On the season 5 summer finale of Suits, “Faith,” Mike goes to an unlikely confidante for advice, Jessica and Louis scramble to derail Soloff and Hardman and Harvey deals with Forstman’s ultimatum and a key moment from his past simultaneously.
After Jessica and Jack Soloff’s tense resign-off, we knew neither had any plans to go quietly. Jessica arrives at the office the next morning and learns, from Soloff, that he’s called for an emergency no-confidence vote to dethrone her. She only had half of the partners on her side before the threat of losing major clients, and therefore big dollars, to Charles Forstman via Daniel Hardman.
Jessica Leans on Louis
Harvey is MIA, so Jessica has no choice but to go to Louis. Louis is confused about the vote, since he was under the impression Jessica was going to make Soloff a name partner. Jessica tells him his plan was insane, and she never had any intention of carrying it out. But that’s neither here no there. Now, Louis has to find out what Louis has on Soloff, because if Jessica can’t rally the votes she needs, that’s her only hope to sway any holdouts.
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Harvey Wrestles With His Personal Demons
Harvey turns to Dr. Agard to help him decide whether or not he should resign. Unfortunately, his mind is also cluttered with garbage from his past, namely his pathologically promiscuous mother. Flashbacks show Harvey catching his mother, Lily, once again, being unfaithful. Only this time, he seems determined to tell his father, Gordon. He had warned her if she strayed one more time, he’d free his dad from being a cuckold.
Harvey’s mother begs him not to destroy their family, but Harvey is determined. He seeks out Gordon at some dive bar where his band is playing, but before Harvey can break the news, his dad tells him his band is breaking up. Gordon has decided to retire and spend more time at home. Gordon’s having regrets about how much time he’s spent away from his family. Harvey decides to keep quiet, not wanting to rob his younger brother of some normalcy and probably figuring that Lily will have no choice but to keep her legs closed with her husband around more.
Dr. Agard is confused because Harvey said that was the night he decided to tell his father, but he didn’t. Harvey says he’s grown accustomed to lying about this part of his past because he had given his word, and grown men don’t go back on their word. It made him weak. Dr. Agard points out that it was love for his father, not weakness that made him falter. Harvey says that if that’s the case, than he’s really an asshole since he ruined things two weeks later.
A Turning Point for Harvey
Harvey wants desperately to escape his home, so much so that he goes to Jessica and asks if he can bunk down with her while he’s a clerk. She, of course, says no way, but does offer up some advice. As a lawyer, Harvey’s going to have to get used to having difficult conversations.
We see Harvey telling his mother that he may fake it when his dad is around, but he’s not going to pretend when they are alone together. Gordon and Marcus walk in, and they’ve brought a guest for dinner, Bobby. The guy also happens to have been Lily’s latest conquest; the one who set Harvey off on this mental bender. Harvey storms out, aggravating his father in the process.
Gordon tracks Harvey down at they gym where he’s gone to vent, in the boxing ring. Harvey’s father climbs into the ring with his son and calls Harvey out on his behavior. Things get heated as Gordon chastises Harvey. Harvey’s not just angry at his mom, he’s pissed at his dad for being clueless, and he literally and metaphorically knocks his dad down with the revelation that Lily had, days earlier, been screwing Bobby.
To Resign or Not to Resign?
Back in the present, Dr. Agard questions the way in which Harvey told his father. Harvey defends himself saying he felt attacked by his father. Agard points out Harvey could have dropped his guard, but Harvey argues that wasn’t going to happen. Why? Because Harvey Specter doesn’t lay down for anyone. Agard points out that telling his father gently, after coming to the decision calmly would have been more ideal, and that Harvey is remembering this story because he wants to tell himself his decision about Forstman isn’t about laying down but something more.
Mike Seeks Advice
Harvey left his father and brother alone in the wake of his revelation because he couldn’t stand to hang around, knowing he’d been the one to tear everything to pieces. Harvey’s worried if he resigns, he’ll be doing the same thing to the firm. Dr. Agard sees stepping down as the opposite, a chance to keep things together.
Mike’s reeling from the back-to-back blows of both Claire and Trevor giving him unsolicited life-changing advice. We see flashbacks of Mike after his parents’ deaths. An angry Mike doesn’t want to attend their funeral, and he’s got an axe to grind with God. He receives comfort and counsel from a priest, Father Walker, who gives him a St. William, the patron saint of orphans, medallion.
A grown Mike has retrieved the necklace from a box of keepsakes and goes to the church to confess to Father Walker. It turns out Father Walker was a patriarchal figure to Michael throughout his formative years, including his rebellious teens.
A Bend in the Road
Mike, Patrick Adams in a very, very bad wig, cuts Catholic school to avoid parent-teacher conferences because it hurt too much to see other kids with their parents. But Father Walker doesn’t let Mike play the orphan card. He tells Mike his parents showed up to church every Sunday when they were alive, and donated money to pay for his uniform because they wanted him to go to school and get an education. I wish the writers had built this relationship over time instead of cramming it all into the finale just to give Mike someone to serve as his conscience.
Mike is given the option of taking an “F” on a history paper or getting suspended. As is his way, Mike comes up with a different plan. He returns his uniform and steals $936 from the collection plate-the exact amount he calculates his parents put in.
Mike tells Father Walker he’s going to public school. The priest says he could have Mike arrested, and Mike taunts him to do it, but Walker just offers up more advice. He warns Mike that there will come a day when Mike can’t outsmart the consequences to his actions.
True Confessions of a “Faux-yer”
Mike gives the priest the highlights of his betrayal but gets testy as soon as Father Walker starts to call him out. Mike says he came for advice, but Father Walker argues what he really came for was absolution which can’t be given without contrition. Mike says he’s using his brain to help people, but the priest says Mike’s using it to fool people, and he wants him to tell him he’s a good person for it. Walker states Mike wants to have his cake and eat it too, but the priest is all out of cake.
Mike seems to be trying to buy his way out of this jam when he hands the priest an envelope with the $936 dollars in it. He never spent it.
Father Walker says that it’s Mike’s self-indulgence and self-pity about his parents. Mike’s more interested in blaming Trevor, who had been to see Father Walker himself six months prior. Walker says the difference between Trevor and Mike is that Trevor has accepted his choices as his own which means Trevor wants to change his life. Walker questions why Mike really came to see him, and Mike admits it was out of fear.
Mike Finds Something Unexpected
Mike’s afraid that if he stops being who he is, Rachel will abandon him. An orphan with abandonment issues, shocker.
Father Walker takes Mike to the church daycare. Walker believes Mike came to see him, because when people are in crisis, they are searching for something more, something they lost. In Mike’s case, it’s his faith.
Mike spots a bookshelf donated by his grandmother. She repaid the money Mike stole with the stipulation that some be used to purchase a bookshelf, and on this shelf, sits books from Mike’s childhood. Ones his parents read to him, precious artifacts he threw away on a whim, during a teenage tantrum.
Mike blubbers like a baby, and Walker tells him Mike he doesn’t think Rachel will leave him if he stops being a fake lawyer. When Mike questions how the priest can be sure, Walker answers “Because I have faith.”
Jessica Loses a Key Vote
Louis goes to Daniel Hardman and tries to play tough guy. He demands to know what Hardman has on Soloff and threatens to kill Hardman if he doesn’t tell. Granted, we all know Louis is talking in hyperbole, but Hardman’s secretary is listening in, and Hardman tells Louis he’s got 60 seconds to book it before security arrives. This gives Hardman just enough time to tell Louis he will vote against Jessica, or Louis’ sister will lose her company. Hardman will buy it and sell it for parts. Louis must choose, firm or family.
Jessica has wrangled enough votes to fight Soloff off, including Louis. He tells her how Hardman has tied his hands, and Jessica is too classy to expect Louis to choose her over his sister. Louis is obviously heartbroken to let her down, but Jessica lets him off the hook.
After he leaves her office, Jessica’s facade cracks, and she throws a bit of an impressive hissy fit. Donna rushes in, offering her help. Jessica sends her to find Harvey.
Donna Meets the Other Woman
Donna arrives at Dr. Agard’s office, but Harvey has already left. Two of the three most important women in Harvey’s life finally come face-to-face. Dr. Agard can’t say much because of that pesky doctor-patient confidentiality. But Donna has her great sense of intuition and acknowledges how symbiotic their relationship has been in regards to Harvey. Donna thanks Dr. Agard for helping Harvey screw his head back on straight enough to finally forgive her.
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Personnel Changes
Harvey arrives wearing his cape just in time to save the day. He’s got a letter from Forstman terminating his relationship with Hardman. Harvey makes it clear the attack on the firm was an attack on him, and Jessica considers the firm family.
The vote for Jessica to stay is a landslide, the only holdout is Soloff.
Mike puts on a suit, hops on his bike and heads in to the office. After the vote, Harvey finds Mike waiting for him. He gives Harvey his letter of resignation. The kindlier, gentler Harvey accepts Mike’s resignation without argument, and the two hug it out.
As Father Walker predicted, and all of us knew, Rachel is very happy to learn that Mike quit.
Jessica comes to see Harvey and questions how he got the letter. Harvey tells her he agreed to step down. Jessica’s knee-jerk reaction is to fight, but Harvey says it’s time someone make a sacrifice for her after all she’s given up for the firm.
This season has been all about atonement, for both sins in the past and present. It’s been about accountability and ownership, so if you thought Mike was going to get out of this unscathed, you were mistaken. On his way out the door, he’s arrested for conspiracy to commit fraud. Thank God he knows some good lawyers.
(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.
