Suitsremains a beloved show by many, even six years after the show concluded, and these 10 episodes represent those that can most be considered true masterpieces. TheSuitscast of charactersconsists of a number of fan favorites, from lawyer hot-shot Harvey Specter to lovable fraud Mike Ross, which is part of why the show proved so popular.
In fact, there was even a spin-off show,Suits LA, although it was sadlycanceled after one season, leaving many hoping for a trueSuitsrebootin its place. While that remains to be seen,fans of the show can revisit these 10 episodes ofSuits, which reflect the true masterpiece episodes of the show.
10"One Last Con"
Afternine great seasons,theSuitsfinalebrought the show to an end, and while the conclusion may not have made everyone happy (which is, of course, not possible), it did tie up many loose ends. For one, Donna and Harvey, who had long had a will-they-won’t-they relationship, ended the show married.
In fact, they also revealed that they planned to move closer to Mike and Rachel, giving them an even happier ending. Louis also had a very happy ending, with the birth of his daughter Lucy, his romantic relationship with Sheila, and his position as managing partner of the newly-named Litt Wheeler Williams Bennett.
It’s incredibly difficult to end a show that has had such a long run, especially one that is so beloved, but theSuitsfinale managed to give viewers a very satisfying ending without leaving too much unsettled. For that reason alone, it is among the masterpiece episodes ofSuits.
9"War"
Season 2, episode 16, “War,” was the season 2 finale ofSuits, and it contained one of the most significant events of the show: Rachel discovering the truth about Mike not being a Harvard graduate, or a real lawyer, at all. This had been a long time coming, with Mike constantly conflicted over whether to reveal the truth to her.
Not only was this a major moment inSuitsand a turning point for Rachel and Mike’s relationship, but also, the acting in this scene is simply phenomenal. The argument between Rachel and Mike leading up to Mike’s confession was entirely believable, and Rachel smacking Mike across the face came as a major shock.
Notably, this episode also involves the steamy scene between Rachel and Mike in the filing room, which continues to be discussed as one of the stand-out moments inSuitsto this day.
8"To Trouble"
After being arrested and charged, Mike arrives in prison only to quickly realize that he is in terrible danger. In the very same prison to which Mike was sent, Frank Gallo, a man whom Harvey had helped lock away, had the run of the place, and he had every intention of taking out his hatred for Harvey out on Mike.
Part of what made this episode so brilliant was the plot twist that Frank wasn’t really Mike’s friendly cellmate, but rather was a dangerous, violent criminal who had it out for him. Additionally, season 6, episode 1, “To Trouble,” is among the best inSuitsbecause it reveals the fallout the rest of the firm experienced after Mike was charged.
7"Faith"
Although there were plenty ofSuitsepisodes that were lighthearted and funny, there was always an underlying anxiety, even in those episodes, that Mike could be found out and go to prison at any moment. That finally came to pass in season 5, episode 10, “Faith.”
Brutally, Mike was actually on his way to collect his things from the office, leaving this job behind him, and that was when he was intercepted and arrested. Somehow,Suitsmanaged to make this turn of events feel shocking, even as it had been anticipated since the very beginning of the show.
In addition to this show being a masterpiece in and of itself, it also kicks off arguably the most interesting arc of the show, securing its spot as one of the best episodes in the show.
6"Intent"
DespiteSuits’main cast comprising lawyers, paralegals, and others in the legal field, the characters get into an awful lot of legal trouble, and even Donna, Harvey’s whip-smart and beloved secretary, is no exception. In season 4, episode 15, “Intent,” Donna is formally charged with intent to commit fraud, and she faces prison time as a result.
Donna, like Harvey, has always seemed next to invincible, which alone made this episode stand out, as it revealed a brand-new vulnerability in both Donna and Harvey. One of the most emotional moments of this episode comes when Harvey tells Donna that the thought of her going to prison makes him want to drop to his knees.
This is therefore yet another episode that reveals how much Donna and Harvey really did love each other, several years before they ever admitted it, which only adds to the sense in which it is among the best episodes ofSuits.
5"Hitting Home"
Harvey and Louis had a complicated relationship, to say the least, for most ofSuits, but season 5, episode 7, “Hitting Home,” saw it at its lowest point. In the episode, Louis finally finds out that Harvey had struck up a relationship with Louis' sister, Esther, which Louis had explicitly asked him not to do.
Louis is expectedly angry, but when he brings up Harvey’s family, things become out of control. Harvey has consistently shown how sensitive and reactive he is when his own family is brought up, so he punches Louis in the face for his comments. When Louis tries to fight back, Harvey jarringly throws him into a glass table, shattering it.
This moment of violence is absolutely shocking and even a bit horrifying, but it is also an incredible episode of television. The visible pain, emotionally and physically, Louis experiences, and Harvey’s rage immediately followed by deep regret over what he has done, are both affecting every time one watches the episode.
4"This Is Rome"
Several episodes ofSuitsconsist of a major character finding out the truth about Mike, because that was such a major aspect of the show. However, no other character’s reaction was quite so terrifying as Louis Litt’s. Louis had grown increasingly fond of Mike over the years, but that didn’t prevent his rage when he learned the truth.
After Mike failed to recognize a key that Louis had been awarded from Harvard—something that Mike would also have received, had his story been true—Louis realized that Mike was actually a fraud. The first person Louis confronted about this lie was Donna, someone whom Louis had always cared deeply about.
Yet,Louis, who had so often been goofy and even lovable, became absolutely terrifying and threatening, even screaming at Donna to sit down at one point. The acting in this scene alone makes it a standout, but the entire conclusion of this episode is easily one of the most compelling parts of the entire show.
3"Denial"
Season 5, episode 1, “Denial,” is perhaps the single most emotionally affecting in terms of Harvey’s storyline inSuits. After Donna left Harvey as his secretary, Harvey began having severe panic attacks and even went to therapy, which is rather out of character for him.
The episode begins with Harvey having a nightmare about botching a meeting with a client because he doesn’t have Donna, and a conversation with his therapist reveals this is actually a recurring nightmare he suffers from. On the one hand, this episode feels like a masterpiece because of this emotional weight.
Yet, this episode is also profound because it cements how much Harvey really does love Donna, even seasons before the two finally admit and accept how deeply in love they really are.
2"Pilot"
The pilot ofSuitsis iconic for a reason, and it certainly feels like a masterpiece. Not only did this episode introduce multiple beloved members of the cast, but also,the scene in which Mike shows off his knowledge and skill set remains one of the best and most referenced scenes in the entire show.
This pilot is also impressive because it cements the characters' personalities so quickly. Pilots can be tricky because shows may take a while to really get their footing.Suitsdoes not suffer from a slow start, though. On the contrary, this episode is captivating and makes audiences want to follow Mike and Harvey’s story and see where this deception goes.
1"25th Hour"
The single best episode ofSuitsin terms of being a masterpiece is “25th Hour,“the episode in which Mike is finally put on trial for his long-running fraudulent career and ultimately decides to accept a plea deal rather than wait to hear what the jury has decided (unfortunately, had he waited, he would have been found not guilty).
This episode is easily one of the best to watch and even rewatch because it is so compelling, well-shot, well-acted, and tonally serious. It also feels like what the show was building towards for five seasons, which arguably makes it one of the most important episodes, if not the single most important episode, of the show.
Ultimately,Suitsmaintains its popularity today in part because of the many episodes that felt like masterpieces, and “25th Hour” is the best example of them all.
