The Enigmatic Enigma: Unraveling the Mystery of Norma in Suits

Summary

Suits introduces Norma, Louis Litt's secretary, as a way to challenge a common TV trope of unseen characters in the show.

Like Vera in Cheers and Diane in Twin Peaks, Norma never appears on-screen, adhering to the tradition of keeping certain TV characters off-camera.

In a surprising turn of events in season 4, Norma passes away, but her memory lives on as Louis places her ashes on his desk, ensuring her continued presence in the show. Eventually, Gretchen takes over Norma's role.

In Suits, Norma, Louis Litt's secretary, offers a fresh take on a well-known TV trope. The legal drama aired on USA Network from 2011 to 2019, spanning nine seasons. Even after its conclusion, the show has found new life on Netflix and become one of the streaming service's most popular offerings. This has brought increased attention to the show and its cast. While the focus of the series is on the lawyers at Pearson, Hardman, it's important to note that the firm is not solely defined by its closers.

A prime example of this is the presence of Rachel and Donna, two central characters in Suits who hold significant positions within the company despite not being lawyers. Rachel works as a paralegal, and although she has aspirations of becoming a lawyer for the firm, a significant portion of her time at Pearson, Hardman is dedicated to her paralegal duties. On the other hand, Donna serves as Harvey's secretary. Despite lacking a law degree, she possesses the same level of quick wit and intelligence as everyone else in the firm. Harvey acknowledges her invaluable contributions and even prompts Louis to desire her as his own executive assistant.

Louis' Unseen Secretary Norma Continues A Decades-Old TV Show Trick

Despite Louis's attempts to recruit Donna away from Harvey, he does have his own secretary named Norma. However, unlike Donna, the show Suits doesn't focus much on Norma. She embodies the common television trope of unseen characters, only existing in the references made by other characters. Norma has never appeared on-screen, and it seems that the show has not even cast someone to play her. From people's descriptions of her, it appears that Norma is not as competent as Donna. Surprisingly, Louis does not fire her despite his intentions to do so.

Norma joins a long list of TV show characters who are never shown on screen. For example, Norm's wife Vera in Cheers, Agent Cooper's secretary Diane in Twin Peaks, Niles' wife Maris in Frasier, and Howard's mom Mrs. Wolowitz in The Big Bang Theory. Although Norma is not mentioned as frequently as these characters, she serves the same purpose. By keeping her unseen, fans become more intrigued by her.

What Happens To Norma In Suits & How The Show Continues Her Character Gag

Unfortunately, Norma met her demise in the fourth season of Suits. Louis reveals that she tragically passed away while looking after her sister. Although she may not have been on par with Donna, Louis is undeniably devastated by her untimely death. Surprisingly, he honors her dying wish by keeping her ashes in an urn positioned near her boss, effectively extending the ongoing joke about her constant presence in the show, even without her physical presence. In due course, Norma is succeeded by the capable Gretchen.