The fifth season of Suits , which is currently underway, has been a revelation. Although I’ve been a fan of the series since its inception, I’ve always had this niggling worry regarding the show’s eventual deterioration — after all, there’s only so much you can do around the show’s basic premise of a fraudulent genius who practises the law. Season three was tiring, and season four improved steadily, with the last few episodes throwing up a few unexpected twists; the kind that you’d think would iron themselves out the moment the fifth season began.
Well, they haven’t, and that’s why the fifth season is my favourite season of Suits , yet. We get to see the human, vulnerable side of Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht), everyone’s favourite tough lawyer, and what makes him who he is. We also see how he deals with the loss of his secretary and Woman Friday, Donna Paulsen (Sarah Rafferty), who has just started working for his rival partner, Louis Litt (Rick Hoffman). The Donna-Harvey split was probably one of the best things that happened in Suits . It gave the show the shake-up it’s needed for a while, and has given it new direction. Initially, I’d expected only unnecessary drama, but I’ve been proven wrong — it’s been really enjoyable, endearing even, not only to see Donna and Louis working together, but also to see Harvey’s sensitive side.
The four new characters this season have all been excellent, at times stealing the show from the mainstays themselves. Dr. Paula Agard (Christina Cole), Harvey’s psychiatrist, and Jack Soloff (John Pyper-Ferguson), this season’s bad guy, are both very well-written characters, but the standout has been Gretchen Bodinski: Harvey’s new, brutally honest secretary.
Gretchen, who is played to the hilt by Aloma Wright, is sassy, likeable and has bags of personality. The Harvey-Donna chemistry was one of the show’s focal points, and something that a lot of fans held sacred; but I hope that Gretchen stays on for the seasons to come. The latest addition to the cast has been Esther (the gorgeous Amy Acker), who is Louis’ sister, and Harvey’s potential new love interest. Who would’ve thought, eh? Every episode of this season has had a twist, or a character, or a detail, which has surprised me and reinforced my love for the legal drama.
It is because I love this genre, that I know that although Suits is entertaining television, it isn’t particularly relatable. Enter Silk , a courtroom drama series produced by the BBC. Silk chronicles the trials (literally) and tribulations of Martha Costello (Maxine Peake), a barrister in practice, who is on her way to making “silk”, which is the informal term for the Queen’s Counsel (the British equivalent of the Senior Counsel in India), a powerful and prestigious status that is bestowed on lawyers, based on merit.
Martha’s rise isn’t going to be easy, and in order to make silk, she has to not only deal with difficult clients, but rival lawyers from her own chambers. The cast has many recognisable British actors, including Natalie Dormer and Nina Sosanya.
If you want to watch this show because you enjoy Suits , you should know that the similarities between Silk and Suits end with the fact that they both deal with modern lawyers. Silk delves into courtroom proceedings, and how cases are actually argued in court. It is also grittier, darker, much less glamorous and more cleverly written. The reason I love this show, though, is not merely because I can associate with the black gowns and white bands, but because of its protagonists. It’s impossible to tell who’s good or who’s bad — making them all so very grey, and so very human.
