If I were to have that same conversation with that same person today, at this very minute, I think I'd have a different answer. My network of choice hasn't changed, but my show has. USA's new endeavor, Suits, has my full attention, and the 10:00pm to 11:00pm block on Thursday night is now my favorite hour of television every week.
In terms of my own fanhood, the best thing the show has going for it is Mike Ross's character, with Harvey Specter not far behind. I care about Mike Ross, perhaps because he's a genuinely caring figure who is mindful of his clients' emotional well-being, or maybe it's because he's a bit of an underdog at Pearson Harden -- someone who certainly has the brains and the wit for the job, but lacks the everyday fundamentals and knowledge (one of his first major obstacles is figuring out how to fill out a subpoena) that come with being a lawyer.
But me caring about Mike Ross is vital, because now I can become fully invested in his journey. I want to see Mike succeed. I want to see him outsmart his opposition, earn Harvey's respect by being a step ahead at all times, and most of all, I want his blossoming career to not be hindered by anything he might have done in the past.
We'll get back to this in a minute.
As for Harvey, I don't care about his story the same way I care about Mike's. With Mike, you hope he manages to win his cases, because he's still trying to find his way and prove himself. With Harvey, you expect him to find a way to win because he's been established for so long. You sit back and watch this confident, smooth, and sharp professional work his magic. With Mike, you just hope and pray there is magic to be worked.
It's easier to like Harvey knowing he worked his butt off to get where he is. In the episode in which Mike has to throw a rookie dinner, Harvey's lesson of the week is all about "getting it." We learn that when he first started out, he made sure it seemed to his superiors like he worked 100 hours a week, which means in his current position, he can come and go as he pleases, because no one doubts his ability to get the job done.
But back to Mike...Louis Litt might seem like his worst enemy, but I assure you it's everything that has to do with his past, including his ill-advised friendship with, well, his best friend, Trevor -- a pot dealer who thinks he's smarter and smoother than he actually is.
It goes without saying that when Harvey took Mike on as his associate, he knew the kind of trouble he was risking. It also goes without saying that a proper background check was not a part of the hiring process. The best thing Mike and Harvey have going for their secret is just that -- it's a secret, and as long as no one else becomes aware of it (particularly someone who is aware of Mike's suspect past), they can stay away from smoke, and, inevitably, fire.
But on last night's episode, word got out. Harvey secured business cards for Mike, and Trevor stumbled upon one at a local bar. The secret is out, and, of course, the one person who really shouldn't know is the one person who does. Trevor claims to be Mike's best friend, which would suggest the secret would be safe with him. But as we saw in the pilot episode, Trevor isn't willing to risk everything to ensure Mike's safety and well-being. Trevor's not someone you want in your foxhole with you, and given his frequent involvement with sketchy people, it's unclear what kind of trouble this could potentially cause for Mike down the road. All we know is, whatever issues arise courtesy of Mike's past will detract from his ability to get the job done within the firm.
Such an issue could very well crop up in next week's episode. The preview shows Rachel speaking with a girl who had Mike take the LSATs for her, and then shows that same girl in the office (probably to visit Rachel, assuming she's a friend). Now, Mike can just hide under a desk or grab lunch in Central Park in order to avoid this girl. That's not the big issue, for how many times is she actually going to appear in the office? We know how busy Rachel is, so it's unlikely she's going to start having guests every day of the week on her lunch hour. The bigger issue is Rachel finding out that Mike was the guy who took the LSATs for her friend. It's bad enough having people (like Trevor) outside of the office know about the secret of Mike and Harvey's partnership. It'd be catastrophic if someone inside the office found out (besides Donna, Harvey's awesome secretary, who isn't telling anyone).
Granted, if you had to pick anyone in the office to find out (besides Donna), you would definitely pick Rachel since she and Mike have developed a legitimate relationship which is teetering on the point of possible romance. But still, it's in Mike and Harvey's best interests for her to remain out of the loop.
I'm starting to get the feeling that the admittedly weak foundation Mike and Harvey built their setup upon is beginning to crack, and I'm really curious to see if that feeling becomes stronger in the ensuing weeks. I'm also nervous that it'll take away from the show itself. Will each episode become about someone new possibly discovering Mike's secret and overshadow his evolution as a lawyer? Hopefully not. Because, as I said at the forefront, I care about Mike's journey. And by that I meant Mike's ascension to the top of the legal world, not his descent back to nothingness as he crashes and burns due to a secret unveiled.
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