The most controversial couple on best parts of Suits' nine seasons were the sharp-witted interactions between the characters, especially when it was applied to the tangled love stories of Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams) and Rachel Zane (Megan Markle) as well as Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht) and Donna Paulson (Sarah Rafferty). However, only Mike and Rachel's story got to explore the more intricate parts of their romance arc, while Harvey and Donna's was kept on the back burner.
Harvey and Donna were some of Suits' best characters, as their combination of quick-fire commentary and clear care made them compelling to watch. That being said, the romantic side of Harvey and Donna's story was largely held back until the last two seasons of the show, making their story feel incomplete in the series finale. By dragging the tension on too long, Suits nearly ruined both the couple and their individual stories, leaving audiences feeling that more could have been done for that aspect of the show.
Harvey And Donna’s “Will They, Won’t They” Routine Went On For Too Long
Their Romance Took Too Long Even With The Series' Motives
Harvey and Donna's drawn-out romance in Suits went on for longer than necessary even with the series' stated logic. Harvey and Donna's relationship is a complex one as they slept together before going to work at Gordon Schmidt Van Dyke, cementing early on that there was more between them. Harvey refused to see it, however, due to his complicated relationship with love and loyalty, with Donna's desire to bury her feelings for the sake of preserving their friendship not aiding matters. The series focuses on this through their other relationships, highlighting how strong their feelings were despite those emotional barriers.
“That’s What Loyalty Is:” Harvey Specter’s Motto In Suits Explains Why He And Mike Made Such A Great Team
Harvey Specter valued loyalty over everything in Suits, and Mike Ross learned this the hard way after being forced to betray his mentor.
Even so, it took Harvey and Donna's relationship eight seasons to finally come to fruition, which was far too long for audiences. Some assumed that due to the show's lack of movement and the many times that they seemed happy that the other found a new partner, Harvey and Donna would never get together, making their final romantic push all the more jarring. That shock over their final storyline showcases why Suits should have built up their romance earlier, especially as the more needlessly complicated parts of that arc could have been avoided.
Suits Should Have Started To Develop Donna And Harvey’s Relationship Much Sooner
Having Them Together Earlier Would Make Their Later Arcs More Intriguing
If Suits had started developing Donna and Harvey's romantic arc earlier, then their later individual and couple arcs would have been more engrossing to watch. Later seasons of Suits for Harvey and Donna were fraught with tension, with the two having many arguments about what the other meant to them which resulted in Donna leaving Harvey for a time. While some of that was due to external events, like the investigation into Mike, many of those arguments felt forced to prolong their inevitable romance, making it less compelling and leading to the ruin of Donna's character in Suits season 9.
Donna left Harvey to work for Louis Litt (Rick Hoffman) as his secretary in Suits season 5.
Harvey and Donna's romance could have helped propel their arcs in a rarely seen way: by showing them as an established couple. As his romantic partner, Donna could have helped Harvey overcome his emotional trials more directly, giving him a stronger system as he confronted his past. Harvey, in turn, could have helped Donna later as she navigated her new position as COO, giving her the tools to be a bigger help during the show's final confrontations. Through those moments, Suits could have truly driven home how perfect the two were for each other more effectively.
Harvey And Donna Were Clearly Meant For Each Other In Suits
Harvey And Donna's Chemistry Was Too Strong To Ignore
Harvey and Donna's chemistry in Suits demonstrates just how compatible they were, making the decision to lengthen their love story seem nonsensical. Harvey and Donna were very similar characters: driven and ambitious people in the legal world who were somewhat secretly kind towards those they cared for. They had a similar sense of humor as well as similar things to overcome, driving home the series' themes surrounding emotional intimacy, trauma, and insecurity. Finally, the two have strong feelings regarding loyalty and love, with their absolutist mindsets making them perfect as they can offer each other the devotion they desire.
The opportunities to see Harvey and Donna build a strong foundation as a couple could have made the series even more fascinating to watch as they took on other legal hurdles.
Even though Harvey and Donna's married life could be explored in Suits: LA, the fact remains that their dynamic should have been developed throughout the series over simply leaving it to the last two seasons. The opportunities to see Harvey and Donna build a steady foundation as a couple could have made the series even more captivating to watch as they took on other legal hurdles. Instead, Suits left their story until the end, making their friends-to-lovers narrative feel stagnant and inconsistent after an otherwise strong legal procedural.
Suits is a legal drama series that premiered in 2011, centering on Mike Ross, a college dropout with a photographic memory who lands a job at a top New York law firm despite lacking a law degree. Partnering with one of the city's best legal closers, Harvey Specter, they navigate the challenges of high-stakes cases and firm dynamics.
- Writers
- Aaron Korsh, Genevieve Sparling, Daniel Arkin, Ethan Drogin, Sharyn Rothstein, Jon Cowan, Erica Lipez, Justin Peacock, Nora Zuckerman, Lilla Zuckerman, Chris Downey, Garrett Schabb, Kristin Rusk Robinson, Sean Jablonski, Ian Deitchman, Paul Redford, Michael L. Kramer
- Creator(s)
- Aaron Korsh
- Seasons
- 9
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