Imagine a hit American drama about a bunch of high-fliers working at a top New York law firm and Suits would be it.
Full of good-looking actors, romance, scandals, sharp dialogue, exquisite workwear and coiffed hair-dos, there’s a reason the USA Network show ran for nine seasons, was nominated for numerous awards, and picked up a dedicated fanbase.
Suits has also become known globally for making Meghan Markle a star: before quitting acting to become a royal, she played ambitious paralegal Rachel.
Asked in 2017 how the show had changed her life, Markle said: “I've done so many pilots that have never saw the light of day. We didn't know what Suits was going to become at the time. So it's been such a good transition.”
Last week reports revealed that the Duchess of Sussex was likely to have just netted a six-figure sum for her work in the show, despite quitting in 2018, as media giant NBCUniversal, which owns USA Network, closed on a deal that will see Suits being distributed to 240 territories around the world.
Her leading castmates are likely to have earned similar sums for their royalties.
Given that the series' popularity shows no signs of waning, here are some of our favourite scenes from the show.
Harvey and Louis go to therapy together
You might very well describe the relationship between Harvey and Louis as a little bumpy. Both phenomenal corporate litigators, the pair work together as partners of the same law firm, but also frequently butt heads. In this electric scene, they try couples counselling. Of course, it doesn’t go smoothly.
Mike and Harvey’s vodka party
Partner Harvey and his mentee Mike become close allies, though it’s later revealed that Mike never earned a law degree and therefore works for the firm illegally. The dialogue in the scenes that run up to their vodka party is surely some of the tightest in the show’s history.
Harvey finds out the verdict is not guilty
It was undoubtedly one of the most shocking scenes of the show. Harvey found out that the jury on Mike’s trial (Mike eventually gets arrested for fraud) planned to return a ‘not guilty’ verdict. But it’s too late: Mike has already pleaded guilty to commute his sentence and protect his friends. Then in a double shock, Harvey decides not to share his findings with Mike. Talk about jaw-dropping.
Mike and Rachel’s first kiss
The relationship between Rachel and Mike, who both work at the major New York law firm, crackles with tension from the off. It means that their scenes in the subsequent seasons are sometimes genuinely painful to watch as they date other people, and fall in and out of love. Their first kiss was such a long time coming that it was a relief more than anything else.
Harvey and Mike get high
This scene, which takes place after a blow-up at work, comes as a reminder of the two colleagues’ incredibly close bond – a friendship that comes to haunt them both when Mike gets arrested. Even outside of the wider arc of the drama, the writing here is whip-smart and the scene is great fun.
Mike loses his Grandma
An episode that provided audiences with a whole new perspective of Mike, this season two sequence saw the lawyer completely unravel after finding out about the death of his Grandma. It’s particularly poignant as he had just been looking for a house for her, and because it was Rachel, his on-off love interest, who announced the news to him. Pass the tissues.
The rise and rise of Rachel
Admittedly this isn’t just one scene, but watching the Duchess of Sussex’s character Rachel transform over the series from paralegal to cut-throat attorney is something to behold – even though Rachel isn’t exactly a wallflower before she passes the bar exam.
Donna returns to Harvey
Harvey and Donna’s relationship is one for the ages. Starting as boss and legal secretary, Donna’s intellect and ambition see her rise through the ranks – and eventually, after many ups and downs, the two get married. This scene, which takes place long before the pair express their feelings for each other, has to be one of their most moving exchanges before getting together. Donna had previously started working for Louis. Here, she declares she wants to return to Harvey.
