Premiering in 2011 and running for nine seasons, the hit legal seriesSuitswas 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,Suitsjuggled its tonal sensitivities immaculately, providing fans with everything from fun-loving con jobs with a triumphant flourish to heart-stopping entriesthat 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 bestSuitsepisodes.
20"Thunder Away"
Season 9, Episode 9 (2019)
The penultimate episode of the whole series ends up being one of the best onesin 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 entrythat, 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 inthe 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 definesSuitswhen operating at its best.
17"Blowback"
Season 5, Episode 11 (2016)
The mid-season break inSuits’ 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 forwardforthe 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 episodethat 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)
WhileSuitswas 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 wasa beautifully balanced chapter that set the scene fantastically ahead of the finale while still offering plenty of intrigue, suspense, and character dramain 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 fromDonzaleigh Abernathywho 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 ofSuits, “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 standsshould 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” isSuitsat 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 ofSuitsthat 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 beSuits’ 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 Ivanekis 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 ofSuits' 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 downEric 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 ofSuits’ most satisfying episodes.
Season 4, Episode 9 (2015)
The mid-section of Season 4 marks a particularly noteworthy stanza ofSuits’ 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.
