Summary
- Suits season 7 is the worst season of the show, marked by the departure of one of its main characters and the lack of focus on legal cases.
- Season 8 of Suits felt repetitive and lacked the appeal of its predecessors, with new characters that weren't well-received.
- Suits season 9 felt rushed and underdeveloped, but the return of Mike Ross added a positive touch reminiscent of earlier seasons.
Suits (2011- 2019) is one of the most popular legal dramas of all time, and there is a clear order of its seasons from worst to best. Running on the USA Network for a total of nine seasons, Suits is best known for its diverse cast of characters that have a natural chemistry with one another and can engage in memorable and fast-paced dialogue. The courtroom action coupled with the riveting personal drama made for a show that has managed to remain culturally relevant long after it ended.
Suits' cast of characters and the show as a whole was and continues to be very well-received, as it found a new life when it premiered on Netflix as one of the streaming service's most-watched shows. However, not every season is a total hit. As Suits continued, it lost its footing at certain points, leading to some lackluster storylines. Even though the later seasons were not as strong as the earlier ones, the show was ultimately able to remain a hit, so much so that a spinoff show is in the works.
Suits L.A.: Release Date, Cast, Story, Trailer & Everything We Know About The Suits Spinoff
With Suits finding new life on streaming, a spinoff, Suits L.A. has been announced which will continue the popular legal drama on the West Coast.
9 Season 7
16 episodes, 2017-2018
Suits season 7 remains memorable for all the wrong reasons, including the main characters, Jessica Pearson (who got her own short-lived spinoff show). Jessica left the show in season 6, delivering a significant blow to the show in hindsight. The remaining episodes felt like part of a completely different series after Jessica Pearson exited in the middle of season 6. Although Jessica returned as a recurring character throughout, it still felt like something was missing.
In addition, the season lacked focus on the legal cases that made the show appealing in the first place. This result was discouraging because Mike was out of prison and back at Pearson Specter Litt again, which meant he could work with Harvey again, but that wasn't the main focus of season 7. Donna and Harvey's romance was also not a hit among viewers, and how it got rolling felt unnatural.
While the season was disappointing, there were positive moments. The best episode of the season was the tenth, "Donna," which saw Andrew Malik wanting to bring down Harvey and bringing in Donna to answer questions under oath, which put the entire firm's back against the wall.
8 Season 8
16 episodes, 2018-2019
Suits season 8 felt like the beginning of the end. The storylines started to feel repetitive and overdone, and the season ultimately felt like a step down from its predecessors. Mike and Rachel's departures at the end of season 7 played against the show, and introducing new characters did not go over well. Samantha Wheeler (Katherine Heigl) came into the picture but couldn't match up to the departing stars, as she felt unlikeable and a bit annoying.
The power struggle between Harvey and Samantha didn't pique audience interest.
Suits is also at its best when it focuses on high-stakes legal cases and sticks to what made it great in the first place. This season felt too focused on the drama within the firm. This drama, such as the power struggle between Harvey and Samantha, didn't pique audience interest the same way other moments of conflict had. Even though it certainly was not the best of the Suits seasons ranked, it did have some redeeming qualities, like the tight dialogue and the interactions between the remaining characters.
7 Season 9
10 episodes, 2019-2019
Ideally, Suits would have ended on a high note, but this was not the case. The final season felt rushed in pace, as it was only 10 episodes long, shorter than most Suits seasons. This fact made certain storylines feel underdeveloped, which is not the best situation for a show wrapping up several running arcs. Suits continued to feel the void left by the departure of several characters, and it felt like a reboot.
What made it better than seasons 7 and 8 was Mike Ross returning in a recurring role. This return made the show feel more like its early days, which is a definite positive. The best episode was easily the series finale, which wrapped up the series like a love letter to what made fans fall in love with Suits in the first place. Harvey ends up backed up against the wall again, where he is at his best. After Louis's wedding, Harvey proposes to Donna, leaving for Seattle to work with Mike and Rachel.
6 Season 4
16 episodes, 2014-2015
Suits season 4 is not a bad season, but it is unmemorable. The cases were interesting and showcased the team's skill, which was a major plus and part of what makes the show so fun to watch. Other than that, though, not much makes this a standout season. It focused a lot on the cast's challenges, such as Rachel's desire to go to law school, her relationship with Mike, and Donna trying to figure out her future. These were all important moments at the time, but looking at the entire series, they seemed miniscule.
With that said, this season featured two of the best Suits episodes in the entire series' run. They came at the end of the season, with the penultimate episode, "Intent," and the finale, "This is Rome," which saw major threats coming for the firm. In "Intent," Terrence Wolf comes after Donna's job, and Harvey has to find a way to save her. In "This is Rome," Louis quits and poaches clients for his new firm, which sends Harvey on the hunt for a mole in the firm.
5 Season 2
16 episodes, 2012-2013
Suits season 2 remains great thanks to its focus on character development, which sets up further seasons for success. Viewers get to see Mike deal with serious ethical conflicts and learn how he chooses to handle them. The season also sees Harvey and Louis at their most competitive against each other. Their power struggle is a great way to highlight their personalities and allows audiences to feel like they understand the characters more. The law firm politics, as well as the satisfying final episodes of the season, make it one of the better seasons.
The return of Daniel Hardman, a former partner who has been gone and returns to try to take over the firm at Harvey's expense, increases the season's tension. When Harvey loses his job, it really ups the stakes and sees him at his most powerful and cunning as he works his way back in. This season wasn't as critically acclaimed as the first, but it did a lot more to set up the future and increased the inner tension at the firm to almost unbearable levels.
4 Season 3
16 episodes, 2013-2014
Seeing Harvey and Mike back in action sets season 3 apart. The two prove they are still a power duo and can easily tackle several exciting challenges. The season offers a great mix of the characters' personal and professional lives, giving viewers the best of both worlds. The legal cases presented are fascinating (although some are a little far-fetched) and remain some of the series' best. The season is very entertaining, but some of the romantic storylines felt unnatural, holding it down somewhat.
This season is the one in which Mike decides to quit before his fraud catches up with him, but it is almost too late at this point. He knows that he has to eventually stand up and it to his crimes, but he believes he can do this and walk away, which turns out not to be true. The finale, "No Way Out," is the best episode of the season, as Mike walks out to protect himself and Harvey, although he will return in season 4 to his detriment.
Suits Cast & Character Guide
The USA Network's long-running legal drama Suits featured a wide array of acting talent from established veterans to up-and-coming stars.
3 Season 5
16 episodes, 2015-2016
Suits season 5 is arguably the show's climax, where the show could have ended, and it is one of the best seasons of the series. It felt satisfying in several ways, including Mike and Rachel's long-standing "will-they-won't-they" relationship ending as they finally tie the knot. The sweet storylines are a solid juxtaposition to the more serious ones, like Harvey and Paula's breakup, making for an emotionally balanced season.
This season featured the best episode from any Suits season, "Faith."
The remaining character dynamics feel strong and natural, which is one of the best parts of Suits. The season also presented many interesting legal cases that didn't feel repetitive or stale. This season featured the season, "Faith." This episode is the midseason finale and leads to Mike going to prison. He is married, and he has chosen to leave to protect himself when federal agents show up and arrest him. He can't escape justice, making this a highlight of the entire series.
2 Season 6
16 episodes, 2016-2017
What makes Suits season 6 one of its absolute best is how it feels like a rollercoaster, with tons of ups and downs that feel engaging from beginning to end. Each episode focuses on engrossing legal cases, and they remain some of the best of the series as Harvey and Mike try to figure out how to win them despite the overwhelming odds stacked against them. Mike's return to the show was also celebrated, making the season feel true to the show's roots.
The dynamics between the employees at Pearson Specter Litt were equally riveting, such as the power struggles that ensued when Louis made his bid for a name partner. The best storyline of the season came with the midseason finale, "P.S.L." This is where Mike gets out of prison, and Harvey finds a way to bring him back as a consultant. This episode is also where Jessica left the firm (and the series), making it a touching and emotional final episode for the character.
1 Season 1
12 episodes, 2011-2011
It's no surprise that Suits became the phenomenon it is considering how exceptional its first season is. It proved that it had all the makings for a hit show, including a cast that oozed chemistry and storylines that managed to set the stage for the entirety of the show. The premise and the characters were strong, with no clunky episodes required to provide background information. The inaugural season set the tone for the witty banter and memorable dialogue that made the show success a success.
The goal of pilot seasons is to reel viewers in for the long haul, and Suits season 1 did just that. The first season averaged more viewers than any other season, with 3.47 million tuning into each episode (via TV By The Numbers). From the amazing pilot, where Harvey brought on Mike, who didn't have a law degree, to "Dog Fight," which had the best court case of the entire series, Suits was hitting on all cylinders and became a smash hit.
Suits is a legal drama series that premiered in 2011, centering on Mike Ross, a college dropout with a photographic memory who lands a job at a top New York law firm despite lacking a law degree. Partnering with one of the city's best legal closers, Harvey Specter, they navigate the challenges of high-stakes cases and firm dynamics.
- Seasons
- 9
- Streaming Service(s)
- Amazon Prime Video
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