Suits is a new television series about Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams), a young genius who got kicked off law school because he got caught selling a Math test to the dean’s daughter. In order to survive and pay for his sick grandmother’s medical bills, he resorts to taking SATs for other people and engaging in other illegal activities. In a desperate attempt to earn some extra money, he makes a drug run for his oldest friend Trevor (who caused him to get kicked out of school in the first place) and finds himself in an accidental  interview with Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht, The Spirit), the brilliant senior partner at Pearson Hardman, one of New York’s biggest law offices, to shake off the cops. During the interview, Mike impresses Harvey enough with his intelligence for him to take the risk and hire him as a junior associate despite his lack of a law degree or a Harvard education, but they have to walk on eggshells in order to keep the secret from other partners at the firm, especially Harvey’s jealous rivals.

I love the chemistry and the banter between Harvey and Mike. Mike is adorable as the new kid who is just trying to survive, despite the odds stacked in his favor. His portrayal as a boy genius who is stuck with bad company but has no choice but to use his skills for illegal stuff is very relatable and his character’s quick wit makes him both sympathetic and admirable. Harvey, on the other hand, is brimming with confidence and charm and despite the script’s constant reference to him as a selfish S.O.B., his affection for Mike is obvious from the start and the selfish part really does not peg him in the light of an ogre. There is no need for a gradual melting because the dude is not made of stone in the first place. I enjoyed the duo’s interactions because Harvey doesn’t coddle Mike in the usual mentor-protege relationship. Rather, he treats Mike as an intellectual equal and lets him fend for himself and make his own choices. The reference Mike made comparing himself and Harvey to Batman and Robin was very apt in my opinion because of the similarities of their personalities to the dynamic duo (Batman is more brooding than Harvey, though).

I also like the dialogue between the two (and their delivery) because it makes the law seem cool and interesting.. and fun. Unlike other law dramas, this series is more upbeat, the challenges less severe but still substantial. Also, the secondary characters also add to the series’s strength, and their storylines are already being laid out from the start. The show’s core, I believe, and its biggest strength is the great chemistry among the cast, which is key to keeping the series fresh and unique from other series in the same genre.

I think I’m going to like this series even more in the next episodes. I can’t wait to see what’s in store.