The employees of Pearson Specter may poke fun at Louis, but this was no laughing matter on tonight’s Suits season 3, episode 14 “Heartburn.” Check out our recap!
Near-death experiences always send ripples throughout the characters’ world on television shows. People reevaluate their lives with a critical eye: who is important to them, what do they want out of life, and what is the mark they’ll leave on this world? The employees of Pearson Specter address parts of all these questions tonight.
A medical heart problem…
Louis’ relationship with Sheila had many positive effects on him – mainly, his lack of anxiety before he must show up in court. But when he breaks out in sweat in the middle of closing arguments, it’s not nerves, but rather, he’s collapses due to a heart attack.
Elsewhere in New York City…
Rachel needs Louis to pony up law school tuition, as part of a verbal contract under the conditions of her return to the firm last season.
Mike, meanwhile, is running into roadblocks and glass ceilings right and left. Last week, it was his inability to ever gain the spotlight, for fear it becomes an “interrogation lamp.” This week, it’s Harvey bending to the client’s will over Mike’s sound reasoning.
Harvey, sadly, hasn’t realized the difference between an apology coffee and ‘good boyfriend’ coffee is knowing when your girlfriend is on her way to Chicago. He refuses to apologize to Scottie about pulling rank on her until Donna shoves the phone into his hand at the end of the episode.
…And an emotional one.
The trivial bickering that has ensued ceases when Jessica delivers the news Louis had a heart attack in court earlier that morning. Donna knows that when Louis says he doesn’t want anyone to see him, that’s her cue to rush off to the hospital.
Mike’s panic is pushed aside as he attempts to quell Rachel’s. Rachel is scared for Mike’s well-being, in turn, demanding he never have a heart attack. Is she envisioning their future long-term?
Louis is chomping at the bit to get back to work. When we say that, we mean his color is just returning to his face when he, still hooked up to all the different hospital machines, tries to sit up for the first time. Donna’s gentle push back is enough to keep him horizontal as he promises to ease up on the workload.
They might not show it, but Donna’s tears say it all, without Louis “Harvey would be wreck.” Right, he would be the inconsolable one.
Harvey’s character development update: It might stem from the tragedy of almost losing Louis, but he stops Jessica from sending flowers due to Louis’ allergy. He knows this detail how? He used to send them to his desk every day when they first started working together. Off Jessica’s look, he admits “I know, I’m an asshole.” Progress!
Louis and Sheila’s ups and downs in one episode:
It’s not long before Louis is sitting up in the hospital bed, but he’s not doing work, per se. Alas, he’s working on a much sweeter proposal to his girlfriend.
When Louis returns to work a day later, he is on top of the world. He is ecstatic when Harvey is honored to accept Louis’ invitation to be his best man. But we think we all need a gif of that Louis/Harvey hug – or Harvey mouthing “help me” to Donna.
That night, we get the inkling Sheila and Louis won’t make it down the aisle. Who is going to drop everything and move? Will Louis move to Boston and settle for another firm or will Sheila leave Harvard for a “second-tier” law school in New York?
Louis certainly isn’t going to move after Jessica gives him a framed photo of the Pearson Hardman retreat from five years ago and tearfully admits “after everything we’ve been through, you’re family.”
He finally has a family in the firm – hooray! Sheila concedes: she’ll move to New York, but she doesn’t want kids – boo! Louis had been picturing a whole little family Litts. She was willing to give up Harvard, is he willing to give up the thought of being a father?
No. By the end of the episode, Sheila is crying waiting for the elevatory while Louis sits stoically in his office. Is this going to undo all that positivity Louis has been channeling lately? Probably.
The case of the week:
As for the case of the week, Mike, in a last-ditch effort, offers Louis’ client, investment banker Jonathan, takes a look into the Michigan Court of Appeals case that could release him from his contract – and subsequently, his boss’s Tony, reign of terror.
One problem: Tony is Harvey’s client. Which means Mike has to find a way to stop Jonathan from escaping.
So Mike is forced to stunt the potential career growth of Jonathan and struggles with his own predicament. But then he finds a loop-hole. If Jonathan no longer loves his work, and therefore doesn’t continuously help his both develop the algorithm, well, Tony’s hands are tied until he lets him cut and run.
Rachel comes to Jessica, guns blazing.
When Rachel approaches Jessica initially, Jessica is perplexed – but we don’t think she is feigning ignorance about the Louis-Rachel financial agreement. Rachel might not have anything in writing, so Jessica technically doesn’t have to do anything about it.
Rachel proposes she work part time as a summer associate, making more than her current salary as a paralegal, in addition to paying her singing bonus in advance. Before Jessica can laugh her out of her office, Rachel points to exhibit A for precedence of these terms: Harvey Specter himself.
Mike approaches Harvey after-hours about going “legit.”
The guilt of being a fraud for three years has been weighing on Mike for probably about as long – “they’re always about to find it!” Mike can’t spend his life like this. Harvey presents one option: leave for small-town Iowa, become king of the hill, but never return to the mountain of New York City, playing with the big boys.
Harvey’s final piece of advice: “hold on tight and enjoy the ride.”
Does anyone know the terms of becoming an investment banker?
Jonathan offers Mike a way into the investment banking game. He mirrors Harvey’s language by saying he will give Mike a change to play in the major league. The offer tempts Mike and in the preview for next week, Rachel and Harvey encourages him to take it.