The show has a strong roster of supporting female
characters, four in the first season (as I’m just watching this show for the
first time, I’m not aware if one of these women ends up disappearing into the
land of never-return). They are
Jessica, the firm’s managing partner and Harvey’s boss, Donna, Harvey’s gossipy
personal assistant, Rachel, the beautiful paralegal Mike starts to fall for,
and Jenny, Mike’s best friend’s girlfrend (and after a while,
ex-girlfriend). With four
significant supporting women, one would assume this would be easy-going,
right? Let’s investigate!
Pilot (#1.1)
Despite the epic length of the first episode (which must
have initially run the gamut of ninety minutes when it aired on USA), this is a
FAIL on the Bechdel Test. As someone who has just signed up to
see the next twelve episodes (and perhaps more), this is an aces pilot,
though. It set up at least five
characters I want to see again (Mike, Harvey, Jessica, Donna, and Rachel), at
least one more I’m curious about (Louis), and somehow manages to have you
rooting for the characters from minute one.
If cable television can create serials this compelling (one of the few
formats that network television still has the upper hand on), I have to assume
that CBS is wringing their figurative its hands wondering why it didn’t get this show
onto its lineup instead of another CSI.
Errors and Omissions (#1.2)
Definitely another fun episode, though I’m hoping that we
don’t have to have too many more “Mike Quits, Harvey Convinces Him to Stay”
episodes, as that will get a little bit old (and also, can we have more
Jessica, Donna, and Rachel, as I’d love for a show that I’m this smitten with
to stop FAILing our beloved test).
Inside Track (#1.3)
No Mike quitting
this episode, which is an excellent sign, but apparently the women in this firm
simply do not talk to each other.
Rachel, Jessica, Donna, and the milquetoast Jenny all had moments
throughout the episode, but none were with each other, so we’ve got another FAIL.
Dirty Little Trick (#1.4)
We’re getting one
step closer on the Bechdel Front, as Lisa and Jessica both talked to each other,
but this time about the respective man they love, Quentin, and Rachel chats
with a female real estate agent, but she never gets her name. So it’s a near pass, but still a FAIL.
Bail Out (#1.5)
Can I just say how
glad I am that Trevor, who was such a pointless character, is now out of the
picture? I’m hoping that this also
means Jenny will soon be gone, as she’s not much to talk about, in my book, and
I heart Rachel.
That said, I’m
starting to get a little bit nervous that this show is never going to expand
its supporting roster. We’ve seen
a little bit into Jessica’s life in the last episode, but Donna, Rachel, and
Louis all are complete mysteries aside from their promising banter. Either way, even though the client in
this episode was a woman, because she never actually talked to anyone other
than Harvey and Mike, we have a fifth straight FAIL.
Tricks of the Trade (#1.6)
I swear, it’s not
just because this is my first PASS that
this is, in my opinion, the best episode since that sensational pilot. I loved the broadening of some of the
supporting characters-I like Mike and Harvey’s chemistry, a lot, but it was
great to see Jessica with Louis, as well as Rachel outside the firm with her
friend Theresa (thus giving us our pass, as they discuss Theresa cheating on
the LSAT’s). Now if only Donna
would get her own episode, I’d be set!
I’m not 100% certain
that this should count, but I’m using my judgment and calling this a PASS, as the conversation between Jenny
and Rachel about Jenny being nervous likely crossed the line into thirty
seconds, and enough of that conversation wasn’t about Mike as it was. This was a telling episode, not just
because we saw a different side of Mike, Harvey, and to a lesser degree
Jessica, but it set up that inevitable love triangle we knew was coming at some
point, which Jenny, who is still too vanilla for my taste, is certain to lose
to Rachel.
Identity Crisis (#1.8)
An easy PASS for the Bechdel Test, with Jessica
talking with the client Lucille multiple times about Lucille’s case and
business. Overall, a little bit of
a letdown after the past two episodes, with much of the whimsy gone, and a
couple of rivalries that deepened, but relied on television clichés (jumping to
conclusions, stupid decisions by smart people) to get there. Also, for all of the talk about Harvey
being a cad and a scoundrel, both he and Jessica are oddly forgiving and good
people (watch Jessica give Louis another chance when her persona certainly
wouldn’t have).
Undefeated (#1.9)
We’re back in
business after a poor episode, but unfortunately, we’re at a loss on the
Bechdel Test, as the only interaction between two women was the conversation
between Rachel and a client (who did have a name), but they discuss the client's disease
only briefly, and then it’s on to a discussion about Mike. Overall, though, this was a fun
one-with a clever mystery, Harvey meeting his match and getting a bit unethical
(though never pulling that trigger, which is odd for a man who knows that his
associate isn’t a licensed attorney), and an awesome Terminator exchange between Mike and
Donna. FAIL, but solid episode otherwise.
The Shelf Life (#1.10)
Though it had one
little slip in the last episode, we’re back on the PASS track with Jessica and once again a client (this time a
corrupt accountant named Tori) discussing Tori’s duplicity in overcharging
Jessica’s firm. The episode also
took a big step in the forward direction on the Mike, Jenny, and Rachel love
triangle front, a triangle that Rachel is almost certain to win, right? I mean, how can she not be the victor,
as she’s far more compatible for Mike.
I started to, while not necessarily “like” Jenny this episode, at least
start to feel bad for her. The
show also continues the weird conundrum of Harvey being about as honest and
caring as they come-helping throw yet another client under the bus (seriously,
how does this firm have clients if they keep screwing major corporations?).
Rules of the Game (#1.11)
We settle into an
episode that was teaming with female interactions (Donna/Jessica, Jenny/Rachel,
Alexandra/Jessica), but since all of the conversations were about Mike, Harvey,
Cameron, and sleeping with identical male twins, this is a FAIL, even though we learned just what an upstanding character
Harvey is and we finally got Donna to talk to another woman (I almost want to
give it a pass just for that).
Also, are we ever going to see Louis’s secretary? And can we maybe get a less polar side
of Louis, who was just a bumbling idiot earlier, and is now a ruthless
villain-isn’t it possible to find a happy medium?
Dogfight (#1.12)
We finish out the
season with a PASS, and finally
every one of the six main characters have shared a scene. I will say that while the easy answer
of Jessica finding out from Trevor (hadn’t we exhausted that story episodes
ago?) was easy to see coming, I’m hoping that it doesn’t have too much impact
on next season’s caseloads, as it would be disappointing if we don't get to
see more casework. Anyway, our
pass came from some great scenes with Rachel and Donna, who admittedly
discussed Harvey and Mike, but also discussed drinking and their need for a
drink, so we got through (also, can we please have more scenes between the two
in Season Two)?
Final Scorecard
Bechdel Test: 5/12 (42%)
Bechdel Grade: F
So, yes, we have another fail, but still a worthwhile show that, if it lets its female characters breathe a little bit (particularly Jessica and Donna), we could see a pass in one of the upcoming seasons. And can I say, adorkable Patrick J. Adams is about as much fun to see onscreen as it gets-why is this man not getting more work?
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