The sustained success of Suits as a television show can be attributed to many things, and a lot of the focus goes directly onto the theming behind it. While that's quite a valid topic to focus on, there's also something to be said for the characters themselves. The likes of Donna, Rachel, Jessica, and Louis all grew and developed their personas from the Pilot to their departures and they were all integral to the extended success that the show experienced.
Of course, the two men that featured on the title sequence for all those years were crucial parts of the show: Mike Ross and Harvey Specter. Upon meeting one another it was clear to see there was real chemistry between them and as time went by, that chemistry developed into one of the most intriguing bromances on all of television - through every single firm name change and beyond.
Mike Beating Harvey In The Pilot
Mike Ross was fortunate that he wound up in an interview room with Harvey Specter, but once he was in there, he made sure that he’d leave his mark.
After impressing Harvey thanks to his memory, Mike proceeded to beat his future mentor at his own game by outsmarting him. From that point on the groundwork had been set for one of the most fascinating friendships in the tri-state area, with Harvey taking the risk of being willing to break the law.
Bringing Out Harvey’s Human Side
It took a while but eventually, Harvey began to understand and recognize why Mike loved helping others so much.
We saw Mr. Specter take on a far more human approach than he had done in the earlier seasons, whether it be due to his own family or courtesy of his clients. Donna obviously played a huge role in getting Harvey to that point too, but without meeting Mike, who knows what Harvey would’ve become.
The Banter
There’s a lot to be said for finding two actors that are capable of possessing the sort of chemistry that allows them to banter back and forth without even breaking a sweat.
Whoever put these two together deserves a medal because from their first scene together all the way through to their last, they come across as two friends that have been best pals for years and years on end.
Harvey Protects Mike Against Jessica & Louis
When Jessica and Louis both found out that Mike Ross was a fraud, they had the same reaction: get rid of him as quickly as you possibly can.
Unfortunately, there was always going to be one big problem with that, and that problem is Harvey. Despite the respect he may have had for both of his fellow partners, he was willing to do whatever it took to keep Mike at the firm. It may have hurt his position and credibility at times, but that’s the sacrifice he was willing to make.
Mike Going To Prison For Harvey
Speaking of sacrifices, Mike Ross made the ultimate one when he took the fall and went to prison after admitting to fraud.
Harvey wanted to take the bullet for him but Mike beat him to the punch, and as a result, Mike was shipped off for just over half a season. After everything they’d been through Mike was still willing to put himself in a position that just about guaranteed Harvey would still be able to thrive as a lawyer.
Smoking Weed Together
When Mike was in a dark place, Harvey knew that he had to save him - and he did in a very unconventional way.
The two smoked weed together in what still amounts to one of the funniest episodes in the show’s history. From seeing Harvey in a completely different light to Mike getting back on his feet, both guys really benefitted from something that they both know could’ve gotten them into a lot of trouble.
Student & Master
The Batman and Robin approach to storytelling can fall flat more often than not but with Mike and Harvey, it just worked.
Harvey was capable of getting the job done in most of his cases but he knew that Mike was a huge helping hand for him whether he wanted to admit it out loud or not. They bounced off of each other and they became better lawyers because of it.
Slowly Breaking Down The Barriers
In the early stages of the show, there wasn’t what you’d really call a friendship between Harvey and Mike, and instead, there was some mutual wit to go alongside an acknowledgment that they were both doing something illegal.
They’d rarely spend time together outside of working hours but as the seasons went on we saw them doing everything from getting dinner to having drinks. It may not seem like a big thing, but it definitely helped their coalition to blossom.
Harvey Teaching Mike The Intricacies
Mike Ross always had an unbelievable ability to remember just about everything he’d ever seen or read and you have to admire that. Alas, if he thought he could stroll his way to the top of Pearson Hardman, he had another thing coming.
It’s one thing to understand the outline but it’s another to really grasp the finer details, which is why Harvey was so integral to him becoming a world-class lawyer.
Mike Rooting For Harvey & Donna
When Mike told Donna to go for it with Harvey if that’s what she really wanted, he did so from a good place. Not only did he want to see Donna be happy but he also wanted his friend Harvey to get what he deserves too, because through it all, Mike understood that these two were meant to be together.
It was a rocky road but when they landed at their final destination it was more than worth it.