Anatomy of an Average Episode of SUITS

Season 5 of Suits came to an end a few days back, and being a follower, I have come to deduce that the show has become quite formulaic in its five years. The plot may vary but almost every episode of Suits has some common elements, which I present to you (in no particular order).

1. Mike and/or Louis screw up. 
Mike Ross and Louis Litt have two things in similar – they both aspire to be Harvey Specter, and will stop at nothing to prove their worth. In order to achieve the latter, they pull off stunts that end up complicating things even more. I guess we all have friends like that, don't we?

2. Harvey and/or Donna to save the day.
The one thing Harvey is good at is winning cases, and he does not rest until he wins. So when Mike and/or Louis mess up, it's Harvey who goes out there and cleans the mess. Donna Paulsen always has a trick or two up her sleeves that can get anybody out of trouble – at times even Harvey is a train-wreck without her. No wonder she is the best secretary in the world and a subject of dispute between Harvey and Louis. 

3. Crying Rachel. 
Despite being a strong, independent woman who claims that Jessica Pearson is her role model, Rachel Zane cries in almost all of the episodes. It doesn't matter why - she just does. It was cute at first; now it's just "Oh no, not again." 

4. "Whatever it is, I don't have time for it." 
Jessica Pearson, Harvey Specter, Louis Litt – the (current) name partners of an esteemed law firm. Of course they don't have time for you and your silly office gossip. What's unfortunate is Jessica and Harvey often don't have time for Louis who has a history of complicating things. The hostility doesn't affect Louis, or any third person, and they go on to proceed with whatever they want to talk about. The result? See next.

5. "Now get the hell out of my office." 
After their guest forcefully informs the name partners about their worries, they get an earful in return from the host. But the story doesn't end there. The host then goes on to show the door and since Mike is Harvey's mentee, he picked up on the habit as well.

6. A confrontation ensues between friends, usually in the bathroom. 
Misunderstanding and acting on whim are major elements in Suits. As a result, confrontation and blame game is a given – often multiple times in one episode. But you know things have gone down when said confrontation takes place in a restroom. The restroom, my friend, is the Suits equivalent of Dhanmondi Road 9. 

7. At the end of the day, they're one big family. 
Regardless of the numerous washroom "genjams" or the crying or the tension, people at Pearson Specter Litt always have each other's backs – at least the important ones do. They realise their mistakes, apologise and make up, and live happily ever after - till the next episode. 

In any case, the plot took an unexpected turn at the end of Season 5. I really don't know how things will unfold in the next season, but I'm eagerly waiting for that.

Arman R. Khan is an engineer, a caffeine addict, a dreamer and a culture enthusiast who takes life one day at a time. Correspond with him at fb.com/arman.r.khan or tweet @ArmanRK