SUITS – S05xEp15 – “Tick Tock”

Mike representing himself worked out far better than I thought it would. Not only did it show what a competent attorney he was but it also gave him a chance to show his heart in his closing arguments.

“Tick Tock” is all about putting the partners of Person Specter Litt through a process they’ve never been through before – judgment based in fear. Sure, we’ve watched Louis act from a place of panic before, but never Mike, never Jessica and most certainly never Harvey. But, because they all have just the tiniest doubt Mike didn’t absolutely sell his chances at receiving an ounce of reasonable doubt from the jury, they all end up taking actions they never would have otherwise. Guilty or not, Harvey (attempted) manipulation of an individual in order to gain a mistrial, a mistrial Jessica ordered because she too is afraid for the outcome of the case. Legal grey area or not, we bore witness to a desperate Harvey and Jessica this week, and that fact was made no clearer than during Harvey and Donna’s conversation in the episode’s final act.

“Tick Tock” may go down as a top 5 episode of the entire series for us, mostly because it brought just about everything to the table and then some. Every single character on the show had a fantastic role to play, whether it be Harvey debating whether or not he should turn himself in, or Louis Litt having to be talked out of throwing his fellow name partner to the wolves the moment that he had a chance. Every thought process here was justified; Harvey felt responsible for what he did, while at the same time Louis of course held resentment towards him for being in this situation, even if Louis himself had an opportunity to turn in Mike not that long ago.

Therefore, it seems as though Mike is set to take one of two deals from Anita Gibbs: Two years in prison, or no prison time but a name partner’s metaphorical head on a silver platter.