BACK ONTHE DOCKET
‘Suits’ returns Wednesday on USA
IT'S not often that a series entering its seventh season makes headlines — and, if it does, it’s often for all the wrong reasons (contract squabbles, internal bickering, a cast member’s relapse).
In the case of “Suits,” back for Season 7 Wednesday night, the gossipy intrigue surrounds costar Meghan Markle (Rachel Zane), whose real-life romance with Prince Harry has raised the USA legal drama’s profile to an international level and spilled over to the series itself: will Markle stick around if “Suits” is renewed for an eighth season (and if she’s still on the road to royalty)? What happens to Rachel if Markle leaves? Does she conveniently go to visit a relative in Iowa?
But hey, there’s nothing wrong with adding a jolt to a veteran show like “Suits” which, after six seasons, runs the risk of growing a bit long-in-the-tooth. There’s not a whole lot of Markle in the season opener — she’s never been a front-bench character, anyway — but there’s a lot going on around her as we pick up immediately where we left off in the March 1 Season 6 finale.
Mike (Patrick J. Adams) returns to the warm embrace of Specter Litt — and his mentor/pal Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht) — having served time for being a legal fraud (he never passed the bar or finished law school) then working for a legal aid clinic (his personal penance). Harvey is, well Harvey — still lovably arrogant and fiercely competitive, but mellower around the edges now that he’s resolved some childhood mommy issues ssues (we think) and is ready to explore more of a personal life. Harvey and Mike bicker. Then they bicker again. Donna (Sarah Rafferty), the world’s best executive secretary (she’d tell you that herself ) wants more out of life at the firm. Meanwhile, Quirky Specter-Litt managing partner Louis Litt (the terrific Rick Hoffman) is in total meltdown mode (his usual m.o.) after his breakup with Tara (Carly Pope), insulting the firm’s young associates (and Donna) and forcing the usually reserved Rachel to take action. Louis even rebuffs Gretchen’s (Aloma Wright) suggestion that he go on a globe-trotting mudding vacation (Louis loves mud), so you know there’s trouble afoot. I won’t reveal much more, which wouldn’t be fair to “Suits” fans (and theythey’re out there, bebelieve me). Sufffice it to say, the episode, “The Skin Game,” is somewhat predictable, but in that comfortable kkind of way. After allall, we’ve known these characters since 2012011; the challenge for series creator Aaron Korsh now will be taking Mike, Harvey, Donna, Louis and Rachel into new dramatic territory as the season progresses.
“Suits” Season premiere 9 p.m. Wednesday on USA