Me sinking this ball into that hole is just an euphemism for later.

So Suits last night, guys. Pretty fucking good, right? We got Donna back, my beloved Tanner made a couple of appearances (if it’s wrong to love him then I don’t want to be right), and we got to see Harvey dressed down. Those were just the highlights, at least for me, in an episode that was near perfect as Harvey’s fraud case went to mock trial in order to try to limit the fallout as much as possible. While it could have easily fallen into self-contained mundaneness, the writers capitalized on a chance to explore Harvey as a character in relation to his job and how others perceive him. We KNOW that Gabriel plays the character with swagger and arrogance but last night, thanks to Gabriel’s superb facial acting, we saw Harvey express something we never see from him. Humility. Seriously, Gabriel’s acting last night should be passed around Hollywood as a PSA against botox.

What really made last night’s episode stand out was that we saw Harvey show weakness. Harvey is a lot of things but weak is not typically one of them. However, he was last night and that vulnerability definitely played out with Donna. Y’all that interaction nearly ripped my heart out. You know they care about each other, but when Donna called him out for not fighting for her like he fought for Mike…GAH it was heartwrenching. Their relationship is one of my favorites so to see it start to crumble kills me. I have a theory though. Harvey WOULD fight for Donna like he did for Mike if he knew how to win. Harvey obviously wants nothing more than to have Donna back but he doesn’t know how to fix it and that scares him.

The thing is Harvey doesn’t value or like Mike more than Donna, it’s just that he knew how to play Jessica to ensure that he won and got to keep Mike. In this instance, Harvey doesn’t know how play his cards to ensure victory because too many variables are in play in regard to the control of power at Pearson Hardman. I wouldn’t be surprised if Harvey let Jessica fire Donna and has some twisted way to protect her despite knowing the Jessica more than likely did it to try to save face with the partners. It’s an asshole move, but Harvey knows that Jessica needs to stay in her role as managing partner in order to keep his job and have any chance of getting Donna back. It’s all one big fucked up mess that’s for sure. Another thing, Harvey couldn’t fire Donna himself because I don’t think he COULD do it. He was scared.

Now let’s talk about the real winner of last night, Harvey’s henley. The way it showed off his arm muscles, YUM. I know you all appreciated it as well judging by the tweets that expressed their love for the dressed down Harvey. We DEFINITELY need more of that.

BGut actually guys, the real superstar last night was Louis. Now he was by no means Tanner but boy did he play the part to a tee. There was no holding back during his examinations of Donna, Harvey, and Jessica. Heck, even the total Louis move of using a polygraph on Mike was brilliant. What was truly spectacular about Louis’ methods last night was the way he used it to flesh out his own issues with the firm, Harvey, and Jessica. Harvey certainly didn’t appreciate it especially after Louis attacked Donna on the (fake) stand. But Louis, who also hated attacking Donna because he does adore her, was right that it wasn’t his fault that it happened but Harvey’s. Louis did EXACTLY what Harvey and Jessica wanted him to do and that was to get under Harvey’s skin. The point that really sealed the MVP deal for Louis though was when he called out Harvey’s self-obsessed views on the case after being attacked. Seriously, I might have nodded along the entire time Louis was telling him that this whole mock trial case wasn’t to save the firm but to save him and that everyone was working to ensure he didn’t lose. Rick Hoffman I’m sending you a BAMF gold medal after last night. Well done, sir.

Of course Harvey never takes anything Louis says to heart, truly. Only after Harvey confronted Mike about the plea deal Tanner brought to him while at the gym (NEED MORE THAT) did it fully set in that Louis had a point. Harvey realized that he’d been so blinded by his need to beat Tanner again that he’d risk going to court and possibly lose, but if he lost he wasn’t the only who was going to lose. The firm would lose, Donna would lose, and Mike would lose. The dilemma then became for Harvey whether to save his own like they were trying to do for him by accepting the plea deal that was obtained by using blackmail, or refuse to admit defeat and going to trial. So when it came down to a vote between the partners, Harvey showed humility and accepted the deal in order to protect his own even though it meant voting against Jessica. He did say he’d do whatever it took to protect those he cared about. By accepting the deal, he got to keep his law license and job, Mike got to keep his mentor and his second chance in life, and Donna was spared from going to court, and potentially jail, and being publically harassed. Y’all, it was really the most selfless move we’ve ever seen Harvey make.

What really makes it so selfless though is that Harvey doesn’t like that they won by basically beating Tanner using Tanner methods, i.e. blackmail. I’ve said it before but Harvey recognizes himself in Tanner. The thing that makes him and Tanner different are their ethics. By using blackmail to beat Tanner it’s obvious that Harvey feels that the separation between him and Tanner is now blurred. That while his practices aren’t as corrupt as Tanner’s, he’s now no better than him by using blackmail rather than wit and facts to win. So yes accepting the deal once again was selfless on his part because he sacrificed the part of himself that defines who he is as a lawyer and a person.

If only winning that battle meant the war was over. Instead, it’s just heating up. In the last few minutes, Hardman called a partners meeting to vote on who should be managing partner after the debacle of Harvey’s fraud case. I have a feeling things are about to get metaphorically bloody in the Hunger Games arena that is the Pearson Hardman offices. May the odds ever be in your favor everyone.

Other thoughts/observations:

• Zoe was played by Gabriel’s real life wife Jacinda Barrett. I definitely loved the bantering between these two. I hope she sticks around for a bit.
• Tanner’s hair jokes were simply the best.
• Speaking of hair, who the fuck puts gel in their hair to go to the gym to work out? Harvey that’s like a girl putting on a full face of make up. Just don’t do it.
• Mike’s fast thinking to outwit the polygraph was genius. He technically DOES have a diploma from Harvard Law thanks to Lola so he didn’t really lie. Also, when the fuck is Lola returning?
• Rachel’s hipster glasses need to go.
• Donna being reluctant to answer if she loves Harvey or not pretty much confirmed it.
• The elevator scene with Harvey and Donna DESTROYED my heart. He better send a bouquet of can openers as an ‘I’m Sorry.’
• I really need more info on Harvey’s parents. The little glimpses we’ve received so far intrigue me greatly. Also it’s obvious that the reason he stays distant in relationships is because of his parents.
• The flashback episode looks AMAZING. CANNOT. WAIT.
• 
  Top Quotes:
  
  • “Someone wants to get Litt up.”
  • “Now is not the time to quote The Breakfast Club.”
  • “Oh, look at that. He thinks I’m pretty.”
  • “Being fully dressed is overrated.”—Take your own advice Harv.

Okay that’s it for me! Let’s discuss in the comments, okay? I KNOW you want to talk about that henley.