Creator: Aaron Korsch
Cast: Gabriel Macht, Patrick J. Adams, Meghan Markle, Gina Torres, Rick Hoffman
Extra features: Deleted Scenes, outtakes, commentaries
It’s an old familiar story: underachieving genius-turned-corporate lawyer takes on case, clashess with his super-slick attorney mentor, makes predictable mistakes, learns valuable lessons, and bonds with mentor in the process. No? Well if not, it will be after only a few episodes of USA Network’s SUITS, the new legal drama that milks its clichéd structure for all it’s worth. It is also, however, entertaining enough for the 40-minute duration of each episode, and keeps things light and frothy – essential considering the banality of its ‘case of the week’ format. Though never gripping, SUITS is a perfectly acceptable effort, and should maintain interest for the most part.
The series centres on Mike Ross (Adams), a kid of untapped potential who makes a living illegally taking (and passing) exams for Havard law students, kind of like a bargain basement Good Will Hunting (he certainly has the roomy Matt Damon forehead – it may just be coincidental, but if not Ant McPartlin is wasted on I’m A Celebrity). Due to various plot contrivances, Ross is hired by respected and so-slick-it’s-kind-of-disgusting attorney Harvey Specter (Macht), and the pair form an unlikely duo, trying their best to keep the truth from their law form bosses: Ross never graduated Harvard himself, a prerequisite for joining the company.
It’s the dynamic between Adams and Macht that maintains the series’ momentum; fighting their way through unnatural-sounding banter and predictable storylines, their natural charm and chemistry win through. And they’re not the only standout perfromers: Sarah Rafferty as saucy secretary Donna and Rick Hoffman as toothy rival Louis are also noteworthy.
The show’s real downfall is it’s formulaic approach. The conclusion of each episode is never in any doubt, and as such, the whole thing feels unfortunately disposable. However, as is customary these days, SUITS does employ an overall story arc – once again highly predictable – and an ongoing romance subplot that never feels significant enough to encourage more than a whimper of acknowledgment with each development. Despite this, the threads of each story tie up rather satisfyingly, and as a whole, the series is relatively easy to plod through without causing too much offence – as long as you can stomach stupidly attractive people winning cases for stupidly rich people and looking very smug about it in the process.
In the age of HBO and TV dramas that become cultural events, SUITS is a merely a footnote. But sometimes that’s just what’s needed. After all, there’s not always time for the full essay.
SUITS is available on DVD Monday 30th April
