Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Suits: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Justin Dekker April 1, 2024

Legal drama 'Suits: The Complete Series' arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Universal. All nine seasons appear in this 34-disc set, with each season housed in its own keepcase which in turn fit nicely in an attractive box that features photos of small groupings of the cast on each side. A simple logo for the series is printed on the top of the box, while the bottom sports a synopsis, a list of bonus features, standard technical information and the runtime which clocks in at just under 99 hours. A Digital Code is not included.

The series began in 2011 on the USA network and ran for nine seasons, eventually being canceled in 2019. Not due to the typical waning viewership and diminishing quality, mind you; thankfully Suits remained relatively consistent over its run. To put it as concisely as possible, it's eventual end was due to the impact of Meghan Markle leaving the show as a result of her impending wedding and becoming a member of the British Royal Family and all that that entails. Her departure would impact Patrick J. Adams' character of Mike, so new characters were added and the series soldiered on, though the expiring contracts for the remaining lead actors needed to be considered, and a decision was made that the ninth season would be the last. Once the series ended, in an unlikely turn of events, Suits amassed 57.7 billion streaming minutes in 2023, making it the most streamed show ever, besting even that perennial streaming juggernaut, The Office.

I've been a fan of many a legal television series since I was young. Before streaming, in the early days of cable television a volume of great (and not so great) programming suddenly appeared for television fans who were just used to the major networks of NBC, CBS, and ABC. It was with the arrival of cable television in my small town that I discovered the classic Perry Mason (1957-1966) starring the legendary Raymond Burr and my love for legal dramas was born. In episode after episode, Burr's unwavering pursuit of justice made him the attorney that those in trouble sought out to handle their defense. Aided by his able assistant Della Street (Barbara Hale) and private investigator Paul Drake (William Hopper) Mason's encyclopedic knowledge of the law was sufficient to win all but a handful of cases over the show's 271-episode run. Mason's approach was no- nonsense, and his moral compass was unfaltering. Certainly a role model, but a relic of a bygone era. In Suits, even the best attorneys aren't so squeaky clean, though there are a few who do seem to be pure evil.

The appeal of Suits is easy to identify, and it starts with the series' hook. To separate it from the numerous legal dramas in a somewhat saturated marketplace, Suits sees fit to have a high-powered law firm partner, Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht), knowingly hire an associate, Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams) who not only doesn't have a law degree from Harvard (his firm only hires Harvard Law grads) but doesn't have an undergraduate degree either, in a willful violation of the law. The action isn't altruistic. He's not coming to the rescue of the helpless or downtrodden. He's just a cocky lawyer who's impressed by a kid with a photographic memory, some guts, and a decent grasp of the law. What makes it even more outrageous is how it happens. Mike has been supplementing his meager earnings by charging struggling law students to take the LSAT for them. But on one fateful day, he decides to make a few extra bucks by doing a drop at a fancy hotel for his marijuana-dealing roommate. It just so happens that it's the same hotel where Harvey and his assistant Donna (Sarah Rafferty) are conducting interviews for a new associate. When the drug deal goes south, the well-dressed Mike with his briefcase full of drugs sneaks into the interviews and finds himself seated across from Harvey and talking himself into a job, in what simply started as a clever ploy to elude the police. So it is that Mike, Harvey, and their dirty little secret start practicing law together at Manhattan's prestigious law firm of Pearson Hardman.

Suits' cast is universally captivating, starting with lead Gabriel Macht. My only previous exposure to Macht was in the 2007 Frank Miller project The Spirit, a highly stylized film with such names as Scarlett Johansson, Eve Mendes, Paz Vega, and Samuel L. Jackson populating the cast list. Unfortunately, that film wasn't well regarded and Macht fell off my radar until this series. As Harvey Specter, he's a person who's single-handedly going to make lawyers cool again. He's bold, well-connected (knowing actresses, sports legends, and the like), and never backs down from a fight. He's got an extensive album collection in his office, and can quote movies with the best of them. He also basically never loses. His new associate, Mike, has a tragic past that makes him a solid balance for Harvey. He's never shy about standing up for victims, and pursuing a worthy cause regardless of the revenue stream it generates. Donna, Harvey's assistant, has an uncanny ability to read people and has a spider-web of connections across the city. She also serves as Harvey's conscience, stopping him from making mistakes and pulling him back when he crosses a line. Harvey's peer and chief rival is Lewis Litt (Rick Hoffman), a walking contradiction if ever there was one. Lewis is loyal but backstabbing, competent but sloppy, quick to forgive but remembers every transgression, and he routinely shows each of these characteristics multiple times each season. Initially leading the firm Managing Partner Jessica Pearson (Gina Torres of Firefly). Rarely seen in court (though when she is, she's excellent), hers is the steady hand on the tiller, managing a large staff and larger egos, negotiating deals and brokering peace, and doing it all with class. Meghan Markle's Rachel Zane is likewise excellent. The only other time I've seen Markle on the screen is as the FedEx delivery person in Horrible Bosses and that small role did little to indicate exactly how well she would handle this one. Despite her connections, Markle's Zane is initially underemployed at the firm, but has knowledge and savvy beyond her position. Markle plays her with a delightful mix of sass, vulnerability, and intelligence, and more than anyone, she functions as the heart of the office.

The series is structured to be largely episodic with typically one over-arching plotline that threads some of the action of each episode together. As the lawyers busily work to win cases, retain clients, acquire new ones, and do some activities that resemble having a life (Lewis loves the ballet and Donna loves theater) they're also working on season-long objectives to stave off takeover attempts, coups from within, mergers, divestitures, and so on. And while the structure of each episode can become a bit formulaic at times, enough is done with the interpersonal relationships of the employees at the firm to distract attention from that issue. Character development is also a frequent focus, with some changes happening in a single episode, and others taking an entire season to manifest. Lawyers advance in their status in their firm, and Rachel works hard to become more than a paralegal, each of the characters is gradually fleshed out with realistic histories that inform choices and, to some extent, explain the present and dictate futures. Hanging over it all, is the tension created by Mike's secret. In an office and professional environment that is filled with some very intelligent people, it's no real spoiler to indicate that at some point, people are going to start figuring out that Mike doesn't have a law degree, and that discovery is going to have consequences. How long will it take before the wrong person finds out? Well, that would be telling.

EPISODE GUIDE

Season One
Disc One: Episodes 1-4
1 - Pilot, 2 - Errors and Ommissions, 3 - Inside Track, 4 - Dirty Little Secrets

Disc Two: Episodes 5 - 8
5 - Bail Out, 6 - Tricks of the Trade, 7 - Play the Man, 8 - Identity Crisis

Disc Three: Episodes 9 - 12
9 - Undefeated, 10 - Shelf Life, 11 - Rules of the Game, 12 - Dogfight

Season Two
Disc One: Episodes 1-4
1 - She Knows, 2 - The Choice, 3 - Meet the New Boss, 4 - Discovery

Disc Two: Episodes 5 - 8
5 - Break Point, 6 - All In, 7 - Sucker Punch, 8 - Rerwind

Disc Three: Episodes 9 - 12
9 - Asterisk, 10 - High Noon, 11 - Blind-Sided, 12 - Blood in the Water

Disc Four: Episodes 13 - 16
13 - Zane Vs. Zane, 14 - He's Back, 15 - Normandy, 16 - War

Season Three
Disc One: Episodes 1-4
1 - The Arrangement, 2 - I Want You to Want Me, 3 - Unfinished Business, 4 - Conflict of Interest

Disc Two: Episodes 5 - 8
5 - Shadow of a Doubt, 6 - The Other Time, 7 - She's Mine, 8 - Endgame

Disc Three: Episodes 9 - 12
9 - Bad Faith, 10 - Stay, 11 - Buried Secrets, 12 - Yesterday's Gone

Disc Four: Episodes 13 - 16
13 - Moot Point, 14 - Heartburn, 15 - KNow When to Fold 'Em, 16 - No Way Out

Season Four
Disc One: Episodes 1-4
1 - One-Two-Three Go..., 2 - Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner, 3 - Two in the Knees, 4 - Leveraged

Disc Two: Episodes 5 - 8
5 - Pound of Flesh, 2 - Litt the Hell Up, 3 - We're Done, 4 - Exposure

Disc Three: Episodes 9 - 12
9 - Gone, 10 - This is Rome, 11 - Enough is Enough, 12 - Respect

Disc Four: Episodes 13 - 16
13 - Fork in the Road, 14 - Derailed, 15 - Intent, 16 - Not Just a Pretty Face

Season Five
Disc One: Episodes 1-4
1 - Denial, 2 - Compensation, 3 - No Refills, 4 - No Puedo Hacerlo

Disc Two: Episodes 5 - 8
5 - Toe to Toe, 6 - Privilege, 7 - Hitting Home, 8 - Mea Culpa

Disc Three: Episodes 9 - 12
9 - Uninvited Guests, 10 - Faith, 11 - Blowback, 12 - Live to Fight...

Disc Four: Episodes 13 - 16
13 - God's Green Earth, 14 - Self Defense, 15 - Tick Tock, 16 - 25th Hour

Season Six
Disc One: Episodes 1-4
1 - To Trouble, 2 - Accounts Payable, 3 - Back on the Map, 4 - Turn

Disc Two: Episodes 5 - 8
5 - Trust, 6 - Spain, 7 - Shake the Trees, 8 - Borrowed Time

Disc Three: Episodes 9 - 12
9 - The Hand That Feeds You, 10 - P.S.I., - 11 - She's Gone, 12 - The Painting

Disc Four: Episodes 13 - 16
13 - Teeth, Nose, Teeth, 14 - Admission of Guilt, 15 - Quid Pro Quo, 16 - Character and Fitness

Season Seven
Disc One: Episodes 1-4
1 - Skin in the Game, 2 - Statue, 3 - Mudmare, 4 - Divide and Conquer

Disc Two: Episodes 5 - 8
5 - Brooklyn Housing, 2- Home to Roost, 3 - Full Disclosure, 4 - 100

Disc Three: Episodes 9 - 12
9 - Shane, 10 - Donna, 11 - Hard Truths, 12 - Bad Man

Disc Four: Episodes 13 - 16
13 - Inevitable, 14 - Pulling the Goalie, 15 - Tiny Violin, 16 - Good-Bye

Season Eight
Disc One: Episodes 1-4
1 - Right-Hand Man, 2 - Pecking ORder, 3 - Progress, Progress, 4 - Revenue per Square Foot

Disc Two: Episodes 5 - 8
5 - Good Mudding, 6 - Cats, Ballet, Harvey Specter, 7 - Sour Grapes, 8 - Coral Gables

Disc Three: Episodes 9 - 12
9 - Motion to Delay, 10 - Managing Partner, 11 - Rocky 8, 12 - Whale Hunt

Disc Four: Episodes 13 - 16
13 - The Greater Good, 14 - Peas in a Pod, 15 - Stalking Horse, 16 - Harvey

Season Nine
Disc One: Episodes 1-4
1 - Everything's Changed, 2 - Special Master, 3 - Windmills, 4 - Cairo

Disc Two: Episodes 5 - 8
5 - If the Shoe Fits, 6 - Whatever it Takes, 7 - Scenic Route, 8 - Prisoner's Dilemma

Disc Three: Episodes 9 - 10
9 - Thunder Away, 10 - One Last Con

Suits: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Suits looks pretty sharp on Blu-ray, but the early seasons have a slightly more unkempt Mike Ross vibe going and the middle to late seasons are much more a highly polished Harvey Specter presentation. The first several seasons experience instances of mild banding from time to time, which, due to frequent and fluid camera movement do not get much of a chance to linger, but they are noticeable for those who are looking. Black crush can also be an issue in night shots or those with moodier lighting. By season four, these issues are largely absent. Detail levels are strong from the outset, but there are likewise improvements to be found in the the middle and late seasons as well, with seasons five and beyond yielding significant and crisp facial particulars, especially fine lines and stubble. Clothing presents wonderful textural levels as well, with the much more varied costuming choices for the female cast providing opportunities to inspect chunky knit sweaters, silks, fuzzy coats, and the like. Skin tones are very healthy and realistic throughout the series' run. Colors are nicely saturated, and bright primaries are occasionally afforded the opportunity to pop, though those moments aren't as numerous as once would expect for a modern series since much of the action takes place in a legal office where more "serious" wardrobe choices are preferred.

Screenshots 1 - 5 are from Season 5

Screenshots 6 - 10 are from Season 6

Screenshots 11 - 15 are from Season 7

Screenshots 16 - 20 are from Season 8

Screenshots 21 - 25 are from Season 9

Screenshots 26 - 30 and 40 are from Season 1

Screenshots 31 - 35 are from Season 2

Screenshots 36 - 37 are from Season 3

Screenshots 38 - 39 are from Season 4

Suits: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 that Suits comes outfitted with is a winner, though it is not quite as ambitious and flashy as some may hope for. Perhaps betraying it television roots and legal drama focus, it's a very front-centric presentation. Dialogue is typically front and center as is appropriate for this type of series as one would expect, but moments where directionality is demonstrated still arise every so often. From the beginning, dialogue is clear, understandable, and properly prioritized. The series, as part of its DNA, features a fair amount of popular music in each episode, and and the audio track renders it with excellent fidelity and precision, allowing the songs to briefly build to the point of dominance. Bass levels are sumptuous. But even here, it is primarily the fronts that do the heavy lifting. Surrounds are only rarely brought into play, but are quite memorable when they spring to life and provide rich immersion, such as when one of the characters suffers a panic attack in the fifth season. It's a solid enough track, even if it doesn't fully leverage it's potential.

Suits: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Supplemental features are typically spread across several discs for most seasons and offer a mix of deleted scenes, gag reels, behind the scenes features, deleted scenes, and commentaries on a few key episodes. They are as follows:

Season One, Disc Three

• Deleted Scenes (9.43) - A number of brief scenes culled from Season One's episodes.

• Audio Commentary For Episode 12 (42.30) - Dave Bartis Executive Producer, Aaron Korsh Creator, Patrick J. Adams (Mike Ross), and Gabriel Macht (Harvey Specter) participate in this track for the season finale.

• Outtakes (2.07) - A small selection of quick cuttings.

• Cross examination: Fan Q&A (10.28) - Questions about the show are printed on the screen and are answered by Gabriel Macht, Patrick J. Adams, Meghan Markle, Rick Hoffman, Aaron Korsh, and Dave Bartis

• Gag Reel (4.13) - A short collection of mistakes, breaks, goofs, and gaffes.

Season Two, Disc Four

• Deleted Scenes (22.05) - And extensive collection of moments removed from Season Two.

• Gag Reel (8.19) - Harvey, Mike and the rest may not make many mistakes in court, but there are quite a few on display here.

• 'Suits': Sophomore Success (8.25) - Cast and crew talk about character development, on-set collaboration, fan interaction and more.

• The Style of 'Suits' (7.22) - Sarah Rafferty (Donna), Gabriel Macht (Harvey), Patrick J. Adams (Mike), Aaron Korsh (Creator, Co-Executive Producer), and Jolie Anna Andreatta (Costume Designer) discuss clothing choices for the Pearson Hardman legal team. John Scott (Director), Tamara Deverell (Production Designer), Rick Hoffman (Lewis), and Clive Tomasson (Set Decorator) briefly talk about the sets and locations of the series.

• 'Suits' Punch Reel (2.22) - A rapid series of shots of the cast involved in stage-fighting gags.

• 'Suits Recruits' Webisodes (15.24) - Brief extra moments featuring the infamous can-opener, Jessica's sense of humor, excessive movie quotes, and more starring the series' cast. Each lasts about 90 seconds or less.

Season Three, Disc One

• Deleted Scenes (2.24) - A small collection of short scenes that were trimmed.

Season Three, Disc Two

• Deleted Scenes (2.43) - A deleted scene between Mike and Trevor and another involving Harold.

• 'She's Mine' Alternate Ending and 'Endgame' Alternate Opening (2.08) - A very violent ending and a bloody beginning.

• 'The Other Time' Commentary (43.06) - Commentary with Creator Aaron Korsh, Series Star Gabriel Macht, Executive Producer Daniel Arkin, and Writer Rick Muirragui

Season Three, Disc Three

• Deleted Scenes (4.22) - Three scenes that were cut.

• Gag Reel (10.14) - The cast struggles with lines, words, set elements, and Creator Aaron Korsh unexpectedly walks through the background of a scene.

Season Three, Disc Four

• Deleted Scenes (5.46) - Three long scenes that were trimmed.

• 'No Way Out' Alternate Ending (1.35/1.09) - Playable with or without and introduction from Aaron Korsh, it's a much darker ending to the season finale that would have serious ramifications for the next season.

• Trust and Betrayal: A Look Inside 'Suits' Season Three (9.43) - Aaron Korsch, Meghan Markle, Patrick J. Adams, Sarah Rafferty, and others cover a number of topics including the plotlines of the season, the various flashback elements, and Donna's Sherlock Holmes- like abilities. We're still wondering about that can opener, though.

• Shooting 'Suits' (5.17) - Aaron Korsh and cast and crew discuss the cinematic feel of the show, shooting on location vs. in the studio, using the camera to create emotion, and other topics/

• 'Suits Recruits: Class Action' (23.40) - This collection of webisodes features such plotlines as Harvey vs. Clueless, Donna tries to find a button, Mike has an outrageous nightmare, and others.

• 'No Way Out' Commentary (45.44) - Commentary with Creator Aaron Korsh, Series Star Gabriel Macht, Co-Executive Producer Daniel Arkin, and Producer Rick Muirragui

Season Four, Disc One

• Deleted Scenes (3.09) - Three culled scenes.

Season Four, Disc Two

• Deleted Scenes (3.05) - Two longer scenes that were trimmed.

• 'Suits Recruits: The Paper Trail' (21.03) - These short, clever, and punchy webisodes feature Louis and Katrina searching for a missing thumb drive, Louis shines his shoes with unexpected results, Rachel and Mike work on scheduling, and more.

Season Four, Disc Three

• Deleted Scenes (5.26) - Several deleted scenes highlighted by one which gives us a brief glimpse of Louis' parents.

Season Four, Disc Four

• Gag Reel (8.39) - A collection of bloopers from Season Four.

Season Five, Disc One

• Deleted Scenes (3.26) - Three deleted scenes that are organized by episode.

Season Five, Disc Two

• Deleted Scenes (0.40) - One deleted scene is included.

Season Five, Disc Four

• Deleted Scenes (2.50) - Two deleted scenes organized by episode.

• Gag Reel (7.11) - A collection of bloopers from Season Five.

• A Family Affair: Behind the Scenes of 'Suits' (7.27) - The cast discusses the family-like relationship that has developed with characters populating the law firm.

• 'Suits' Life After Donna (7.44) - Rafferty, Macht, and others discuss the impact of Donna leaving Harvey in terms of both story and character development.

Season Six, Disc One

• Deleted Scenes (1.09) - One deleted scene is included.

Season Six, Disc Three

• Deleted Scenes (7.37) - Four deleted scenes organized by episode.

Season Six, Disc Four

• Deleted Scenes (3.55) -

• Gag Reel (8.27) - The usual assortment of bloopers from Season Six.

• 'Suits': Anatomy of an Episode (13.40) - Aaron Korsh and others discuss the process for determining the arc of the season, and writing individual episodes. The cast talks about studying and revising scripts, what to do with Mike, and Jessica's departure.

• Goodbye, Jessica Pearson (6.20) - The cast and crew of Suits talk about Gina Torres' impact and departure.

Season Seven, Disc One

• Deleted Scenes (1.41) - Two deleted scenes organized by episode.

Season Seven, Disc Two

• Deleted Scenes (1.21) - One deleted scene.

Season Seven, Disc Three

• Deleted Scenes (3.08) - Two deleted scenes are included.

Season Seven, Disc Four

• Deleted Scenes (11.06) - Nine deleted scenes are included and are organized by episode.

• Gag Reel (6.47) - The usual collection of bloopers from Season Seven.

• The People Behind the 'Suits' (7.20) - Aaron Korsh, Gabriel Macht, Rick Hoffman, Sarah Rafferty, and others talk about the direction of the season, the evolution of their characters, guest stars, and new cast members.

• 'Suits': A Centennial Moment (4.44) - Korsh, Adams, Korsh, Markle and more talk about the significance of hitting the 100th-episode milestone.

• Mike and Rachel Sendoff Reel (6.02) - To mark their departure from the series, we are treated to Mike and Rachel's "greatest hits" moments from the first seven seasons.

Season Eight, Disc One

• Deleted Scenes (6.45) - The traditional gag reel chronicles bloopers from Season Eight.

Season Eight, Disc Three

• Deleted Scenes (1.17) - One deleted scene is included.

Season Eight, Disc Four

• Deleted Scenes (8.56) - Seven deleted scenes are included and are organized by episode.

Season Nine, Disc Four

• Deleted Scenes (2.12) - Two deleted scenes are included.

• Gag Reel (5.23) - A collection of bloopers from the final season.

• 'Suits': Series Montage (14.19) - Not quite the series condensed into a mere 14 minutes, but rather a collection of memorable moments and lines from Suits, but not necessarily in episode or season order.

Suits: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It's the characters, not the cases that make Suits "must see" television. Every person walking the halls of what begins as the law firm of Pearson Hardman is intelligent and gifted, regardless of gender or title. Rachel and Jessica are just likely to save the day as Harvey or Mike, but other times only Donna's skillset will net the required result. And each is as likely as the other to make a mistake or commit an error due to a blind spot, poor judgement, or an ill advised risk. Smartly scripted and cinematically shot, the series makes the most of its excellent cast to craft programming that is instantly addictive, with enough unexpected twists and surprises added to the mix to prevent it from becoming stale or predictable. While Meghan Markle's departure was completely understandable, it did trigger a few casting changes for the series' final seasons which may be a cause of disappointment for some, but most will still find a great deal deal to enjoy. Technical merits are solid and there is a more than reasonable assortment of special features to fit all tastes and interests, with the webisodes being particularly entertaining. Whether you're an existing fan or new to the series, Suits comes highly recommended.