On this episode of Suits, “Tick Tock,” Mike’s trial comes to a close, but things fall apart as he waits to hear the verdict. Harvey and Jessica come up with plan that compromises the integrity of everyone involved, Louis contemplates turning Harvey in to save the firm and himself, and Gibbs approaches Mike with one last deal.
Now that Mike and Harvey agree that it’s time for Mike to start representing himself, they just need to get the judge to agree. Mike wants to call Clifford Danner to the stand, but Harvey thinks the guy is too angry and too volatile, and he knows Mike’s secret. At this point, it’s hardly a secret anymore. This trial has reminded us just how many people know Mike never attended Harvard.
Hail Marys
Harvey thinks Mike needs sympathy, and Mike believes there’s no better way than to involve the innocent man they got out of prison. He asks Harvey to trust his judgement.
Mike goes to Clifford’s house, but his mother gives him some very bad news. Clifford was shot and killed three weeks earlier.
Louis is running scared, and he’s starting to crack under the pressure. He calls Gretchen and requests that she get him a copy of the transcripts of Mike’s trial. He needs to figure out if there’s any possible way Mike is likely to prevail.
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Back in court, it’s time for the defense to call their first witness. Mike takes the helm. Gibbs objects, stating he can’t switch his attorney in the middle of the trial. Mike argues he’s been acting as co-counsel on the case the entire time. His attorney of record is Pearson Specter Litt, and he’s listed in the employee directory. If Gibbs had any objections, she should have brought them up at the beginning of the trial. So Mike found a loophole.
Mike may not have been able to get Clifford to testify, but he does call Danner’s mother, Gloria, as a witness. She tells the jury how prison ruined her son’s life. If he had been represented by Mike from day one, he would have never been convicted. Because he was an ex-convict, the only job Clifford could get was at a crappy diner in a bad part of town, and as a result, he was shot during a robbery attempt.
Gibbs has to tread lightly. It wouldn’t look good for her to rip apart a grieving mother, so Gibbs goes a different way. Gibbs happens to be familiar with Clifford’s case, and she confirms that in order to re-open it, Mike ran the risk of increasing Clifford’s sentence to life. She asks Gloria how she would have felt if Mike had lost, and Gloria says she would have been devastated. Gibbs then questions how Gloria would have felt if she had found out Mike wasn’t really a lawyer. Mike objects to this hypothetical line of questioning, and Gibbs backs down.
Gloria isn’t done, yet. She makes it clear she doesn’t care what any piece of paper has to say because Mike was the only person to ever give a damn about her son. Defense rests.
Louis Continues to Weigh His Options
Louis learns that Mike is representing himself and voices his concerns to Jessica. Louis is no dummy. He’s figured out that Harvey is worried they might lose. The one thing Louis does get wrong is that Harvey turned the case over because he doesn’t want a loss on his record which is exactly what Jessica tells him.
Louis is convinced that if Harvey thinks there’s a chance this case won’t go their way, they’re going to lose, and he knows Gibbs will be coming after the rest of them next. Jessica tries to soothe the savage beast by letting Louis know Harvey isn’t giving up, he’s growing up.
It’s Over but It’s Not the End
Mike gives his closing statement, and he admits to being a fraud. Not because he isn’t a lawyer, but because he’s not the kind of lawyer he wants to be. He’s not helping people, he’s sitting behind a desk helping the rich get richer. He also apologizes for parading Gloria Danner in front of them as a way to make himself seem more admirable and promises that whether he’s found innocent or not, he will spend the rest of his life fighting for the Clifford Danners of the world.
Gibbs closing argument isn’t as Atticus Finch-y. She just regurgitates the facts which are pretty damning: no law school applications, no pic in the yearbook, no name on the class list, etc..
When it’s all over, Mike’s feeling pretty dejected, but Harvey says all they need is for just one person to believe him. Mike can’t bring himself to leave the courtroom, even though both Rachel and Harvey urge him to do so. (Pretty lackluster trial. I expected Gibbs to call up EVERYBODY. The big build-up was akin to sex with no… you know. I’m feeling very unsatisfied.)
Unlike Mike, Jessica isn’t ready to just sit around and let his fate (and the fate of the firm) rest in the hands of the jury. Harvey suggests they try and find a way to get a mistrial. When Gibbs found out that Mike was going to represent himself, she demanded they waive their rights to a mistrial. The only reason she would do that is because she doesn’t have authorization to try this case again. If they succeed, it’s likely Mike wouldn’t see the inside of a courtroom again for a very long time, if ever. And if he did, it wouldn’t be against a pitbull with an axe to grind like Gibbs. All Harvey has to do is figure out how to get grounds for a mistrial.
Harvey asks Donna for a huge favor. He wants her to get her friend Stephanie Liston who works at the U.S. Attorney’s office to get him the names of the jurors. When Donna inquires as to why, he tells her about his plan to get a mistrial. Donna wants to have no part in dragging innocent people through the mud or compromising her friend’s integrity.
Louis witnesses an upset Donna storming out of Harvey’s office and follows her to the file room where tells him about Harvey’s request. Louis doesn’t respond the way she expected. He questions why they should we even think twice about doing it. Louis is already convinced that Harvey thinks that they are going to lose, and this latest tidbit just reinforces his fears. If Mike goes down, they all go. Donna cares but isn’t willing to “push women and children aside to get on a lifeboat.”
Harvey goes full-on shady and tracks down David Green. Mike may have promised to keep the guy’s secret, but Harvey, not so much. If Green doesn’t help him get a mistrial, Harvey will turn him in.
Mike Takes a Case
At the courthouse, Mike overhears a defendant haggling with a prosecutor. His attorney didn’t show up, and his only choice is to take a crappy plea deal. Mike steps in and offers his services, disgusted that the guy is being railroaded over a petty larceny charge.
Rachel returns wanting to spend some quality time with her man in case he’s about to get sent up the river and is upset to find out he’s taken on the case. Mike explains that he’s scared, and this is the only way he knows how to deal with it. Rachel realizes Mike meant what he said to the jurors about being more altruistic in the future and decides to help him.
Mike and Rachel go before the judge and score one for the team when Gibbs enters and asks the judge to delay the case, since Mike is currently on trial for fraud. The judge refuses, since Mike has yet to be convicted.
Let’s Make a Deal
Mike approaches Gibbs and tells her he wants to make a deal. He agrees to plead guilty and never practice law again as long as she doesn’t go after any of the partners. She questions why she should take the deal, and Mike responds because seeing him practice law makes her sick. If he wins, he’ll continue to do so, and it will make her sick the rest of her life. Gibbs says that’s not enough of a reason.
Mike decides to try a different tact. She’s been stuck in the same position at the U.S. Attorney’s office for a long time, and a person who can’t convict a guy everyone thinks is a fraud isn’t going anywhere. Taking this deal would help her save face, but Gibbs is confident Mike’s going to be found guilty, so she isn’t really worried about saving face. Strike two.
Louis goes to see Gibbs and offers himself up in exchange for immunity, but she turns him down. His word isn’t good enough, she needs hard evidence. Louis just trying to save his own ass won’t fly in court.
Louis confronts Harvey. He lies and says Gibbs offered him a deal, but he didn’t take it. Louis wants Harvey to throw himself on his sword for the good of the firm. Louis antagonizes Harvey, insisting he admit that he alone is responsible for hiring a fraud. He’s so determined, it’s obvious he’s got a little tape recorder or something stashed somewhere. What shocks me is that Harvey falls right into the trap.
Gibbs shows up at Mike’s apartment. She says he would have made a great lawyer, because he managed to get in her head. Gibbs is ready to cut a deal, but she can’t let him off with no punishment, because that would be the same as finding him innocent. She wants him to go to jail for two years, and she won’t pursue charges against any of his friends. Mike doesn’t want to spend any time behind bars, so Gibbs gives him another alternative. Just turn in one partner, and he goes free. She and Mike have been down this road before, but she’s giving it another shot. Either Mike can take one of her deals, or he can let his fate rest with the jury, but time is running out. Tick tock.
Mike and Rachel get into a huge fight. He’s considering taking the deal and doing the two years, but Rachel doesn’t want him to, especially since Harvey and Jessica knew exactly what was going on. She wants Mike to stop punishing himself and have some faith.
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You Gotta Have Faith
The hits keep coming as Harvey learns that David Green failed in his mission to get a mistrial. The guy refuses to help Harvey, even if it means his own ass in a sling. Harvey isn’t bluffing, but Green isn’t swayed. He simply accuses Harvey of being a bully who uses other people’s fears to get what he wants, but it won’t work this time. Mike is going to prison, and Green isn’t going to stop it.
Louis goes to Jessica and begs her to go with him to Gibbs. Jessica asks him if he considered the fact that if Mike gets found guilty, the first thing Harvey will do is take a bullet for them? If Louis turns on Harvey now, he’s no better than Daniel Hardman or Charles Forstman or any of those men Louis despises. Louis says they can protect each other, but Jessica sees through him. All Louis wants is someone to tell him that it’s okay that he’s thinking of stabbing Harvey in the back, and she wants no part of it. In the end, Louis decides to hold on to the tape.
Harvey and Donna have a tearful conversation. He thinks he should turn himself in. Like Rachel, Donna urges Harvey to believe he and Mike are worthy of being found innocent, and if they aren’t, then he can come clean, but she doesn’t want him to do it. Donna thinks he’s worthy, and she doesn’t want to lose him. She tells Harvey to go to the courthouse in the morning and sit with Mike and show him that he has faith in him.
Before finding out his own fate, Mike finishes up with his latest client, Mr. Diaz. The prosecution offers to drop the charges if Diaz testifies against his friends. He’s thrilled and needs no encouragement to sign on the dotted line. Mike tries to convince Diaz that he will regret his actions, but Diaz points out whether he’s found guilty or not, his friends are going to jail. He’s just making it easier and saving himself in the process.
The parallels between this case are not coincidental, and Mike goes to see Gibbs and tells her that he’s ready to take her deal. The question is which one?
Suits airs Wednesdays at 10pm on USA.
(Image courtesy of USA)
Contributing Writer, BuddyTV
Jennifer has worked as a freelance writer in the entertainment field since 2012. In addition to currently writing feature articles for Screen Rant, Jennifer has contributed content ranging from recaps to listicles to reviews for BuddyTV, PopMatters, TVRage, TVOvermind, and Tell-Tale TV. Links to some of Jennifer’s reviews can be found on Rotten Tomatoes.
