TV REVIEW: Suits’ “Exposure” Rights the Ship

TV REVIEW: Suits “Exposure” Rights the Ship

“Welcome home, sailor,” says Donna to welcome back non-Harvard grad Mike in a Suits episode that had long time fans drooling a little in anticipation. After last week’s Mike-firing and Pearson Specter-rehiring, we knew what to expect with “Exposure”… no surprise with the prodigal son returning. Oh, but it was still thrilling that Marvey was back together, ready to do battle against this season’s bad guy, SEC pitbull Sean Cahill. Louis was a man on the run, Rachel whined her way back into Mike’s good graces, and Harvey and Mike still looked mighty fine in their suits. Here’s what was exposed this week.

Reunited and It Feels So Good

Mike is back! After weeks of Mike/Harvey hate, it was fun to have the Suits’ dream team back together, working on creative, shady maneuverings like the good old days. These two perhaps invented the word “bromance” and it felt like all was right with the world as they practically finished each other’s sentences.

Mike shows up back at Pearson Specter, greeted by Donna who shows him to his new office. He complains that some guy with a soul patch is stationed where he used to be. Donna asks if he’s even capable of growing a soul patch. He says, “I had a goatee my sophomore year of…never.”  She says, “You’re not even here five minutes and you’re already a pain in my ass.” Just like old times.

He has a fancy new office with his name beveled on the glass door. Harvey tells him it was his old office. “It’s good to have you back where you belong.”

Pictured: Rick Hoffman as Louis Litt — (Photo by: Shane Mahood/USA Network)

Breaking Up Is Hard to Do

Mike and Rachel are still broken up. Mike’s staying in a hotel while Rachel is having a slumber party with therapist Donna. The redhead tells her exactly what to do to get Mike back, “Walk in with your head held high, give him space. Let things be. They’ll turn out the way they’re supposed to.” Rachel isn’t buying it, so Donna confesses that she slept with Harvey a long time ago. It seems strange that she would make the leap from offering some advice to revealing this deep, dark secret to Rachel. They didn’t end up together, so what would be the motivation? Donna even admits she wanted to try for a relationship but he wasn’t ready. Rachel looks more unconvinced than ever.

Rachel spends the rest of “Exposure” doing the exact opposite of what Donna suggested. She goes to his office, acting all flirty and nice, talking about the “handsome” new lawyer they hired. He cuts that off with “I’m trying to avoid having a conversation with you, which is not working.” Rachel lies that Harvey has her working on the same case, so that’s why she’s there. Mike says he needs space and rushes off.

Donna reprimands Rachel for talking to Mike and lying about Harvey assigning her to the case. In the weasel move of the night, Rachel throws the ‘Harvey night of sex we wish could be a flashback in every episode’ back in Donna’s face. Oh no you didn’t! Rachel has gotten to be such a weepy, wishy washy character, I have to admit that part of me wants Mike to say adios to her for good. She says she’s going to fight for him, damn you Donna advice. Donna answers with, “Fight for him all you want but don’t lie about Harvey ever again.”

Later, to show she never gives up, Rachel finds Mike alone and admits she lied about being assigned the same case. She says how sorry she is again. Mike says, “All I can think when I look at you is him.” He says he needs to get that image out of his head. He rushes off again leaving Rachel devastated.

Pictured: Sarah Rafferty as Donna Paulsen — (Photo by: Shane Mahood/USA Network)

I Walk the Line

Louis, Louis, Louis … walking the fine line between success and failure, between hero and goat, between legal and illegal. We all knew that the illegal Forstman avoiding taxes deal that our Litt-man worked out would come back to bite him. We just hoped it wouldn’t be fatal. Tonight, Louis had his hands full trying to make sure his deal with the devil would never be discovered. First, he tries to literally bury the damning Forstman document in piles of old files and paperwork in the storage room.

Next, he talks to Mike and says he needs his help. Mike says he working on the Cahill thing for Harvey, and Louis has a conniption acting like a crazy lunatic, even for Louis.  Panic sets in as he gets Katrina to try to cover his tracks. He pays a visit to Forstman who has no interest in making the illegal deal go away. Forstman says the only way the Louis nightmare will end is if he re-writes all the paperwork and have Harvey sign it. He wants Louis to frame Harvey. Louis tells Katrina and she doesn’t seem against the idea.  He says no way. New strategy, make sure Harvey wins that motion to block the SEC from getting all the files.

Stayin’ Alive (Barely)

Louis works throughout “Exposure” to keep his head above water, working to keep Sean Cahill in the dark about his illegal dealings.

Sean Cahill is not having it. He’s like a bloodhound – one who’s caught the scent of some Louis Litt red stuff. He’s turned into one of the best Suits’ villains that we kinda love to hate, mainly because his one liners go toe-to-toe with Harvey’s.

The SEC baddie shows up with a search warrant for all the Gillis Industry files. Harvey and Jessica go to the judge handling the case who revokes the search warrant. The pair realize that the man is never giving up. Jessica says why don’t you and Mike get us the hell out of this.

Cahill’s next tactic is to get Mike to give him all the files on Gillis for immunity, making a comment about his hotel stay. Mike turns him down and runs to tell Harvey about the proposition and about a new idea. He figures out that Cahill is guilty of unauthorized surveillance, so that will be their new strategy in getting Cahill’s request for files thrown out. They confront him in court, and the judge sides with our dynamic duo. They win, but not really. Cahill has a Logan card up his sleeve. Logan Sanders is now working with Cahill, requesting all documents regarding communications between Harvey and Mike be released.

Louis declares temporary victory (because It can only be temporary with Louis) when he discovers that the order to release files doesn’t include any pertaining to Forstman. He walks into Katrina’s office, finger on his neck, saying, “Guess what this is? The resting heart rate of a happy man.” They almost hug it out.

If Suits has taught us anything, it’s that Louis can never stay on top for long.  Harvey ends up voluntarily handing over ALL the files (including the Forstman ones) because he thinks they have nothing to hide. Louis realizes the gig is up and is ready to give up. Not so fast, Katrina has one more idea… she hands him a document that makes it seem like the Cayman thing never happened. It’ll be forgery, not framing, so that makes it alright, right?

Mike sees Louis looking like he just saw Sheila with Lorenzo Lamas and asks if everything’s okay. Just peachy, Mikey.

Pictured: Meghan Markle as Rachel Zane — (Photo by: Shane Mahood/USA Network)

I Will Always Love You

Rachel grows a partial backbone and confronts Mike back at his hotel room. She tells him, “You’ll never completely get it out of your head.” He knows exactly what she’s talking about.  Tess, his old girlfriend – the one Rachel saw having sex with Mike. Rachel says, “My image isn’t made up. I got over it without getting rid of it. Forgiveness doesn’t work that way. I made a mistake. I want you to decide if you love me more than you hate what I did. If you don’t I want you to tell me it’s over. If you do, then I want you to come home.” She leaves. By the end of the episode, Mike leaves the office. He changes his mind going back up to Rachel’s office and gives her a small smile and head nod. All is forgiven?

Help!

Mike knows something’s up with Mr. Litt. He talks to Harvey about Louis’ strange behavior which how Mike can differentiate normal Louis behavior with strange Louis behavior is a mystery we may never solve. “I think he cut some sort of deal with Forstman.”

“I’m gonna find out what the hell Louis did,” says Harvey storming off to see Louis. Harvey and Louis slo-mo walk to each other’s offices, missing each other in the labyrinth that is Pearson Specter.

Louis ends up going to Jessica. “I made a huge mistake,” he tells her.

Wow, Louis admitting to a mistake, finally done with trying to cover it up. This may be the best decision Louis has ever made as a lawyer, maybe the best decision he’s made in life. We’ll have to see if the team rallies behind their inspirational mug giving friend or if they offer him up as a sacrificial lamb to slaughter.

What did you think of our dynamic duo back in action fighting Sean Cahill? Do you think Louis will slither out of this mess in one piece?

Jessica tells Mike good job. Thank you for taking me back. Why the hell did you come back? It doesn’t matter why. What matters is that I’m staying. This is where I belong.

Suits airs Wednesdays on USA Network at 9:00 pm

Best Lines of the Week

• Jessica tells Cahill, “Who do you think’s gonna get the job done faster? You and those two windbreakers or Bonnie and Clyde?”
• Katrina welcomes Mike back with, “Somebody had to pick up your slack while you were shittin’ the bed on Wall Street.”  Mike retaliates with, “Which is why it’s good to be back here where there’s a shitty lawyer like you to make me look good.” Yes, this is definitely where you belong, Mike.
• Mike tells Harvey about the Cahill offer, “Guess who just got propositioned by a striking blonde?” Harvey: “Please tell me it was Kate Upton.”
  Mike: “Isn’t she a little young for you?” Harvey: “Last night she told me I was the perfect age.” Mike: “To be her father.”  The boys are back!
• Cahill and Harvey going at it. Cahill greets them with, “Well if it isn’t the Wonder Twins, form of Douchebag.”  Harvey counters with, “Shape of gotcha by the balls.”