser wasting his life on selling (and taking) drugs and selling test scores to other college students -- gig based on an extraordinary talent he has for lightning-fast brains and total recall of anything he has read which lands him a job with the top New York City law firm of Pearson/Darby/Specter. At first, his lie about having attended Harvard Law (let alone passing the bar at all) is safe with him, but soon one after another at the firm finds out, and yet, over time they become too enmeshed with him and codependent on his talents turn him in, and instead work various machinations (including lying) to protect his scam. Gina Torres as head of the firm, Jessica Pearson, provides a kind of beacon for the dramatic energy of the main subplots, in her role of, in a way, the moral center of the firm, which she embodies with her statuesque verve and arresting beauty; though she's not always a goody-two-shoes. Sometimes she's not afraid to insist, with all the gravitas her eminent charisma can muster, on a mercenary, even seemingly petty bottom line without the slightest shred of a need to apologize. Rick Hoffman as Louis Litt introduces a role most ensemble shows have, of a kind of clownish eccentric (and often they are Jewish -- think Jeremy Piven as Ari Gold in "Entourage"; Evan Handler as Charlie Runkle in "Californication; Jeff Carlin as Jeff Greene on "Curb Your Enthusiasm"). But as the seasons proceed, a few subplots are woven that test this actor immensely, and he delivers in incredible, sometimes searingly emotional ways – meanwhile he's able to clown around with overtly clunky humor and subtler wit with almost sublime assurance. Sarah Rafferty as Donna Paulsen, the personal secretary of senior associate Harvey Specter is wonderfully pleasing to appreciate in all the nuances of her acting. She has eyes, a face, and a demeanor that expertly translates and effortlessly navigates from self-assured snark at one moment to poignant vulnerability in the next, leaving the viewer marveling at her ability as much as one would a dancer or acrobat. And then there's Meghan Markle. It took me a while watching before I asked myself, "Is that the girl who became a wife of an English Prince, that DUCHESS of freaking Sussex...!!!???" And sure enough, she is one and the same. As Rachel Zane, she became, as the seasons went along, the veritable heart of the show, not only as the love interest of Michael Ross, but also as an infectiously endearing persona personifying a range of emotions at once exhilarating and touching. I also briefly mention Rachael Harris as Sheila Sazs, yes-and-no lover of Louis Litt, among other intangible talents, evokes Diana Wiest in "Hannah and her Sisters" -- not in the sense of copying her, but in inimitable spirit. Abigail Spencer as "Scottie", an elusive love interest of Harvey Specter, inhabits everything her role calls for to perfection, with deft skill moving from untouchably heartless to almost painfully available. And last but not least, Vanessa Ray as Jenny Griffith, an erstwhile love of Mike Ross whom he eventually breaks free of to join Rachel Zane. Vanessa Ray, aside from being an obviously good actress in general, has a unique talent for manifesting -- in every nuance, ever move, every word, every look -- an exquisitely sensitive heart going through the complex process or predicament of falling in love (often in terms of a tragic mistake). This talent of hers was put to good use in the excellent series "Blue Bloods" where the chemistry between her and her police partner (played superbly by Will Estes) was delicately and winsomely parlayed to the verge of tragedy and back down to earth to ordinary humanity.

En sus primeras temporadas fue espléndida (muy muy buena y atrapante), el inconveniente empezó cuando en la 6ta o 7ma temporada (no recuerdo cuál) hubo un bajón de calidad notable o grave (porque empezaron a usar lenguaje un poco grosero y hubieron escenas que dieron pena ajena y fueron inapropiadas a más no poder), además de que los capítulos evidentemente fueron hechos sin la complejidad y naturalidad con la que eran hechos, en fin, empezó muy bien y luego decayó (igual parte de la calidad la mantuvo).

I'm at the end if season 1 and so far.. meh. I'm already sick of Mikes character, his pseudo morality, persistant deer in headlights stare whenever he's, once again and again and again makes incredibly stupid decisions and hasn't yet learned that competitive co-workers are mean back stabbers. Rachel played by Markle suffers from bouts of Hollywood moral superiority and indignation as if she never realized after 5 years working there that the legal business is rife with corrupt people and practices, considered cheating the system herself and has the gaule to unload on Mike in a typical Hollywood morality hissy fit against the big bad MAN. (Read: all men are bad and responsible for everything bad in the world and women are made of pure golden light) Harvey and Jessica are the only characters that I enjoy so far. However I'm sure they'll ruin his character in successive seasons by injecting morality play scenarios to illustrate how wrong his character is. Essentially lecturing the audience once again. I was struck by how with what appeared to validate and almost rub our noses in how justice for those with money and power is unfailingly lenient if not applicable at all where the average man can lose everything after 15 years on the job as a gifted accountant for merely padding his résumé when he applied. It's ludicrous how emphatic that episode was in driving that point through till the end. Mikes drug dealing friend and girlfriends characters were poorly defined and cartoonish. The women in the show, with the exception of the women high up the corporate ladder tend to be portrayed as insipid illogical hormone junkies who really just need a man to solve all of their problems. At least Ally McBeal had portrayed women as being competent in their field... not to mention a lot funnier and inventive. That is all until I get a few more seasons under my belt but so far, not impressed.

I watched this to see what all the fuss was about and I couldn't make it past the first season. Aside from Gina Torres, the acting was terrible. Especially from that girl who plays Rachel Zane. She sounded like she was reading out loud in class and had zero chemistry everyone else.