The Season 5 finale of the American legal drama TV series “Suits” entitled “25th Hour” pulled the rug from under the viewers. Everyone was actually expecting that Mike Ross, played by Patrick J. Adams, is going to prison especially after he was seen accepting the deal with Assistant US District Attorney Anita Gibbs, played by Leslie Hope, to do two years provided she does not go after anyone else at the Pearson Spectre Litt law firm.
However, when the jury foreman made the announcement of their decision, they found Mike to be innocent and thus remained a free man.
It was another game-changing season finale for “Suits” but the latest is certainly in a league of its own, notes Yahoo! TV.
It was an unexpected relief from viewers of “Suits” and for rooters of Mike, who has decided to push through with planning his wedding with Rachel, played by Meghan Markle.
Meanwhile, Harvey Specter, played by Gabriel Macht, tried to broker his own deal with Gibbs. He has gotten Evan Smith, played by Tricia Helfer, to give him proof of her client Liberty Rail’s murder case cover-up in exchange for the right to poach any staff and clients from Pearson Specter Litt.
But Gibbs refused to play ball. She was really determined to put the pressure on the firm and that the only way she would let Mike off the hook is if Harvey would take his place in prison.
Mike obviously did not agree to Gibbs’ proposal and he also would not marry Rachel if he will be serving time in prison for two years. And as it turned out, Gibbs was left holding the empty bag, much to the delight of the fans of “Suits.”
The plan to put Mike behind bars
Aaron Korsh said that they have talked about putting Mike away during the start of Season 5 but they only agreed to do it during the midseason finale.
The showrunner explained that if Mike is going to be arrested, he was going to prison. He also said that he does not like to do a cliffhanger and then undo it. Because he feels that if he is going to just undo it, then it’s a cheat.
Patrick Adams also talked about the plot to put Mike behind bars. When the idea was broached to him, he said that he could not have agreed more. He said he would love to see what would happen to the story and to Mike if he finally had to pay the price of pretending to be a lawyer for so long.
Korsh said that there were skepticisms on the idea as they also feel that a lot of the audiences of “Suits” fear change. But the actors of the show crave for change. It is also good for him and the writers because change breathes new life to the show.
However, big changes were out of the question because that would be like jumping the shark and that they all agree that they cannot do that with “Suits” too soon.
Adams also said that it is really exciting to see what happens to somebody when the lie that he has been hiding for so long is finally uncovered. He said that in a way, he becomes free and even though Mike may go to prison, he is free from the thing that he has been living under for so long. He does not have to lie anymore.
Pushing the envelope too far
Korsh has succeeded in pushing the envelope too far that is why viewers were probably in unison in thinking that Mike is going to prison.
In fact, that was actually the sentiments immediately at the closing moments of the 15th and penultimate episode of “Suits” that aired on February 25.
As it turned out Mike not only got away with fraud, he will walk into his home for the next two years, without any legal obstacles to hound him. That was a relief for fans of “Suits” alright.
The biggest question now is what will be up for the show come Season 6. It would have certainly been a different picture if Mike goes to prison because the storyline would seem to hit a stone wall.