Premiering in 2011 and running for nine seasons, the hit legal series Suits was one of the biggest television shows of the 2010s, thriving off the back of its dramatic tension, comedic fun, romantic intrigue, and the pulsating thrill of courtroom squabbling. Across its 134-episode run, Suits juggled its tonal sensitivities immaculately, providing fans with everything from fun-loving con jobs with a triumphant flourish to heart-stopping entries that delved into character drama, and even some episodes that were devastatingly heartbreaking.
The series as a whole followed Mike (Patrick J. Adams), a brilliant though unambitious con artist who finds his calling as a lawyer, and Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht), the major corporate lawyer in Manhattan who takes Mike under his wing despite the fact that he doesn't have a law degree. From spellbinding season finales to episodes that flipped the story on its head, these 20 entries mark the best Suits episodes.
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Suits
TV-14
Comedy
Drama- Release Date
- 2011 - 2018
- Network
- USA
- Showrunner
- Aaron Korsh
- Writers
- Aaron Korsh
Cast
-
Patrick J. Adams
-
Sarah Rafferty
-
Gabriel Macht
-
Meghan Markle
- Seasons
- 9
20 "Thunder Away"
Season 9, Episode 9 (2019)
The penultimate episode of the whole series ends up being one of the best ones in the context of Mike and Harvey’s friendship. Receiving news of the sudden death of his mother, Harvey confronts his grief with help from Mike. All the while, Mike and Sam (Katherine Heigl) make an aggressive press against Faye (Denise Crosby), who returns serve by making a deal with Harvey and Louis that drags the entire firm into the squabble.
As great as the episode is in terms of the sweeping legal battle and the thrills that come with it, “Thunder Away” truly thrives thanks to its quieter character moments. Harvey’s eulogy for his mother is a tender, tear-jerking highlight of the series, his confrontation with Katrina (Amanda Schull) is similarly brilliant, while his bond with Mike reaches new heights amid the turmoil of the episode.
19 "Sucker Punch"
Season 2, Episode 7 (2012)
Plenty of internal feelings spill out in the Season 2 episode “Sucker Punch” which sees an under-pressure Pearson Hardman firm orchestrate a mock trial of their upcoming lawsuit to gauge what could transpire. Home truths about many of the lawyers involved in the trial run are revealed, while Harvey turns to a former colleague and love interest for advice, despite the fact they didn’t end their relationship on good terms.
The episode teases Harvey’s haunted past while consolidating his callous exterior – particularly in the courtroom – as being close to unbreakable yet entirely manufactured. It also sees an unlikely collaboration in the form of Mike and Hardman, with the duo actually working well together as a team in a sequence which makes Hardman far more interesting as a character. Ultimately a great episode for all the characters, “Sucker Punch” is a tightly written and brilliantly acted entry that, while not being too flashy, still excels throughout.
18 "Intent"
Season 4, Episode 15 (2015)
While parts of Season 4 were bogged down by too heavy an emphasis on character and drama, “Intent” marks a highlight of the suspense and thrills of the courtroom taking center stage in the legal drama series. Celebrations over the success of the whistler-blower case are cut short when Harvey learns that Donna (Sarah Rafferty) broke the law to help secure a defining document. With Donna confronted by the very real possibility of serving time, Mike and Harvey scramble to help her while Jessica navigates a serious step in her relationship with Jeff Malone (D.B. Woodside).
The Season 4 finale marks a pivotal point in Harvey and Donna’s relationship, one that again solidifies their undying support of one another while taking steps to spur a romance between the two. Also enriched with insights into Jessica’s siege mentality headspace and how that impacts personal relationships, “Intent” is an intriguing highlight of connection and romance despite thriving as a legal narrative. In essence, it embodies the balance that defines Suits when operating at its best.
17 "Blowback"
Season 5, Episode 11 (2016)
The mid-season break in Suits’ fifth season was a particularly agonizing one for fans, but it eventually subsided in phenomenal fashion with the grand return in the form of “Blowback”. With Mike arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit fraud, Harvey and Jessica devise a plan to defend him despite knowing he is guilty. Rachel (Meghan Markle) finds herself cornered by her father while Mike is offered a deal to turn on Harvey by the ruthless prosecutor who will be handling his case.
Loaded with exceptional character moments, “Blowback” brilliantly explores the aftermath of the explosive mid-season finale while plotting a new course forward for the second half of the exceptional season. It is a thrill to see many of the characters do what they can to rally behind Mike, while his blackmailing confrontation with Soloff (John Pyper-Ferguson) and Hardman is incredibly rewarding to say the least.
16 "The Hand That Feeds You"
Season 6, Episode 9 (2016)
It is fair to say that “The Hand That Feeds You” has its fair share of moments that frustrated fans. Some of these moments were good, others less so, but the Season 6 episode remains one of the strongest entries in the series due to its narrative might. A hitch in the plan to free Mike from prison sees Harvey consider freeing Frank Gallo (Paul Schulze), while Jessica and Rachel butt heads over how to approach a re-opened case. Meanwhile, Louis struggles to handle his anxiety issues surrounding Tara (Carly Pope).
It is as thrilling as it is sometimes rage-inducing, making for an emotionally conflicted yet rousing episode that raises questions over Mike’s state of mind and what the future may hold for he and Rachel. It has some intense sequences, some triumphant ones, and ultimately thrives as a rousing and engrossing episode.
15 "Tick Tock"
Season 5, Episode 15 (2016)
While Suits was able to maintain a high quality of entertainment and drama throughout its nine-season run, few would deny that the illustrious back half of Season 5 stands as the definitive highlight of the series. Within that, the season’s penultimate episode was a beautifully balanced chapter that set the scene fantastically ahead of the finale while still offering plenty of intrigue, suspense, and character drama in its own right.
“Tick Tock” sees Jessica (Gina Torres) and Harvey set their minds on a new strategy to keep Mike out of jail while Louis (Rick Hoffman) grapples with making a deal or staying true to his colleagues. The episode moves at a quick though calculated case, giving every major character significant moments while also featuring a powerful guest appearance from Donzaleigh Abernathy who portrays Clifford Danner’s (Neil Brown Jr.) mother and takes to the stand to speak on behalf of Mike.
14 "Self Defense"
Season 5, Episode 14 (2016)
Another episode that helped mark Season 5 as the best season of Suits, “Self Defense” effectively sets in motion what will be the defining last stanza of the season, with Mike and Harvey committing to big decisions that will re-shape their lives. With Mike’s trial rapidly approaching, he and Harvey clash over who should represent him. As both men want to take the lead, they agree to a challenge to determine who will speak in court. All the while, Louis begins to doubt where he stands should Mike lose the case, and Anita Gibbs (Leslie Hope) casts a spanner in the works at the last minute.
Riveting from start to finish, “Self Defense” is Suits at its frenetic, energetic best. The story is rife with twists and turns that completely blindside the audience, while all the major characters get their chance to shine. Gripping and intense, it is a contained, concise highlight of Suits that stands as an impressive testament to Patrick J. Adams’ talents as a director as well as a star.
13 "No Way Out"
Season 3, Episode 16 (2014)
A common theme on this list will be Suits’ ability to constantly deliver on season finales, with the Season 3 closer, “No Way Out”, a magnificent example of the series’ excellence at closing out its seasons with satisfying yet exhilarating results. It sees Harvey and Mike in a war of wits against a tenacious U.S. attorney with a hatred for dirty lawyers. Meanwhile, Mike and Rachel begin to realize they have different ideas concerning their future, and Harvey and Dana Scott (Abigail Spencer) have difficulties with their own relationship.
With its stern focus on character bonds, “No Way Out” drums up compelling drama by testing relationships – both working and romantic – that audiences care about by applying both external and internal pressures upon them. Zeljko Ivanek is suitably spiteful as U.S. attorney Eric Woodall to give the episode a central figure of antagonism for the characters (and fans) to rally against, making it one of Suits' best episodes.
12 "Not Just a Pretty Face"
Season 4, Episode 16 (2015)
Another great finale, “Not Just a Pretty Face” weaves together past and present to explore the predicament Harvey finds himself in as he tries to bring down Eric Roberts' Charles Forstman. In the past, Harvey’s success as an Assistant District Attorney leads to lucrative, albeit legally dubious, career opportunities that tie him and his younger brother to Forstman. In the present, he finds himself in a race against time to get dirt on Woodall so he’ll flip on Forstman, enlisting the help of Mike and Rachel in the process.
The episode beautifully mixes its suspenseful legal stakes with tender character moments, complementing its thrilling main plot with the backstory of how Donna came to work for Harvey, and Donna’s efforts to help Louis as she comes to terms with Harvey declaring his love for her. Culminating with Mike proposing to Rachel, “Not Just a Pretty Face” is a triumphant, crowd-pleasing outing that stands as one of Suits’ most satisfying episodes.
11 "Gone"
Season 4, Episode 9 (2015)
The mid-section of Season 4 marks a particularly noteworthy stanza of Suits’ run, with the ninth episode, “Gone”, a huge turning point in the context of the season’s arc. With Pearson Specter facing a round of depositions, Louis confesses his shady dealings to Jessica and Harvey, which leaves the firm with no option but to go on the offensive. Harvey, Mike, and Louis confront Sean Cahill (Neal McDonough) about Woodall’s collusion, a play that gets Pearson Specter off the hook, but doesn’t keep Louis from losing his job at the firm.
A brilliant backs-against-the-wall plot ensures that “Gone” is one of the more commanding and heart-racing episodes of the series. The plot moves forward with haste and calculation, standing as a pivotal point considering what would transpire in the latter part of Season 4, while the dramatic conclusion with Louis’ resignation gives the triumphant elation a somber and contemplative undertone by the time the credits rolled.
10 "She Knows"
Season 2, Episode 1 (2012)
After an amazing first season of Suits, offering courtroom thrills with a side of triumphant fun, the onus was on the Season 2 premiere to indicate what the show would be moving forward. "She Knows" moves delightfully fast in that endeavor, with the firm's managing partner, Jessica, telling Harvey that she knows Mike is a fraud, and he needs to be fired. Meanwhile, a co-founder of the firm makes his return after a five-year hiatus.
It maintained Suits Season 1’s stylistic flair while bringing in new characters and implementing ideas that would take the show in a more dramatic direction. David Costabile was instantly a divine addition to the cast as firm co-founder Daniel Hardman, giving the series regulars a great central antagonistic presence to rally against.
9 "Dog Fight"
Season 1, Episode 12 (2011)
Suits often had a lot going on in any given episode, piling character development and cut-throat workplace politics on top of its razor-sharp legal drama. Functioning as the Season 1 finale, however, "Dog Fight" was a glistening example of how good the series could be at pure courtroom thrills. While it wasn't left lacking in character-centric plot points, the episode's main focus is on Harvey's efforts to free a man he knows to be innocent.
His honorable pursuit faces an obstacle in the form of a district attorney who prioritizes the integrity of the legal system over the pursuit of justice. Mike enlists his sketchy childhood friend, Trevor (Tom Lipinski), to help in the case, while Rachel (Meghan Markle) gets candid about her feelings for Mike. With high drama, passionate performances, and the mounting tension of the trial, “Dog Fight” was basic courtroom drama done to a phenomenal standard.
8 "Character and Fitness"
Season 6, Episode 16 (2017)
Mixing intricate character work with the thrill of courtroom drama was what made Suits such a hit series for so long. That combination of narrative threads was rarely explored better within one episode than it was in the Season 6 finale, "Character and Fitness," which contained big moments for all the show’s major characters. The crux of the episode focused on Harvey and Mike's efforts to make Mike a legitimate lawyer, with their plan facing an unexpected threat in the form of Anita Gibbs (Leslie Hope).
Meanwhile, fan-favorite character Donna Paulsen's (Sarah Rafferty) business venture is hit with a lawsuit and Louis Litt's relationship with Tara (Carly Pope) strikes a rough patch due to his anger issues. With a desperate tension running throughout, the episode weaved all its elements together beautifully, capping one of the series’ strongest seasons off with a lively meshing of isolated narratives.
7 "This Is Rome"
Season 4, Episode 10 (2014)
Within the context of Suits' six-season run, the fourth season was a bit of a lackluster outing for the series as it failed to capitalize on the show's early high-tempo energy, but it did strike gold with its mid-season finale, "This Is Rome." Re-shaping the landscape of Suits going forward, it presented a closing chapter that was unexpected yet, on reflection, completely inevitable.
With Louis resigning from Pearson Specter, the crew tries to help him get his affairs in order as he plans for his next step in life. Meanwhile, Harvey and Jessica have to fend off an outsider trying to poach the firm's clients. A wonderfully snappy episode in terms of its pacing and its wit, it left fans in shock when the credits rolled and gave Rick Hoffman ample room to make the episode entirely his own.
6 "One Last Con"
Season 9, Episode 10 (2019)
While the series' final seasons dipped in quality compared to the vibrant and confidently slick start, the show was sure to leave its fans on a high with the overall series finale one of the best episodes of Suits. Perfectly titled "One Last Con," the episode saw the firm facing the very immediate threat of discontinuation as Harvey is forced to testify in a prickly case. With Harvey and Mike masterminding one final con job, they rally the partners to save the day.
It hearkened back to key moments throughout the series in a rewarding fashion to give fans exactly what they wanted. Furthermore, Harvey and Donna finally got married and left the firm, while Louis and Sheila Sazs (Rachael Harris) married as well. Loaded with the effervescent, excitable glee that defined the series at its peak, "One Last Con" could hardly have been any better as the series' final installment.
5 "Pilot"
Season 1, Episode 1 (2011)
Suits hit the ground running instantly, giving fans a vibrant and rapid-paced episode that was incredibly enthralling. With Mike pivoting from school test cheating antics to a life of crime, he meets a smooth-talking and suave Harvey, who is looking to hire a new associate. While Mike was initially apprehensive about the job, he takes a liking to it when he and Harvey successfully represent a woman in a sexual assault case.
In addition to giving Mike, Harvey, and the rest of the main characters perfect introductions, the pilot episode also set the scene for the main duo's working situation and established the sort of risks they were willing to take. Fun-filled, thrilling, and a little cheeky, it debuted with impressive ratings and showed that Suits was willing to embrace its somewhat ridiculous premise with a penchant for great entertainment.
4 "Faith"
Season 5, Episode 10 (2015)
The fifth season of Suits sits equal with its debut outing as the show's best. A major reason for that was the significant rising stakes in the season’s second half, which was set in motion by the pulsating mid-season finale, "Faith." It mixed present drama with revealing flashbacks, following the tipping point of the firm's power battle between Jessica and David, while also exploring the haunted pasts of Mike and Harvey.
What made the episode so ground-breaking though, was its unbelievable ending, with Mike resigning, so he could marry Rachel with a clear conscience, only to be arrested by federal agents shortly after on charges of conspiracy to commit fraud. The unbearable cliffhanger left fans on the edge of their seats and launched what would be the best stanza of the series in Season 5's second half.
3 "High Noon"
Season 2, Episode 10 (2012)
With much of Season 2’s first half building up to a decisive vote for the firm's leadership, the mid-season finale seemed like it would drag out the result of Louis’ pivotal say for a grandstand finish. Instead, "High Noon" revealed early on that Louis voted against Harvey and Jessica, making Daniel Hardman a managing partner.
The early narrative twist surprised many fans, but it ended up being a masterstroke as Harvey and Mike had to act fast to rectify the seemingly hopeless situation, giving the episode plenty of incentive and frantic momentum. It also served as a big episode for Mike, who spoke at his grandmother’s funeral and hit a snag in his teased romance with Rachel.
2 "P.S.L"
Season 6, Episode 10 (2016)
Standing as the mid-season finale for Season 6, "P.S.L" offered one of the most shocking episodes of the series. It saw Harvey offer Mike a way back into the firm as a consultant, while Mike aided Rachel and Jessica's defense of an innocent client in a case that saw Jessica re-discover exactly why she wanted to be a lawyer in the first place. The epiphany saw her promptly decide to leave the company and depart for Chicago.
A seismic shift in the show's trajectory going forward, "P.S.L" forced fans to completely re-calibrate their expectations of what was to come while also renewing the series' driving bond between iconic TV duo Mike and Harvey. While the episode's surprising ending saw the power balance at the firm uprooted completely, it also marked Gina Torres' last appearance as a series regular.
1 "25th Hour"
Season 5, Episode 16 (2015)
Arguably the episode that had the single most powerful impact on the landscape of the series, "25th Hour" served as the finale for Season 5 and saw Mike face legal punishment for committing fraud. The episode shows the result of Mike's acceptance of Anita Gibbs' deal, resulting in him facing prison time in exchange for her not pursuing Harvey and his associates.
A significant reason why the episode was so brilliant was Gabriel Macht's performance, with the ever-so-cool composure of Harvey Specter gradually melting away as he desperately searches for ways to help Mike but fails at every turn. "25th Hour" decimated the illusion of Mike and Harvey's embedded plot armor to staggering effect, Season 5 end on a bitter note that lingered on audiences' minds long after the credits had stopped rolling, making it the best episode of Suits.
NEXT: The Main Characters in 'Suits', Ranked by Likability
