Suits is one of the most captivating legal drama series on TV, with a handful of episodes that stand out from the rest as the very best. Suits ran from 2011 to 2019 for a total of 9 seasons with 134 episodes. Early seasons of the show focused on the relationship between high-flying lawyer Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht), and his protégé, Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams). Other regular cast members who appeared throughout are Sarah Rafferty, who played Harvey’s secretary, Donna Paulsen, and Rick Hoffman, who played his rival, Louis Litt.
After the show’s seventh season, the show was forced to undergo dramatic changes as Rachel Zane (Meghan Markle), Mike Ross’s partner, left the show. As a result, Adams also decided to step away to preserve the story of Mike and Rachel and only returned towards the end of the show to wrap things up and say goodbye. While the focus shifted away from Mike and Harvey’s relationship, the show managed to continue for another two seasons with persistently good quality.
10 “Self-Defense”
Suits Season 5, Episode 14
Season 5 of Suits saw Mike forced to come to terms with his less-than-legitimate entry to operating as a lawyer. What makes “Self-Defense” so special is not just the fact that it was one of the few episodes directed by Adams himself, but it saw Mike and Harvey go head-to-head in a way that proved the character’s exceptional chemistry and revealed how much Harvey cared about Mike. Mike hopes to defend himself in court, but both Harvey and Jessica try to dissuade him from doing so. To decide who is right and whether Mike can handle himself, Harvey sets up a mock trial to put Mike through his paces.
9 “Character And Fitness”
Suits Season 6, Episode 16
The Suits season 6 finale is one of the very best examples of the show’s ability to masterfully weave several narrative threads together at once. With Mike and Harvey attempting to legitimize Mike as a lawyer, Louis, and Tara having a major falling out, and Donna getting hit with a lawsuit, there is a lot to follow. However, the episode manages to tie everything together and neatly close out the series in an incredibly satisfying way.
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8 “No Way Out”
Suits Season 3, Episode 16
Season finales in general for the show were often high points. The season 3 finale saw the course of the show shift once again when Mike finds himself in extremely hot water, being pushed to turn on his mentor. Having managed to get into the business without an official law degree, Mike decides to turn his back on the business and follow a less risky career in investment banking. Season 4 does see Mike return to practice law, but this finale made it clear just how risky continuing this business is for him.
7 “One Last Con”
Suits Season 9, Episode 10
The series finale, “One Last Con” managed to add something fresh and vibrant, while also paying homage to the seasons that came before, and finally closing the book on the show. The firm is on the verge of dissolving, and Mike returns to help Harvey and Louis pull off the final job to ensure its continued survival. The show also wraps up long-standing storylines, with Donna and Harvey finally tying the knot and saying goodbye to the firm, as well as showing Louis’ growth as a character and his and Sheila’s happy ending.
6 “This Is Rome”
Suits Season 4, Episode 10
Rick Hoffman often dominated the scenes he was in as the eccentric and often insufferable Louis Litt. “This Is Rome” is a Louis episode, and he is spectacular, as the majority of the episode sees him struggling to figure out what comes next after resigning from Pearson Specter. When he learns the truth about Mike’s illegitimate lawyering, he uses the information to leverage his way back into the business, with several additional stipulations.
5 “Pilot”
Suits Season 1, Episode 1
Most shows take some time to develop a style and flow that defines the series. Suits, however, managed to deliver all of that in the very first episode, as a fully-formed show. The chemistry between the characters, the flow of the delivery, the intense drama as Harvey and Mike perform their shady dealings, and the punchy law cases all come together in beautiful synchronicity. The first episode delivers everything the show needs to give an audience and get them hooked from the jump.
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4 “High Noon”
Suits Season 2, Episode 10
“High Noon” is a perfect example of Suits subverting expectations and moving at pace. While season 2 was building up to a vote for who would act in the role of managing partner, with Louis taking his time to cast his deciding vote, the decision is made right at the top of this episode. This leaves the rest of the mid-season finale to deal with how Harvey and Mike respond, while also dropping in other challenges like the appearance of Mike’s old flame Tess, which causes problems for his budding romance with Rachel.
3 “P.S.L.”
Suits Season 6, Episode 10
The season 6 mid-season finale was another episode that rocked the foundations of the show. When Mike finally gets out of prison, Harvey finds a way to bring him back into the firm as a consultant. Not only does this finally get Harvey and Mike back into regular contact, which is the relationship that forms the heart of the show, but this episode also changes the firm significantly when Jessica Pearson decides to leave. Having appeared as a series regular up to this point, it came as a complete shock and meant Harvey was losing a significant ally.
2 “25th Hour”
Suits Season 5, Episode 16
Undeniably, one of the best episodes of the series comes at the end of season 5, when Mike has to face up to his actions and go to prison. Up to this point, Mike and Harvey seemed invincible, able to get away with almost anything and overcome any trial, but with Harvey desperately searching for a way to help his friend and losing his cool composure, this episode was a huge high for the series. Mike also shows his true colors as he decides to take the deal and go to prison to keep the firm and his friends in the clear.
1 “Faith”
Suits Season 5, Episode 10
However, the best episode of the entire series comes just a few episodes earlier in the fifth mid-season finale. Rachel has continued to push Mike to hold himself to a higher standard, and when he resigns from the firm to chase a legitimate life and marry Rachel, everything appears to be shaping up nicely. However, just as Mike reaches a peak and prepares to live better, Mike is arrested by federal agents. Suits doesn’t let Mike off the hook after finally choosing to do the right thing, and he is held accountable. This subversion of expectation is what the show does best, and this is the moment the show peaked.
