Summary
Suits' success in 2023 shows that audiences can overlook a ridiculous premise if they connect with the characters.
Opposing firms finding it hard to uncover Mike's secret may seem unbelievable, but it conveniently serves the purpose of storytelling.
The show, Suits, swiftly abandoned the plotline of Mike's secret in order to shift the focus onto other captivating characters and storylines.
In the TV series Suits, the character Mike Ross holds a highly improbable secret. Despite lacking a college degree or a law degree, he manages to secure a position as an associate lawyer at Pearson Hardman through his exceptional memory and a fortunate encounter with Harvey Spector. Throughout the nine seasons of the show, Mike successfully keeps his fraudulent identity hidden. While this may seem far-fetched, it is not unusual for legal dramas to require viewers to suspend disbelief and accept that they do not accurately portray the legal system. Suits' popularity in 2023 demonstrates that audiences can overlook such implausible aspects if they develop a connection with the characters. The fact that the show abandoned Mike's secret storyline indicates that it can maintain its viewership without relying on this unrealistic premise.
How Mike's Secret Is Finally Exposed In Suits Season 1
Harvey Spector discovers that Mike Ross is not a licensed lawyer in the Suits pilot. Despite this, they keep the secret hidden while winning cases and elevating the firm's reputation. Harvey, who is deeply attached to Mike, goes to great lengths to enable him to practice law illegally. In episode 8, there is a close call where Mike's secret almost gets exposed, but a skilled hacker ensures that his information is added to Harvard's graduate database, preserving the lie. However, Mike's past catches up with him when his old friend Trevor seeks revenge and alerts senior partner Jessica Pearson about his secret. Despite this revelation, Harvey's loyalty to Mike and Jessica's ambition combine to safeguard Mike's job even after the truth is exposed.
It is somewhat incredulous that no rival firms conduct thorough research on Mike to discover his secret, which makes for convenient storytelling. Suits portrays Harvey and Mike conducting investigations into opposing lawyers throughout the first season. It is logical to assume that other firms would do the same and uncover the truth. Given Harvey's influence within Pearson Hardman, it is surprising to think that Jessica or other partners did not exercise due diligence, especially considering Mike's significant value to the firm.
Why Suits Dropped The Mike Storyline So Quickly
The premiere of Suits season 2 reveals that Jessica is aware of Mike's secret. Despite her order to fire Mike, Harvey defies her and Jessica realizes that keeping Mike in the firm is crucial to achieving her goals. As a result, the focus shifts from Mike's deception to exploring the cases and characters at Pearson Hardman. Eventually, in season 5, a turning point occurs when Mike is arrested. However, he serves only a few months in jail during season 6 due to a reduced sentence and ultimately becomes a legitimate lawyer.
As time went on, it became clear that Suits could not rely solely on Mike's secret as the primary driving force of the narrative without becoming too unrealistic. The characters of Harvey, Jessica, Louis, and Rachel grew in complexity, and new storylines emerged once Mike's fraud took a backseat. In fact, in season 4, the show even portrayed Mike as an investment banker to postpone the inevitable. In the end, everything worked out for Mike, and despite its questionable premise, Suits emerged as one of the most successful legal dramas on television.
