Theatre Review – A majestic King Lear at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester

(All photos credited to: Manuel Harlan)

Ten years ago, I hadn’t yet become the theatre addict I am today and so, as a result, I missed out on seeing Sir Ian McKellen’s King Lear at the RSC, having to make do with watching it on DVD. Undoubtably a theatre legend and one of the actors I now never fail to see on stage, there was no way I was missing out a second time and last night saw me back in Chichester to see McKellen’s return to this iconic Shakespearean role. Seating only 283 people and running for just over a month, I certainly felt lucky to have a ticket.

It’s the second time I’ve seen him perform in the intimate space of the Minerva Theatre (the first being 2011’s The Syndicate) and it’s clear that he thrives on the added power that comes from being so close to the audience and the play itself also benefits from the intimacy of the venue; drawing you in and holding your attention, despite the lengthy running time (just over 3 hours, plus an interval in this case).

However, Jonathan Munby’s production is much more than its leading actor, boasting an incredibly talented ensemble cast. Sinead Cusack is a highlight as the Countess of Kent, whose loyalty and love of her King causes her to follow him in disguise, despite his cruel treatment of her, after so many years of service, in the opening scene (so brilliantly staged here, with Lear playfully taking great delight in cutting up the map of the UK with a pair of scissors – Scotland to Goneril, Northern Ireland & Wales to Regan, and England, the last third, which is then ripped in two, if you were wondering).

The strength of the female roles in King Lear is always one of my favourite aspects of the play and this production did not disappoint. Dervla Kirwan plays Goneril with a poise and maturity the comes from being the eldest sibling, exasperated by her father’s behaviour and slowly driven further and further down a path that doesn’t seem natural to her. Interestingly, in this production I never truly despised Goneril and by the end, I still did not believe her capable of the murder of her sister. She just did not seem dark enough for such actions in Kirwan’s hands.

Kirsty Bushell’s Regan on the other hand, thrives on the darkness that descends; dancing around to music during the torture of the Earl of Gloucester, clearly turned on by the whole twisted experience. Bushell is excellent throughout this production, using her sexuality to manipulate and control those around her, before being foiled by her sister’s jealousy of her seduction of Edmund.

I always have the most sympathy for the Earl of Gloucester (how could you not?!) and this production was no different with  Danny Webb delivering a strong, moving performance, particularly in his scenes with Jonathan Bailey as Edgar/Tom. Bailey is fantastic as the loyal, loving son, wronged by his father and brother, in the same way as Cordelia is wronged by Lear and her sisters (and Bailey’s Edgar seems to care a great deal about her, based on Bailey’s reactions to her casting off and later death). He doesn’t go too far with the pretence of madness either; it’s always just a means to an end and his counterpoint, Edmund, is also wonderfully portrayed by Damien Molony. I’ve seen more evil portrayals; more devious ones too, but Molony comes across as extremely believable throughout the play.

The Minerva may be a small space, but Paul Will’s set is never lacking; creating multiple locations with ease and enhancing the power of key moments in the story (especially when combined with Ben and Max Ringham’s music and sound). I particularly loved how the red carpeted dias began to resemble a pool of blood, expanding outwards from beneath McKellen’s feet, as the rain from the storm lashed down on him. This Lear may keep his clothes on (unlike his 2007 performance), but the scene is no less powerful.

Some aspects of the production didn’t quite work for me. After a promising first scene, Phil Daniels’ Fool seems to fade away in to the background and is forgotten much too quickly when compared to others that I’ve seen. Also, despite strong performances from both McKellen and Tamara Lawrance individually, the love between father and daughter never really shone through, resulting in Cordelia’s death and Lear’s grief lacking depth for me. Having said that, King Lear never draws from me the same emotional response as say, a powerful production of Hamlet, which has been known to bring me to tears. Perhaps it’s the fact I never really feel sorry for Lear, feeling he brings his miseries on himself, or perhaps some plays resonate more with some audience members than others.

However, McKellen’s portrayal throughout the production of a man clearly starting to feel his age, resulted in a much more believable ending. All the moments of him trying to catch his breath, as if on the verge of a heart attack and the added wheezes, meant that his sudden death during the play’s final moments seemed inevitable, rather than out of the blue.

King Lear will never be my favourite Shakespearean tragedy. However, this production is one of the strongest I’ve seen. It was engaging, engrossing and a thoroughly enjoyable theatre experience. Making your way to Chichester to try for a returned ticket is absolutely worth the effort.

King Lear continues its run at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester until 28th October 2017. Running time: 3 hours (or just over), plus a 20 minute interval. Although sold out, keep an eye on the website for returns or head to the theatre on the day to join the returns queue. For more information, visit the website.

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Victoria’s Suits Awards 2017!

So, as it’s the Emmy Awards tonight, I thought I’d mark the day by creating my very own set of awards for a show that has deserved recognition over the years, but always seems to slip under the radar at awards season.

Therefore, I bring you my first Suits Awards 2017, recognising some of the greatest achievements in the first half of season seven! I’ll start with a big thank you to those of you who have provided suggestions for categories and award titles. You know who you are and it is greatly appreciated!

…….So on to the Awards……!

Do let me know in the comments any categories you’d add!

1. Favourite Performance – Rick Hoffman as Louis Litt!

Season seven has so far been an emotional rollercoaster for Louis Litt. I’ve been frustrated with him, angry with him, sad for him and laughed aloud at his comedic antics. Rick Hoffman should have been nominated for his performance so many times (This Is Rome immediately comes to mind) and I have loved every minute of him so far this season. We’ve had his emotional near breakdown, his nastiness, the lovely rooftop scene and that utterly heartbreaking final scene in Donna’s office, not to mention his delight at meeting Brian’s baby, his hilarious GoT walk of Shame and his mud mare! A masterclass. Bravo Rick Hoffman. I look forward to many more years of getting Litt the hell up!

2. Favourite Returning Guest Star – Wendell Pierce as Robert Zane

Wendell Pierce always adds gravitas to any Suits episode and season 7A has been no different. We’ve seen him step up in the prison case, almost punch Harvey (a missed opportunity Robert) and then grow so much closer to his daughter, bringing us the force that is Zane & Zane. You can come back as often as you like Mr Pierce!

3. Best Character Development – Sarah Rafferty’s mighty Donna Paulsen

Season seven has brought a much deserved spotlight on to Sarah Rafferty’s Donna and we’ve learnt so much more about her in such a short space of time. We’ve seen Donna step up and ask for greater recognition and respect, navigate her new role, face humiliation in court and face the biggest unknown in her life – how she truly feels about Harvey. Rafferty is superb in the role and she’s taken it up a level so far this season, whether the heartbreaking moment she learnt about Paula and pretended she knew, to her conflicted walk through that hotel to her ex, to that final brave act, it’s been an emotional viewing experience. I hope she is here for years to come.

4. Favourite one-liner – Gretchen putting Louis firmly in his place!

All hail the mighty Gretchen! She’s been a joy in the series ever since she first arrived in season five and questioned Harvey’s manliness! Aloma Wright is superb in the role and her dynamic with Rick Hoffman never disappoints. Hearing her warn Louis to change his behaviour or suffer the consequences was brilliant. There was no doubt she was totally serious!

5. Favourite Shot – the shot of two people alone in their offices, so near & yet so far, in “Home To Roost”

This was a tough decision, as I did have a shortlist due to the fact that the directors and director of photography on Suits always make the show look visually lovely. However, the closing shot from “Home to Roost”, directed by Valerie Weiss, as we see Donna and Harvey, each at their desks; so near and yet so far, with the skyline behind them, was just beautiful. Runner-up mention to Patrick J. Adams’s lovely rooftop shot from behind Donna and Louis in “100”.

6. Favourite New Character – Ray Proscia as Dr Lipschitz

We’ve seen a few new faces so far this season, but the winner has to be the much talked of Dr Lipschitz, played by Ray Proscia, whose therapy sessions with Louis have been on our radar for years. It’s a testament to how good Proscia is in the role, that I already feel as though he’s been around for ages. I hope he continues to guide Louis in season 7B. Maybe he can also recommend a new therapist for Harvey too?!

7. Favourite Location – the office of the COO

Yes, the final scenes cemented the winner of this award, but it was on track to take the prize anyway. First, it’s a gorgeous office (I want that marble desk!); nicer than any corporate office I’ve ever seen and fits the personality of its occupant perfectly. Full marks to the set decorators and props team. Then there’s the fact Donna now has an office, which is such a fantastic development and yes, we now have those gorgeous final few minutes with Donna, Louis and Harvey in that location.

8. Favourite New Team – Louis and Brian 

I already love Brian. He’s a decent guy, who has started to form a wonderful dynamic with Louis Litt. I loved his outburst in “Shame” when his parenting skills were questioned and him passing Louis his son was too cute for words! I hope for much more of Jake Epstein in the show. It’s about time Louis had a Mike of his own!

9. Best Friend – Rachel Zane

I have always loved Rachel, played wonderfully by Meghan Markle and one of her finest qualities is how wonderful and supportive she is as a friend. I’ve missed her and Donna’s scenes and it was lovely to see them open up to each other again this season. They helped  one another find their way in their new roles in the firm, but Rachel was also the best friend every woman wants too – reminding Donna that she deserved the best, thereby averting her friend making a huge mistake, not to mention listening to her when she needed a friend and making clear that she is no fan of Paula Agard! We’d all be lucky to have a friend like Rachel.

10. Favourite Montage – the close of the 100th episode

Patrick J. Adams did a stunning directorial job on the 100th episode and I loved the closing montage, as we watched both Louis and Donna head towards making what could be a huge mistake. It’s so well crafted and truly highlights what a great eye for the visual look of the show Adams has.

11. Favourite Song – Waves by Dean Lewis

Suits always manages to choose superb songs to compliment its narrative and there were so many fantastic additions to my Suits playlist from season 7A. Special mentions to Love & Hate by Michael Kiwanuka from “100” and The One I Love by Mirror Fury from “Shame”. However, there could only really be one winner and that’s Dean Lewis’s beautifully, emotional acoustic version of Waves, which played over the final three scenes of the finale, adding even more emotion to Harvey’s talk with Jessica, Louis’s heartbreaking monolgue about love and that kiss. I hope all Suits fans have bought this song immediately (his album is also excellent too)!

12. Funniest moment – Louis’s mudmare! 

Suits has always been able to balance drama and humour brilliantly and a lot of the comedic moments usually belong to the mighty Louis Litt and season seven has been no different so far. The winner has to be Louis’s hilarious mudmare from “Mudmare”! Seeing him and Harvey mudding, before his fantasy is ruined by the appearance of Alex Williams, had me laughing out loud! Runner-up mention to Louis’s Game of Thrones-inspired walk of shame through the corridors of PSL!

13. Most emotional scene – Louis’s heartfelt speech and THAT kiss!

There have been a few contenders for emotional scene, but it had to be these last few minutes of “Donna”. Let’s face it, it was an emotional moment for both the characters and  the audience! I’m not sure we’ve recovered yet, so god help Harvey! Beautifully acted and directed, it was a mixture of a joyous payoff for the Darvey fans, but was also undeniably a little sad, as we see Louis in so much pain and then Donna and Harvey just as lost as he is. There will be troubled waters ahead, as that kiss will clearly have ramifications for their lives from now on. I could also have awarded it Biggest Shock, as cynical me never dreamt we’d see such an intimate moment at this point in the series. I’m so pleased I was wrong!

14. Best Matchmaker – Mike Ross

Yes, Louis Litt may have been the trigger man in the end, but he had no idea what he was stirring up. Mike Ross on the other hand had a set goal – try and bring two people he cares about, the chance of happiness. Seeing him try and bring his “parents” together was so sweet. Now he just needs to have the talk with Harvey. Do it for all of us Mike!

15. Finest Achievement in Non-Verbal, Emotional Acting

Not every actor can convincingly convey an emotional depth without words, but we are all very lucky as Suits fans that Gabriel Macht is superb at expressing a range of emotions without saying a word. This was never more evident than in those closing seconds of the mid-season finale, as Harvey was rendered speechless by Donna’s kiss. The palette of emotions you see flow through him is extraordinary – confusion, shock, a little anger and then that lovely slight hint of the beginnings of a smile, which disappears just as quickly as he stops himself, all the while his eyes convey just what a mess he is now in. Nuanced, emotional brilliance at its best. Bravo Gabriel Macht!

16. Guardian Angel Award – Gina Torres as Jessica Pearson

We all miss Jessica, but she’s still been around in season seven so far and she has to be recognised for continuing to pull the strings in the background to keep the PSL ship upright! While Harvey was doing a super job of making everyone want to kill him, Jessica’s actions meant that soon the team was all back supporting the greater good of the firm. Not only that, but in the mid-season finale, she gave up her New York licence without a fight for the good of the firm and her friend Harvey. It’ll always be Pearson Specter Litt to me, even when he name comes down.

17. Special Recognition Award for winding up fans – Aaron Korsh!

I admit Aaron Korsh’s tweets always make me laugh, as he navigates the potential minefield of audience reaction. It’s a fine balance. Yes, he winds some of us up sometimes, but when he does it in such a witty way, I have to give credit where credit is due!

………………………………

So, those are the worthy winners of my first Suits Awards 2017! Who needs the Emmys right?! If any winners would like their trophy, just let me know and I’ll happily send them to you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Television Review – Suits 7.10 “Donna” – a stunning mid-season finale that will keep us speculating for months!

I’ve needed a few days to digest (well, get over the shock, if I’m being honest!) of the mid-season finale of Suits, before committing my thoughts to the page. It’s been a bumpy road over the last ten weeks for me. There have been some wonderful moments, performances and ideas, but there have also been some questionable narrative choices, which had me feeling incredibly irritated (if you haven’t read my review of 7.01, that will give you an idea).

Thankfully however, this mid-season finale more than lived up to my hopes and astonishingly, exceeded them! Typical – just when I start to enjoy the series again, it’s time for yet another hiatus!

So, let’s delve in to episode 7.10, with the wonderfully tantalising title of “Donna”!………….

More screen time for Rachel Zane (about time too)

The last couple of episodes of season 7A have seen Rachel Zane step more in to the spotlight, as she works on a case with her father. Other than her pro bono case with Jessica last season, Rachel tends to stay in the background, a support in the storylines of other characters and so it’s lovely when Meghan Markle is given more material of her own. Rachel’s difficult relationship with her father has been there throughout the series and it has been incredibly satisfying to see the two grow closer together recently, culminating in this storyline in which Zane and Zane (it’s always fab to have Wendell Pierce back) take down the man who hurt her aunt. The scene with Rachel laying down the law to a boardroom of old, white men was pretty darn fantastic.

Oh, and one more thing before we move on, bravo to Rachel for continuing to be a fabulous friend. Her reaction to Mike helping Paula was spot on; she is Team Donna and it was great to see that so clearly!

Welcome to the family Alex Williams (it took me a while)

First, I love Dule Hill. He’s a wonderful actor, but I haven’t really connected with Alex Williams so far during his time in Suits. This mid-season finale though was when I finally joined the team and realised I liked this character and I hope this grows in 7B. Watching him kick some ass was fun and I loved the way he marched straight in to his old boss’s office. Suits has so many great actors to give material to, but maybe we’ll see more of Dule Hill, now that Alex William has finally settled in.

Jessica Pearson reminding me how much I miss her!

I knew Jessica was coming back in the finale, but I’m sad it had to be as the person taking a hit because of the choices of Harvey and Mike! There’s something else for you to be seriously guilty about Mr Specter! Gina Torres and Gabriel Macht have always had a fantastic chemistry in the show and this emotional moment was another one, as we see Harvey’s fear at stepping up without her supportive presence come to the fore again. He misses Jessica and quite frankly so do I!

The scene reminded me how Jessica often helped us see better side of Harvey (and probably helped him be better too); the kinder, more vulnerable side and it was nice to see that once again, after finding him so irritating for most of this season. It’ll always be PSL to me, even when her name comes down.

Mike Ross just wants his parents to be happy (time to talk to Dad though Mike)!

Mike Ross has joked about Harvey and Donna’s relationship to his friend and mentor on and off since the show began, but I’ve always thought he was only half joking. Just like Rachel (and to a lesser extent Jessica and Louis), Mike seems all to aware that his two “parents” have deeper feelings than simple friendship. Watch his face in Intent when Harvey says that Donna is different; you see him acknowledge the truth of Harvey’s feelings, even if Harvey won’t.

So, it was lovely to see his attempt to bring happiness to the lives of two people who he really cares about. He goes from helping Paula Agard get Harvey a gift (didn’t she just do that, what on earth does he need another gift for Paula? Feeling worried?), to encouraging Donna to express her feelings. That’s a really thoughtful gift Mike – a break-up! As a fan, I applaud you! My only problem with this tactic is that he targeted the wrong parent. It’s Harvey that needs this conversation Mike. Get right on that in 7B please. Off you go!

Yet another stunning episode for Louis Litt / Rick Hoffman (Give him an award already)!

I may have had my issues with 7A, especially the early episodes, but there has been one constant from start to finish and that is Louis Litt and Rick Hoffman’s superb performance of such a multi-faceted character. We’ve seen every emotion run through Louis so far this season and 7.10 provided a beautiful end note for him until the show returns. I loved the fact he finally used that dictaphone for good, not evil, to help Alex.

However, more importantly, it was his friendship with Donna and his own heartache that resulted in Hoffman bringing tears to my eyes in his final scene. After feeling he let Donna down, he unwittingly helped her by opening up about his feelings. That last monologue about losing his soulmate is one of the most moving scenes I have seen on television in a long time (beautifully written by Genevieve Sparling). Whether you’ve experienced something similar or not, you can imagine that feeling and I wanted to give him a big hug. It’s not too late Louis – go and get your soulmate! The fact this beautiful scene only acted as the catalyst for that ending, is the icing on the cake!

……. and so we come to the ending…..and what an ending it was…..I’m still in shock…..!

Donna & Harvey – one of television’s greatest romances (whether they are ready to face it yet or not)

It’s been a rollercoaster of a half season in the Donna and Harvey storyline. I haven’t liked where Harvey’s character was taken in the early episodes (and no, that’s not just because he is dating Agard; I hate that for other more substantial reasons), but he’s started to soften again in the last couple of weeks and I’m hoping the fall-out of that ending doesn’t propel him back down the path of being a douchebag! Resist Harvey, please!

Season 7A has also given us a greater exploration of Donna’s character, feelings and life and it’s about time too! We’ve seen her stand up for what she wanted and take on a position that, although you wouldn’t immediately consider for her, is one she can handle and thrive in. We’ve also seen her finally face the reality of her possible feelings for Harvey. It’s been the unspoken truth in the series and we’ve now had Donna acknowledge the frightening thought for her that Harvey may be her soulmate; the only one she wants to share her life with; frightening because he is seemingly happy with someone else.

All of those feelings of fear, uncertainty and love bubbled up as 7.10 progressed and on re-watching it, I realised that the ending was inevitable. Although I was stunned the first time, never expecting Donna to make such a bold, brave move, it was where the episode had always been heading….and it was a superb minute of television, propelling this couple further up any list of television’s great romances, even though they still aren’t even there yet! Those closing seconds were an acting masterclass by Sarah Rafferty and Gabriel Macht (only made more emotional by yet another spot-on song choice in the acoustic version of Dean Lewis’s Waves).

Rafferty was superb throughout the episode, as Donna was emotionally ripped apart by Malik, her integrity called in to question because of her relationship with Harvey, but watching her react to Louis’s pain was heartbreaking. She is putting herself in his shoes, knowing that she could be potentially heading towards the exact same position and it terrifies her; the confusion, the fear, the pain – it’s all there in Rafferty’s expression and eyes, as she stumbles back on to that window ledge and her knee-jerk response on seeing Harvey before her felt very true to the moment. She needed to know how she really felt and maybe try and feel how he felt too. Does she have her answer now? I guess we’ll see in 7B.

The episode may have been called Donna and she may have been the instigator of that intimate kiss, but Gabriel Macht’s performance should not be underplayed in this episode. Yes, I’ve felt Harvey’s character has changed this year, but we saw his gentler side return recently and his need to protect Donna has always been admirable and in that final moment we saw a thousand different emotions flow through Harvey and all thanks to an actor able to convey immense depths of emotion without saying a word! You see the conflict in Harvey; the shock of Donna’s actions, the fact he cannot quite process it and the confusion it stirs up for him, which will no doubt be a huge part of 7B.

He may not speak, but it’s in his eyes, his face and my personal favourite subtle touch, his lips – there is the tiniest quirk of an upward smile to them, as he stands there in shock, before he pulls it back. It’s as if the realisation that Donna maybe does love him, just as Paula said, hits him, makes him happy for just a split-second, before the reality of everything else (the fact he is seeing someone else, meaning Donna has put him in a position he hates more than anything else, being the main one issue now). Beautiful, nuanced acting at its best Mr Macht!

Looking ahead – only 4 months to wait………

Well, credit where credit is due to Aaron Korsh and his writing team. They have managed to give a stunning moment for the Darvey fans, but also one that only leads to more questions.

Harvey and Donna were never simply going to fall happily in to each other’s arms easily. It wouldn’t be realistic. Now we are facing a much juicier narrative path, summarised by one of my favourite words for television drama – Angst!! I foresee arguments, angry words, angry, confused Harvey, all of which, I hope, helps us build to a satisfying resolution. I fully accept the writers may not bring these two together until nearer to the show’s end, but at least now there is a rich canvas of material for the series, centring around this dynamic, which I hope will eventually bring them together.

Harvey and Donna’s relationship aside – what else do I hope for in season 7’s back six episodes?

Well, happiness for Louis List. I mean, come on, the man deserves it! Whether it’s him winning back Sheila or meeting someone new, I really want to see that for him. I’d also quite like to see the long-overdue Rachel / Mike wedding, especially as I have a sinking feeling that Meghan Markle’s time on the show could be drawing to a close. Plus that wedding would bring even more angst for the best man and maid of honour!

We know we’ll be seeing more of Gina, as 7.16 will act as the pilot of what could be her new show (if it gets picked up) and I also look forward to more of lovely Brian, kick ass Gretchen and Katrina too. I also think Harvey’s mother will need to make an appearance, in light of the position he now finds himself in and I think this may help him see her in a new light. We really are lucky Suits has so many wonderful characters to draw on.

So, here’s to four months of speculation, analysis and online discussion. I’m just so pleased that my reaction to 7.10 was so different from my reaction to 7.01! Oh, and all fingers crossed for renewal news. I really would like a season 8, but the longer the silence on that subject goes on, the more worried I become.

Right….I’m off to rewatch those last two scenes again…..for the millionth time…..!

Suits will return to USA Network in the USA and Netflix in the UK in January 2018.

 

 

 

Television Review – Suits back at its best in episode 7.09 “Shame”

I’m a little later than usual this week with my Suits review, but wanted to post my thoughts on episode 7.09 anyway, seeing as this was probably my favourite episode so far of this less satisfying season seven. There wasn’t actually much I didn’t like about it! It was so much more satisfying than the 100th in terms of storylines. We had strong plots for everyone this week, with Louis dealing with the shame of his actions, Rachel working with her dad, Mike trying to have fun with Harvey, which goes slightly differently to what he had planned, Gretchen kicking ass, Donna dealing with the choices she’s made in her life and all of PSL gearing up for another excruciatingly personal mock trial. Throw in some fabulous song choices and this was the type of episode you’d expect for a milestone hour.

So, as usual, let’s delve a little deeper in to the episode……….

Louis Litt walking the walk of Shame (insert bell ringing) & lashing out again!

I have to start by saluting the writers’ homage to Game of Thrones with the brilliant scene in which poor Louis Litt starts to have regrets about his night with Sheila, visualised through him following in Cersei Lannister’s footsteps. These types of scenes are always some of my favourites in Suits, where it doesn’t take itself too seriously and it ensured an amusing start to the hour. We also saw, yet again, the consequences of Louis’s choices impacting on those around him, as he lays in to Brian, a character I already like quite a lot, only to realise how out of line he has been by the end of the episode! I really do hope we see much more of Jake Epstein in this role, especially with Louis, as they have the potential to be a lovely duo.

Zane & Zane take on the world!

Rachel has always had a difficult relationship with her father and one of the few enjoyable aspects of season seven for me has been seeing the two of them become closer, culminating in them taking on this case together this week.

The fact it is personal for Robert Zane adds an extra layer of depth and I’m looking forward to seeing whether this experience causes Rachel to consider moving firms permanently. Wendell Pierce is fantastic in the role and seeing Robert proud of Rachel was genuinely lovely. Not enough credit is given to Meghan Markle for her role as Rachel, who yet again this week, was not only a great lawyer, but also a wonderfully supportive friend for Donna, in what was one of the best scenes of the episode.

Let’s have a round of applause for Gretchen! 

Who doesn’t love Gretchen? She has been an asset to the show ever since she first breezed in to the office to put Harvey in line and let him know he wasn’t manly enough for her! We haven’t had nearly enough screen time for her this year, but Aloma Wright was superb this week, as Gretchen had to put Louis down for his terrible behaviour and then still have his back, ensuring that by the end of Shame, Louis and Brian (his very own Mike) are closer than ever.

Introducing Andy Malik, the new troublemaker

I already quite like Deputy Attorney General Andy Malik (played brilliantly by Usman Ally), possibly because his storyline opens the door to the progression of the Donna / Harvey storyline (more on that below), but it was also nice to see someone not intimidated by Harvey and more than able to play dirty to try and get what he wants. My only complaint was the way this story was introduced, with Mike deciding Harvey needs to pick a fight with a big bully in order to look macho in the legal world. That was pretty lame in my opinion, but I’m looking forward to seeing just what the PSL family have to do to beat this opponent.

The setting up of the oncoming Harvey / Donna storm……..!

Well, it’s been a strange year so far on the Donna and Harvey path. After the out of the blue parachuting in to the story of Paula Agard, they have been much more distant this year, with not just their potential relationship, but also their close friendship taking a nosedive. It’s not been particularly enjoyable seeing them this way, especially seeing Donna so unhappy at a time when she should be enjoying the higher status she has achieved.

Shame provided some vital signposts on the potential Darvey path (I still think they will end up together, even if it isn’t until the last episode). We’ve seen Donna recognise and make peace with her feelings for Harvey and accept he is seemingly happy with someone else. This week we saw her make the crucial admission that she had put him above herself and that this is something she now regrets. This was a brave statement from Donna and suggests that she is perhaps ready to take her life in a new direction, possibly one without Harvey.

Then came the key to the episode – Andy Malik’s goal to discredit Harvey and use Donna to achieve it. Both of them acknowledged this week that any such cross examination of Donna will be brutal, with her personal relationship with Harvey, a bomb waiting to explode. Sucker Punch has always been my favourite episode of Suits, so the fact we saw them referencing that episode and the last mock trial, intimating Louis is about to do this for a second time, is incredibly exciting. A storm is brewing and I can’t wait to see it unfold, as it is sure to have serious implications for these two characters.

Looking ahead – this mid-season finale is going to be tough..!

First things first, how brilliant is it that the mid-season finale is entitled Donna?! That title sets the tone before we’ve even seen the episode. Donna has been through so much this season and 7.10 now presents the possibility of her facing the humiliation of another mock trial, in which her sleeping with Harvey must come out (Louis does know this information after all) and her possibly taking the stand in court (although I still think it’s unlikely both of these scenes will happen in one hour).

Throw in the promo’s tantalising clip of Mike telling Donna to tell Harvey how she feels, the stunned, upset look on Harvey’s face in the promo and still photos and Agard in the mix and this is looking set to be a gut-wrencher of an episode, which I’m assuming will end on an angst-ridden cliffhanger. Will Donna walk away? Will she admit to Harvey she loved him, but has let him go? Will he finally wake up to the truth of his feelings, ready to address them in the back six?

There’s also the inclusion of Jessica (as creator Aaron Korsh has suggested in interviews that Gina Torres would be in episode 9 or 10). Will she offer Donna a job, or at the very least a short-term position to help her in Chicago? I actually have no idea, which makes it very exciting indeed. I just hope we are not disappointed. My fingers are very firmly crossed!

The Suits season seven mid-season finale, episode 7.10 “Donna” airs on Wednesday at 9/8C on USA Network in the USA and via Netflix in the UK on Thursday.

 

 

 

 

 

Television Review – Suits 7.08 – The 100th: a classic case, but some very disappointing character “development”

It’s certainly an achievement these days for a television show to reach 100 episodes and this week saw Suits celebrate the milestone with a mixed bag episode. I liked aspects of it and I strongly disliked other aspects of it, which make me concerned for the direction of some of my favourite characters going forward.

As always, I’ll start with the aspects of the episode, entitled 100, that I thought worked well.

Robert Zane is the King! 

This week’s episode had one true king and hero and that’s Robert Zane. Why would you work at PSL if you could work for this guy?! I mean, seriously?! I knew Robert would save the day on the prison case, which became the main thrust of this episode and he did it brilliantly. He showed not just the evil CEO, but Harvey and Mike that he is the boss and that compared to him they are all little boys pretending to be grown ups. Wendell Pierce is never around enough and it was great to see him really shine here. My only disappointment was that he didn’t follow through in hitting Harvey. I was counting on you Robert!

Rachel Zane stepping out of the shadows

I have always liked Rachel. She is one of the most decent characters of the central cast and is usually the voice of reason. My problem has always been that Meghan Markle is under-utilised in the show.

Therefore it was great to see Rachel sticking up for herself here and wanting to step up in to the game. She was also, yet again, a great friend to both Louis and Donna and her text messages towards the end of the episode helped prevent one of my beloved characters plummeting off a cliff personality-wise (more on that later), so bravo to Rachel this week.

Also, the death of Gallo rules out one theory I had that his reappearance would eventually lead to the possible death of Rachel. I really hope Meghan Markle stays with the show. She would be missed if she left.

The talented direction of Patrick J Adams

It was lovely that Patrick J Adams was able to direct this milestone episode and he did a superb job as usual. Adams has a brilliant eye for directing and every shot looked gorgeous. He clearly knows what will look great on screen visually. The rooftop scene was lovely and the warm lighting in Harvey’s apartment, not to mention the intercutting of the final montage between Louis and Donna worked very well. Let this talented young man behind the camera more often!

……

Okay, those were the positives. Now for the negatives and I’m disappointed to say that there are some pretty strong negatives…..

Bring back the old Donna Paulsen! Please stop this direction of her character! NOW!

I have always loved Donna (and Sarah Rafferty continues to be superb in the role) and a lot is always said about what a strong woman she is. The route the writers are taking her down this season is a contradiction that perplexes, frustrates and saddens me.

If a romance between Donna and Harvey is off the table, whether permanently or in the short-term, that’s fair enough. I never watch a show feeling I or any subgroup of fans deserve a certain storyline to happen (even though, narrative-wise they still seem destined to be, in my view). That aside, the writers could have chosen to further strengthen Donna on screen, but are moving away from that. In a season in which she has been given a huge promotion to COO, thereby raising her profile, status and screen time (all fantastic choices!), they have also, in my view, weakened her character through their choice of direction for her relationship with Harvey.

Only those casual viewers, or perhaps those invested in another relationship, would believe, seven seasons in, that the love between Donna and Harvey was one-sided. The only woman he has ever directly said “I love you” to is Donna, there was all his actions in Intent, there was the way he reacted when she left him, there was the 6.11 dream and their growing bond across the back end of season 6. I have male friends and this is not how we behave!

Yet, now, we are facing a Suits where Harvey is supposedly truly in love with his therapist (that’s my laughter you can hear), never loved Donna and Donna is left to be portrayed as the lonely, jealous woman, who has wasted her life pining for a man who doesn’t want her. That is not the way to celebrate a powerful woman on screen! I may not think fans deserve a storyline, but Donna, as a character, deserves better than this! Oh, and I note that the line from the promo in which she said she put Harvey first for too long was cut in the episode. How come Suits? Is it because you like dangling Donna as just waiting for Harvey in front of viewers. Take note – we don’t like it!

We could have had Donna revisiting an old flame and potentially finding her own happiness personally and professionally and yet she is left being offered to be a mistress?! Really?! In 2017?! So, only Harvey can be happy, while Donna waits around for him. No thanks. That makes her look ridiculous and me so angry with the writers. The only reason I am not sending Drogon (yes, I love GoT too) to reek carnage at this point, is that the writers did not have Donna go through with sleeping with Mark. Had she done that, her character would have been irreversibly damaged for me. For the moment, I simply remain hugely concerned for where she is headed.

Yet more pain for Louis Litt

It seems that the Suits writers just like making Louis’s life miserable and honestly, it’s getting boring now. Yes, fair enough, for one night, he has had a good time, but surely the consequences of that are going to make him miserable yet again.

Again, is Harvey the only one allowed to be happy?! Especially in the season where he least deserves it?! Rick Hoffman plays every scene of Louis’s with skill and depth and should have won an Emmy for this role years ago and I loved his scenes this week with the ladies, Gretchen, Rachel and of course Donna, but it’s time to stop the angst and give this man a break. It’s what he deserves.

Harvey’s “love” for Paula Agard

I’m sorry, but the introduction of this plot in 7.01 made no narrative sense off the back of seasons 5 and 6 and it continues to be ridiculous. It doesn’t ring true. I don’t think there’s any need for me to say anything more on it!

Where was Jessica?!

I know we’ve seen Gina Torres more than perhaps we all expected this year, but I was hoping for a brief scene for her in the 100th. She was a huge part of the show and is greatly missed, in a series that is becoming less about strong female characters without her presence.

Looking ahead…….

Next week’s episode is called Shame (fits perfectly with how I feel about elements of the show right now). From the promo, it looks as though we are back to business as usual. I guess we’ll see what I think about it next Thursday.

Suits continues its seventh season on Wednesday nights on USW Network at 9/8c in the USA and on Thursdays on Netflix in the UK.

 

 

 

 

Television Review – More glimpses in to the past in Suits 7.07 “Full Disclosure”

This week saw the airing of the 99th episode of Suits and it had quite a lot to accomplish, ensuring all the pieces were moved in to position on the board ready for next week’s big 100th episode. Did it succeed? In my opinion yes, with Full Disclosure probably being my favourite of this seventh season.

So let’s dig in to the detail…..

Jessica Pearson doing what she does best

I love how much Gina Torres has actually been a part of this season, much more so than I expected and the flashback element of this week’s story allowed her to return yet again. Seeing these past scenes between Jessica and Harvey and Jessica and Louis were great fun and provided some wonderful tidbits of backstory. She sent Louis to therapy! Makes sense (more on that later)! Plus, these scenes also acted as a reminder of just how childish her two children were. I mean, they still are let’s face it, but they have certainly grown up quite a lot over the years, all thanks to the brilliant Jessica. I’ve missed these scenes and hope Gina makes an appearance in the 100th (surely she has to).

The many emotional sides of Louis Litt

My love of Rick Hoffman’s work this season has been one of the only constants and he did another great job tonight. The past and present scenes in Full Disclosure allowed us to see the many different emotional sides of Louis in one hour. He is such a fascinating character and the more we see of his past, the better.

This episode reminded us of how annoying he was in the early days and, the odd blow up aside, how far he has come emotionally. The episode started with the Louis Litt of old, reactive and pressing all of Harvey’s buttons and yet, by the end, thanks to his therapy, we see that it was Louis that did all he could to keep his friend at the firm. It’s always a rollercoaster watching Louis and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

This week, however, there was one element of Louis’s scenes that I did not like and that was his insults of Dr Lipschitz. Yes, Louis has always pushed the envelope with regards to some of his politically incorrect comments and yes, they can be funny, but I have to say, I found him calling his therapist a Nazi after he told him he was Jewish and from descendants who survived the war, incredibly distasteful. I also think it was too far, even for Louis. Too far writers, too far.

Mike Ross – Will he stay or will he go?

I genuinely can’t decide what I think about Mike this week. For the majority of this season, he’s been the most mature man at PSL, but the last couple of weeks have seen him slipping back to the more annoying elements of his personality. Yes, I know he’s working to uncover some pretty terrible actions, but why does he always have to use illegal methods to do it, putting others at risk in the process? Asking Benjamin to break the law for him – not cool Mike. Stay away from Benjamin.

On the flip side, I did feel a little bit sorry for Mike too this week. Despite all he has been through with Harvey (he did go to prison for him remember, as Harvey reminded us), Harvey was pretty quick to choose Alex over Mike. I get that Harvey screwed Alex over to some extent, but, after all he has done to help Mike over the years, all of a sudden he hangs him out to dry. It just didn’t feel realistic in light of the show’s long-standing narrative (oh, look, it’s that word again, narrative – it really does matter writers). It may not have helped having Harvey choose a character we still barely know and don’t really care about yet, over his protege. Maybe, its just me, but I don’t really care about Alex yet. He hasn’t earned it.

Will Mike get fired next week? Maybe, but I doubt it. Will his involvement in this prison case have worse consequences in the long run (I still worry for Rachel’s fate on the show, I can’t help it)? I guess we’ll see. I just hope we see Mike solving things on the right side of the law. Oh, and Mike – stop lying! Please!

Donna Paulsen – the woman Harvey Specter doesn’t deserve

It’s been lovely to have Donna and therefore Sarah Rafferty much more central this season. She’s always been one of the show’s biggest assets and the more we learn about her life and personal history, the better. This week saw the introduction of her ex, Mark Meadows (Jay Harrington) and my only complaint was that he was only in one scene! Come on Suits! We need more!

I know some people were disappointed that this week seemed to be one-sided, that is, Donna has always loved Harvey and showed nothing about his feelings for her. I was okay with that for the moment. To be clear, I have never wanted the writers to portray the Donna and Harvey relationship as one of unrequited love and their entire narrative pre-season seven has always included enough examples to show that it isn’t.

I’m therefore hoping that what we are currently seeing is the positioning of all the pieces on the board, so that everyone is aligned for something significant. Last week, we had Paula Agard of all people telling Harvey that he has feelings for Donna and that Donna loves him, which seemed to have triggered some sort of reaction by the end in that gorgeous long shot of their offices. This week, we had another external character, Mark Meadows, making Donna face the truth of her feelings for Harvey. Now the two sides just need to come together.

The dinner scene with Mark was lovely (and reminded me a little of Harvey’s date with Paula from 7.01, with Donna distracted by the other man in her life). Here is a thoughtful, caring and pretty hot guy, who clearly loved Donna and threw more than just money at her. The man gave her Shakespeare for goodness sake! He’s a keeper Donna! The key here is that the introduction of Mark for only two episodes suggests that he isn’t here for the long-term, so if he isn’t, then he has to serve the larger narrative, which seems to be heading towards Donna deciding to move on from Harvey. Will she decide to leave? If this isn’t aligning everything to ultimately bring her and Harvey together, then I just don’t see the point of it, unless Sarah Rafferty is moving to Gina Torres’s new show and they are preparing her exit. I guess time will tell.

Will I ever really like Harvey Specter again? 

Before season seven, Harvey was my favourite character on Suits and yet, he’s become the one I dislike most this year. Goodbye character development, hello douchebag, hurting everyone he supposedly cares about.

This week reminded me of something else about Harvey. He’s always tried to exert control over Donna’s life, often being possessive of her, while also arrogantly expecting her to always be there for him. I’ve always been able to overlook this, because there was enough evidence that he truly cared about her (hello, Intent, I’m looking at you in particular). It allowed me to overlook his more questionable behaviour – expecting her to always pick him, paying her salary and throwing it in her face, throwing a new bag at her, as if materialistic things are all that matters to her. Would he have bought her Shakespeare? Nope.

This year however, when we’ve seen almost zero evidence that he cares about her, his actions feel all the more unpleasant – expecting she’d just run after him to Bratton Gould, trying to pay for her anniversary with another guy (which, is just creepy, isn’t it?!). This episode seemed to be highlighting, that he has always been complacent of his relationship with Donna and I’m hoping that next week he’ll receive a wake up call, that she isn’t just going to be there when it suits him.

Will there be a redemption of Harvey’s character this season? Will I start to like him again? I really hope so.

Next week – The Big 100! 

So, next week is the milestone 100th episode and I hate that my expectations are high for some pay off to all the story strands that have been set up. What can we expect? Well, we know that Mike is going to come up with a plan to keep the prison case alive. Will he succeed? Probably, but I assume there will be consequences through to the mid-season finale.

We also know Mark Meadows is back again and from the promo, it seems he’s arriving in the present day, to hopefully make Harvey jealous (as, if he isn’t sticking around to be a serious relationship for Donna, what is the point of him appearing at all if not to affect Harvey in some way?).  We also know Donna receives a proposition – a new job? Something with Mark? Does this link in to the emotional hug we see her giving Louis on that rooftop? I cannot wait to find out!

We also know that Sheila Sazz is back! I assume she’s the person Louis sees at the end of the promo and I’m intrigued to see what effect she has on Louis’s life next week.

Oh, and then there is the other clip in that promo – the Agard / Donna reunion. I have all my fingers crossed that the writers don’t portray Donna as a catty, territorial woman, as that has never been her style and will not show her in the greatest light. Will Paula receive some greater insight? Will Harvey overhear them? I have so many questions!

The 100th has the potential to be a very exciting episode indeed. Fingers crossed we’re not disappointed. This time next week, all will be revealed!

Suits continues next week. In the USA, on Wednesday on USA Network at 9/8c and in the UK, on Thursday via Netflix. 

Television Review – Truths and Lies in Suits 7.06 “Home To Roost”

The last week seems to have flown by, but it’s that time of the week again for me to mull over another episode of Suits.

This week’s instalment was very much an hour revolving around truths and lies, with all of our main characters facing either the consequences of a lie (theirs or someone else’s), or some uncomfortable truths, all of which began to build a fascinating narrative that I assume will play out over the remaining four episodes of this first half of season seven.

As regular readers will know, I’ve been less than impressed with the direction of Suits during this seventh season, as old narratives seemed to be thrown out of the nearest window and I had a hunch this would be a make or break episode for me, once the synopsis revealed Home To Roost would include Harvey’s struggle to tell Donna about his “relationship” with Dr Agard. How they handled that and how they portrayed Donna was key for me.

So, let’s start there shall we?

Could two people be more confused about their feelings than Donna & Harvey?!

This episode was perhaps the most revealing one so far in Suits history, when it comes to exploring Donna and Harvey’s feelings for each other. Yes, we had The Other Time, but that was the past and since then, things have been implied, or left open to interpretation. Home To Roost finally started to reveal some truths.

I’d been dreading Harvey telling Donna about Agard, not because I will have a tantrum at him being with someone else (well, not yet anyway!), but because I did not want Donna to be portrayed badly, falling to pieces in front of Harvey. I therefore breathed a huge sigh of relief on seeing the choices made on screen. First things first, Sarah Rafferty stole the show in 7.06, giving a beautiful, honest and very believable portrayal of a woman who is, after years of denial, finally facing the truth – that she loves Harvey and knowing he has chosen to be with someone else hurts her deeply, even though she wishes it didn’t. That is a hell of a lot of progress.

I loved that she pretended she already knew about Paula, laying out to him exactly what he’d done in 7.01 so accurately and yet, making it clear to viewers that she was putting the pieces together as she was saying them. The look on her face as he left her office was utterly heartbreaking and some of Rafferty’s finest work on the show. you could see the emotional wheels turning in Donna’s mind.

We also finally had Donna voice the truth of her feelings to someone else and having it be Rachel was lovely. Meghan Markle and Rafferty on screen together is always a treat and it’s about time it was Donna opening up to her rather than the other way around and it was a good decision to have Donna wishing she didn’t have these feelings. I mean, it’s not ideal is it, when he is with someone else? I noticed the episode was written by one of the female writers on the show and I can’t help thinking that that was a huge benefit to such a key episode for Donna.

That brings me to Harvey Specter. I still don’t like him this year (memberships for the Big Pile of Everyone Hates Harvey Club are open, just let me know if you want to sign up!), but we may at least be inching towards him finally acknowledging his feelings. I still hate how Agard is being used this year, but I actually enjoyed her putting a few truths to Harvey. Did you hear that Harvey? Even your girlfriend thinks you clearly have feelings for Donna. Hearing someone actually tell him that he has feelings for Donna and that she loves him was a huge step for this show and I’m excited to see how this plays out. The final scene between Donna and Harvey, in which they are both not being totally honest with the other was a heart-wrencher and full marks to both actors, the director and director of photography for that gorgeous last shot, of two people so close and yet still so far.

So, will Darvey finally happen this year? The door is either inching open or slammed shut right now. It’s all down to Aaron Korsh, but the narrative path must surely now be moving towards our favourite couple realising they are fooling themselves?! Surely?! Hopefully it’s just a matter of time now. I have my fingers crossed.

Mike is lying again – that didn’t take him long!

While Donna faced some truths (and Harvey perhaps is starting to), Mike Ross was back to keeping secrets. He’s only been an approved lawyer five minutes for God’s sake!

Mike wanting to work on the prison case is admirable, but he made an agreement no to and in the real, adult world, that agreement means something. I’ve been a big fan of Mike this year; compared to Harvey and Louis, he’s been the only mature man at PSL, but this week saw the return of the more annoying version of Mike – the one who thinks the rules don’t apply to him.

Sure, law firms take on pro bono, but not cases that could ever conflict with their clients and I don’t see how Mike’s desire to help those really in need can ever work at PSL. Rachel was dead right when she said he had to choose and it will be fascinating to see whether that is a choice he is forced to make before the mid-season finale. In the meantime, Mike yet again risked the financial security of his original client on the prison case and it didn’t pay off. It’ll be interesting to see where this will go now. Maybe he gets Robert Zane to take it?

Shout out to Meghan Markle for some fab work in her scenes with Patrick J Adams. The two have strong chemistry and seeing Rachel deliver some hard truths to him was very satisfying.

Louis Litt – On the road to recovery (I hope)!

Louis Litt’s arc so far this season has been my favourite aspect of what, for me, has been a confused narrative and Rick Hoffman just keeps getting better and better.

This week, we watched Louis face the truth that his behaviour had consequences and that honesty was the best way to resolve it (did you hear that Mike, honesty, maybe you should look that word up in a dictionary). By the end of the episode, we saw the best side of Louis; a man who is kind, thoughtful and decent and his gift to Brian was superb. Suits USA, where can I order one for my friends?!

It was also fun to see the beginnings of Louis’s potential mentorship of his own associate. Maybe he’ll finally have his own Mike. I already like Brian, so I hope we see much more of him. My only complaint was that we haven’t seen enough Katrina yet this year.

Alex Williams – just how dirty is this guy?

It wasn’t only Mike lying this week, as we continue to see Alex Williams’ actions indicate that he is worried about much more than losing a client. I was pleased for Harvey to finally wake up from his rose-tinted view of Alex at the end of this episode and see that he is hiding something. I look forward to learning just how dirty he is next week.

Looking Ahead to Full Disclosure

So, next week’s title is an interesting one and from the promo, I assume this will be where we learn exactly what Alex Williams has been up to and how it involves his past with Harvey. We already know 7.07 is a flashback episode, so I’m guessing we’ll see the early days of their friendship and how whatever history they have is going to potentially screw them over now. As I’m still not a huge Harvey fan this year, I’m hoping it’s going to hurt, just a little!

We also know that next week’s episode sees the introduction of Mark Meadows (Jay Harrington) as Donna’s ex. After this week’s episode forcing both Harvey and Donna to really think about their complicated relationship and Harvey’s reference to it bothering him when she was with Stephen Huntley, I’m very much looking forward to him discovering her hot ex is back on the scene. That’s someone else to be the object of her attention and affection Harvey – how does that sound to you? Hold on to your seats folks, things are about to get very interesting!

Suits continues next week: Wednesday on USA Network at 9/8c in the USA and Thursday via Netflix in the UK.