15 Most Important Suits Episodes That Defined The Show

Suits had 134 episodes across nine seasons, some of which laid out the foundation for the show’s success. While Suits recently became a streaming hit and broke The Office’s record for most streamed minutes in a year, the legal drama was already very successful during its original run. Suits was on the air from 2011 to 2019, during which the show reinvented itself a couple of times. Jessica Pearson moving to Chicago and Mike and Rachel starting a clinic in Seattle were only some of the major events that changed Suits forever.

Some things happened in every episode of Suits, such as the characters lying to each other or Harvey doing something that should get him disbarred or in jail. That is why the best episodes of Suits were the ones that broke the show’s formula. That said, not all of Suits’ greatest episodes had major implications for the rest of the show. Likewise, a few not-so-great episodes ended up being more important than we imagined in the long term.

15 Season 1, Episode 1, “Pilot”

Harvey Specter Meets Mike Ross

While Suits changed a lot after the pilot, it is difficult not to list the show’s first episode as one of its most important – and not just because it was the first. Many of the defining aspects of Suits were introduced or at least teased in the first episode, including but not limited to Harvey’s reckless behavior, Louis’ ambitions, Jessica’s strong leadership, and the potential relationship between Mike and Rachel. A 90-minute premiere, Suits’ first episode highlights how Harvey and Mike come from very different worlds before they meet in the middle during the most bizarre job interview of all time.

14 Season 1, Episode 12, “Dog Fight”

We Learn More About Harvey’s Past

Suits season 1 was very episodical, with Mike and Harvey working on a standalone case that would have little to no repercussions for the rest of the show every week. One notable exception was “Dog Fight,” during which Harvey is trying to get an innocent man out of prison. The twist is that Harvey was the one who put in there in the first place during his time working for Cameron Dennis as Assistant District Attorney. “Dog Fight” is the first time we substantially learn more about Harvey’s past before Pearson Harvey, particularly what caused him to leave public service.

13 Season 2, Episode 1, “She Knows”

Jessica Finds Out The Truth

Suits season 1 ended on a massive cliffhanger – Trevor finds out Mike is sleeping with his ex-girlfriend and decides to expose Mike’s secret. Trevor goes to Jessica to tell her everything, yet we never get to se the conversation. Suits season 2 opens with Mike and Jessica having dinner, which was not at all what people were expecting to see after that season 1 cliffhanger. We then learn that Jessica is carefully calculating what her next steps will be now that she knows Harvey brought fraud into the firm. Jessica’s decision not to fire Mike would have longstanding repercussions.

12 Season 2, Episode 16, “War”

Mike Tells Rachel The Truth

Suits season 2 opened with Jessica learning the truth about Mike and ended with another character finding out his secret, Rachel. After years of working as a paralegal at Pearson and failing to get to law school, Rachel still had not given up and wanted to pursue Harvard. Her complicated relationship with Mike seemed to be at a point of no return, particularly because Mike was keeping a secret from her. The episode ends with Mike finally telling Rachel the truth, after which they make out in the archive room. “War” is when Mike and Rachel truly become something serious.

11 Season 3, Episode 8, “Endgame”

The Conclusion To The Ava Hessington Arc

The first half of Suits season 3 was all about the Ava Hessington case. A long-time friend of Darby, Ava Hessington appeared to be guilty of bribe and murder, yet Harvey had to defend her. No longer trusting Jessica after she decided to merge with Darby, Harvey cut out a deal to get his name on the door and hers out. However, Harvey later realized Darby and his allies could not be trusted, especially Stephen. “Endgame” is the culmination of one of Suits’ best arcs and confirms that Harvey and Jessica will always have each other’s back.

10 Season 3, Episode 16, “No Way Out”

Mike Ross Is Arrested (But Not For Fraud)

Mike Ross is arrested at the end of Suits season 3, but not for the crime we’ve always feared he would. Eric Woodall had made a name for himself at the SEC going after dirty lawyers, and his next targets were now Harvey Specter and Mike Ross. Believing they had colluded and bribery witness during the Ava Hessignton case, Woodwall set up a trap for Mike and Harold, “No Way Out” is one of the most intense Suits episodes and highlights how Mike would always have a target behind his back. This causes him to leave the firm in season 4.

9 Season 4, Episode 7, “We’re Done”

Mike Breaks Up With Rachel

Suits season 4 put Mike and Harvey on opposite sides during the Logan Sanders operation, but that was not the only challenge Mike had to face. In “We’re Done,” Mike learns that Rachel kissed Logan Sanders, with whom she had an affair a few years ago. Mike and Rachel were leaving together by then, but after learning what happened, Mike decides to leave. Between his failed new career and his relationship with Rachel falling apart, “We’re Done” was a major turning point for Mike Ross. Mike and Rachel eventually got back together, but this remained one of Suits’ most controversial storylines.

8 Season 4, Episode 10, “This Is Rome”

Mike Makes A Huge Mistake

Louis Litt was fired after telling Jessica and Harvey of his arrangement with Forstman, which could jeopardize the entire firm. The fact that Jessica would not allow Louis to take certain clients with him created some animosity between him and the firm, although it seemed like Pearson Specter had the upper hand. However, at the end of the episode, Mike makes a mistake when not recognizing an object every Harvey student with his alleged grades should have. This is when Louis finds out the truth about Mike and uses it to return to the firm, this time as a name partner.

7 Season 5, Episode 1, “Denial”

Harvey Is Dealing With Panic Attacks

Louis and Mike worked things out during the rest of season 4. Additionally, Donna and Louis became friends again, with Donna later becoming Louis’ secretary after Norma died. Donna believed she needed to distance herself from Harvey, which Harvey only pretended to accept well. Between panic attacks and seeing a therapist, Donna working for Louis had a huge impact on Harvey. “Denial” was the first time Harvey partially acknowledged his feelings to someone else – his therapist – which is why this was such an important episode. Harvey’s character continued to get deconstructed throughout the season.

6 Season 5, Episode 10, “Faith”

Mike Ross’ Secret Gets Out

Suits season 5 could have been the end of the show, except for the massive cliffhanger at the end. Harvey and Jessica managed to survive Daniel Hardman’s hostage takeover, which had been the main threat of the season. Mike, who was planning his marriage with Rachel, had finally made a decision regarding his future at the firm. Everyone seemed to be getting their happily ever after until, at the end of the episode, the police showed up at Pearson Specter Litt and arrested Mike Ross for fraud. Mike’s secret had been exposed, and the most important Suits arc had begun.

5 Season 5, Episode 16, “25th Hour”

Mike Ross’ Trial Ends

The rest of Suits season 5 was all about preparing Mike for his trial, which had become inevitable. There was no deal to be made with Anita Gibbs that did not involve expositing either Harvey, Jessica, or Louis, which Mike would never do. Suits was never a courtroom drama – Harvey’s motto was to never let a case get to trial – which only made Mike Ross’ situation more intense. This time, there was not a surprise witness or an overlooked detail that could save Mike and Harvey in the end. To protect his friends, Mike was going to jail for two years.

4 Season 6, Episode 9, “The Hand that Feeds You”

Mike Ross Gets Out Of Jail

Mike Ross, now a convicted felon, spent the first half of season 6 in jail. However, Suits was not over yet, and Mike would never really spend two years behind bars. Soon after his arrest, Sean Cahill returned with an offer – if Mike could help the Cahill on a case from inside the penitentiary, he would walk away free right after. Although the initial terms of the deal did not work out, Mike was able to help Cahill get what he wanted. Mike paid a huge price but got out of prison, the beginning of a new era phase for Suits.

3 Season 7, Episode 16, “Good-Bye”

Mike And Rachel Leave For Seattle

“Good-Bye” was more than a season finale. In many ways, the end of season 7 was also a series finale. Granted, Suits continued for two more seasons, but the show was never the same after Mike and Rachel left. With Jessica already gone, the show was about to become a very different version of itself. Whether Suits should have continued past season 7 is debatable, but the fact is that Mike Ross was given a great ending. Not only did he and Rachel finally get married, but they would now run their own legal clinic dedicated to helping those in need.

2 Season 8, Episode 1, “Right-Hand Man”

A New Beginning For Suits

Between the new Suits intro and a brand-new character replacing Mike Ross, Suits season 8 proved the show was ready to keep moving forward. While season 8 was arguably Suits’ worst season, the show did make an effort to introduce new character dynamics and relationships now that Mike was gone. Harvey was no longer just a hotshot lawyer playing offense all the time – he now had to manage an entire firm. Even though Robert Zane became managing partner for a while, “Right-Hand Man” showed that Harvey had evolved and was ready to carry the firm, and the show, on his own.

1 Season 9, Episode 10, “One Last Con”

Harvey Finally Rethinks His Priorities

Given that Mike had already received his happy ending in season 7, Suits’ series finale had to be about Harvey. Although Suits’ original premise revolved around Mike, Harvey arguably became the main character as the show progressed. “One Last Con” honored that, even though Mike had returned for the final arc. The battle was now for the soul of the firm, as Faye Richardson was going after Harvey and his allies with everything she had. Harvey and Mike pulled one last con and saved the day, after which Harvey decided to leave the corporate lawyer life and start over in Seattle.