Episode Title: "Rewind"
Writer: Rick Muirragui
Director: Felix Alcala
Previously on "Suits"
Story:
In the present day, Harvey (Gabriel Macht) tells Mike (Patrick J. Adams) that he isn't coming in that day and he tasks him with tipping the scales in Jessica's favor, as the upcoming partners' vote looms. At the office, Mike asks Rachel (Meghan Markle) about former firm employee, Monica Eaton.
In a flashback to five years ago, Jessica (Gina Torres) enlists Harvey's help in finding out which firm employee is embezzling money from clients. She insists they keep their investigation from Daniel, as she wants to approach him with a solution rather than a problem. Harvey agrees to help under the condition that he be made partner.
In the present, Mike meets with Monica and hands her the draft of a sexual harassment suit against Daniel Hardman. He tells her that Harvey will back her claim, but Monica says she wants nothing to do with it.
Five years back, Harvey asks Zoe Lawford (Jacinda Barrett) to let him look at her files and deduces that Louis is the embezzler. However when Jessica confronts him, Louis (Rick Hoffman) fesses up to nothing more than raiding Harvey's liquor cabinet and walking around the office library barefoot.
In the present, Harvey pensively looks out the window on a train. After arriving at his destination, he picks up a bottle of whiskey at a liquor store.
In a flashback, Harvey asks Louis to help him figure out who the embezzler is. When he realizes it's Hardman, Harvey tells Jessica, who is shocked. Harvey insists she go to the DA, but Jessica wants to give Hardman a chance to explain himself.
Hardman (David Costabile) tells Jessica that he stole the money to help support his wife, who is terminally ill. A stunned Jessica brings the news to Harvey, but he's unsympathetic. Determined to go after Hardman, Harvey finds him in a hotel room with Monica. He tells Hardman he must agree to resign or his wife will find out about his affair with Monica.
Back in the present, Louis tells Hardman about Mike's meeting with Monica. Hardman confronts Jessica about Mike approaching Monica. Rachel, in turn, confronts Mike about his tactics.
In a flashback, Donna (Sarah Rafferty) tells Harvey that his father suffered a heart attack. Jessica fires Monica over her involvement with Hardman and Harvey gets promoted to partner. Afterwards, he talks to Zoe, who is disgusted by what he did, especially in light of the fact that he just lost his father.
In the present, Harvey visits his father's grave and pours two shots of whiskey. When he returns to the office, he tells Jessica they are going to get Hardman ousted and he is going to get Donna back.
Breakdown:
The past is revisited and a corner is turned. Don't get it wrong, Harvey's still ruthless, but also ruthlessly loyal, pointedly telling Jessica he's going to get Donna back. And all this after the emotionally guarded litigator paid a visit to his father's grave.
"Rewind" took us back five years for a look at the pivotal moments in Harvey and Mike's lives while moving the present storyline forward. While Harvey's half of the flashback, which focused on Hardman's downfall at the firm and his relationship with Donna, was revealing, Mike's felt like a retread of already covered ground.
As Harvey sniffed out Hardman's embezzling, Mike began pimping himself out on the LSAT scene in order to pay for his grandmother's care. And we found out how Trevor ended up with Jenny and Mike got his first test taking gig. In the interest of both lead characters, it's necessary ground to cover, but not terribly revealing.
Meanwhile, if there was any doubt about just how committed Donna is to Harvey, this flashback, full of caustic flirtation and questionable boundaries, put the matter to rest. While Donna remained a stalwart supporter, Zoe Lawford questioned Harvey's priorities, as he kept his unflagging sights set on Hardman in the midst of losing his father.
Back in the present, we see Harvey taking both matters to heart when he visits his father's grave and promises to bring Donna back into the fold. As for Mike, he's once again tasked with using his boyish charms to bring another emotional female to her senses. This time, it's Hardman's former lover and subordinate, Monica Eaton. Jessica may not want to play dirty in her war with Hardman, but Harvey and Mike filing a sexual harassment suit on behalf of Eaton is filthy and brilliant.
As a flashback episode, "Rewind" was mostly effective. Harvey's a tough nut to crack, thus even the briefest peek into his psyche is fascinating. Conversely, Mike's backstory is a bit plainer. We already know what brought him to where he is today. And the scene where he and Trevor mock the then total stranger Harvey's suit and haircut was a bit heavy-handed.
However these are minor criticisms as "Suits" continues to deliver a solid even-toned drama each week. As the seasons builds to a climactic showdown between Team Pearson and Team Hardman, "Rewind" served up a side of revealing backstory, making the developments in the present all the more interesting.
