Suits Review: Prisoner’s Dilemma (Season 9 Episode 8)

This is how you head toward the conclusion of a TV series.

Suits Season 9 Episode 8, “Prisoner’s Dilemma,” is not only one of the best episodes of the final season so far, but it masterfully continues to bring stories full circle, show growth, and begin winding toward a clear conclusion for the show.

One of the last loose ends that had to be addressed was how Harvey and Cahill got Mike out of prison. Even though Mike hasn’t been a main character on the series for a while now, he’s had a presence.

Everything that’s happened on Suits has stemmed from Mike joining the firm, even in the most minor of ways. The final season has been making that clear, and now Malik comes back to take one more shot at bringing Harvey down.

Ha. Nice try, Andy Malik. You didn’t really think you could best Harvey Specter, did you?

Sure, we do see Harvey get taken away in handcuffs, but it doesn’t turn out quite as bad as you’d think. And that’s largely due to Donna, who knows Harvey better than he knows himself, and who knows when to trust her gut. 

So when Harvey and Cahill aren’t there and Harvey’s phone goes straight to voicemail, she knows something isn’t right, and Harvey finally gets the lawyer he was asking for. 

By the way, if we didn’t already dislike Malik enough, he makes sure Harvey’s phone gets smashed to pieces and then actually denies his right to a lawyer. 

There’s almost nothing more satisfying than seeing Harvey and Cahill team up — because they have to but also because there’s a mutual respect there — and turn the tables on Malik once and for all. 

Unfortunately, Harvey’s victory only lasts so long. The bad news that comes next feels like it had to happen somehow, and least Harvey was able to get the closure he got with his mother before she died. 

His relationship with her has been a part of his character since the beginning. As Harvey has grown and evolved, he’s learned to repair that relationship and have forgiveness. He’s learned from it so much that he was able to offer advice to Samantha on Suits Season 9 Episode 7. And on that same episode, he has this touching moment in a phone call with his mom. 

As for the timing, he has Donna by his side now, and that’s exactly what he needs. It’s not lost either than his mom was so pleased to hear the two of them were together.

Gabriel Macht’s performance when Harvey gets this news is perfect. It’s subtle emotion, but it’s so significant for Harvey, and it’s the kind of performance that sticks with you. I won’t be forgetting that scene any time soon.

It’s worth it talk about Harvey’s moral code on this episode a bit too because it’s called into question more than once. What he says about rules pretty well sums it up. Harvey’s crossed plenty of lines, and he’s never been perfect.

He’s done selfish things and questionable things. But he really has always done what he felt was right, even if it meant breaking the rules. That’s why we love his character so much in the first place.

Harvey: My whole life, I have done what I think is right, but there’s always someone somewhere who hates me for it because they think I’m breaking the rules. Well, rules aren’t right or wrong. Every line I’ve ever crossed, I’d do it again. Because I am fine with what’s in my soul.

There’s more to this episode than what’s going on with Harvey, though. Esther shows up to get help from Louis, and it’s a storyline I’m grateful to see Suits handle before the series ends.

Esther doesn’t want her company merging with her former mentor because he sexually assaulted her fifteen years ago. Louis is sympathetic, but he asks the kinds of questions that show he doesn’t really understand. He makes a lot of mistakes with this too, including telling the guy he knows what he did to his sister.

But when it comes down to it, he gets it right. He enlists Samantha’s help, and shortly after, Katrina insists on working with her too. It’s yet another satisfying part of this episode, and it’s powerful that it’s these two women working together getting the information they need.

Thanks to them and to Esther’s decision to show up and stand up for herself, Paul is forced to resign. It proves a turn in the culture — here’s a time when everyone does actually believe the woman’s the story. More of this, please.

What did you think of this episode of Suits? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Critic Rating:

User Rating:

 

Suits airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on USA.

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

Quiz: How Much Do You Know About ‘Suits’?