New York’s finest lawyer, Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht), is infamous for his cheeky one-liners and recklessly ingenious negotiation skills in Suits. Working with Harvey not only takes skill and dedication—it also requires someone who can walk the fine line between risk-taking and knowing where the limits are. Although the folks at Pearson Hardman LLP can keep up with his demands, at the end of the day, Harvey is the one who saves the day.
Throughout all nine seasons of Suits, Harvey might not have had his best moments all time. But whenever the good gets going, the cutthroat lawyer basks in his winning streak. Without further ado, here are the 10 best Harvey Specter Episodes in Suits, ranked.
10
“Stay”
Season 3, Episode 10 (2013)
Long-time nemesis Travis Tanner returns to sue Harvey’s client, using Scottie as a target. Donna outsmarts Stephen to expose his made-up affidavit, saving the case. In the romance department, Louis tries to figure out why Sheila’s passive-aggressive with him, only to realize she’s falling for him. As for Mike and Rachel, their relationship is in shambles over their long-distance dilemma.
It’s always a good fight between Harvey and Tanner—even when it’s dirty. “Stay” proves that no matter how muddy the case is, Harvey always tries his best to protect those around him, even when his methods are questionable. Viewers are also treated to Harvey’s softer side when he drops the tough act and apologizes to Ava, taking full accountability for his previous mishandling.
9
“Intent”
Season 4, Episode 15 (2015)
After fan-favorite Suits character Donna took the liberty of getting case documents to win against Liberty Rail all by herself, she finds herself in trouble when she is accused of fraud. Plus, with new evidence from Evan Smith threatening Pearson Specter’s win, Harvey and Mike must act to save Donna from a maximum five-year sentence. For the first time in Harvey’s life, the thought of losing Donna drives him to do the unthinkable—obstruction of justice.
“Intent” sees Harvey going completely “ride-or-die” for the one person who’s always been there for him—even when he’s pissed at Donna for technically breaking the law. The case is just as personal as it is professional. Although Harvey is criticized for going too harsh with his methods, to the point Donna considers Litt handling her case instead, it’s only because that’s the only way he shows he cares.
8
“Donna”
Season 7, Episode 10 (2018)
Andrew Malik targets Donna with a surprise testimony, but Louis helps block key evidence. However, things take a spin in court when Donna is asked to take a stand, where she confesses to shredding documents under oath. Harvey and Malik realize that Malik’s sudden testimony is nothing but fabricated evidence. Although Harvey and Mike won the trial, Andrew hits the former where it hurts the most: Jessica.
Although things don’t go as originally planned, “Donna” shows Harvey and Louis enthusiastically cooperating to protect their beloved secretary. But what makes Harvey stand out in this episode is how emotionally invested he is in this. The moment Andrew makes baseless accusations that Donna slept her way to her current position, it only drives Harvey to prove his rival wrong.
7
“She Knows”
Season 2, Episode 1 (2012)
Mike handles a major lawsuit while fearing Jessica has discovered his secret in the high-stakes Suits Season 2. Jessica confirms to Harvey that she knows Mike’s a fraud and demands that he fire him. Harvey can’t bring himself to do it and instead praises Mike. Meanwhile, Jenny breaks up with Mike after confronting him about kissing Rachel and tells him that Trevor revealed his secret to Jessica.
Instead of breaking a sweat when Jessica demands Mike’s firing, Harvey doesn’t let his loyalty slip. He refuses to betray Mike—after all, it was Harvey who got Mike into the industry in the first place. Despite knowing it could cost him his license, standing up to his boss and protecting his protégé makes him a dangerous yet highly valuable asset.
6
“P.S.L.”
Season 6, Episode 10 (2016)
Welcome to the new era of Specter Litt. Jessica and Rachel push to exonerate Leonard Bailey before his execution. Harvey and Louis work to retain their oldest client to prevent a mass exodus. After saving Bailey, Jessica decides to leave the firm. She announces her departure at a partner’s meeting, citing a desire to live life on her own terms.
“P.S.L.” sees Harvey at the edge of his limits as he holds together the firm during the crisis. With Jessica planning to leave, he steps up to retain their most important client, proving he’s the backbone of Specter Litt. Even as the firm faces change, he refuses to let another leader boss him around, knowing that Jessica has been in the right all along.
5
“High Noon”
Season 2, Episode 10 (2012)
Harvey needs Mike’s help to defeat Hardman in a final partners’ vote, but Mike disappears after his grandmother dies in a sad moment in Suits. Donna helps Mike find closure, and he returns in time to cast a deciding vote. Hardman loses and is ousted. Louis is rewarded with the role of senior partner. Harvey and Jessica regain control of the firm but acknowledge the emotional toll Mike’s going through with his loss.
Despite Mike’s absence during a critical vote, Harvey plays his cards right and wins the power struggle against Hardman. Harvey didn’t pull out any special tricks. All he had to do was trust Mike to come through, and boy, did he deliver. Putting his faith in Mike is a gamble that Harvey has to endure throughout the entirety of Suits, and “High Noon” just confirms that his unlikely protege can keep his word, despite the circumstances.
4
“Faith”
Season 5, Episode 10 (2015)
As Hardman pushes for a takeover, Jessica and Louis gather as many partners as they can to put an end to his tyranny. Harvey recounts his mother’s infidelity during therapy and decides to resign to save the firm. Mike reflects on losing his parents and ultimately decides to take a deal and plead guilty to protect everyone. In the end, Harvey and Mike share an emotional goodbye on the courthouse steps.
It’s not every day viewers watch Harvey open up to his colleagues. But in “Faith”, the emotions run deeper. Not only does he go to therapy and open up about his mother’s betrayal, but he also makes the selfless decision to resign to save the firm from Hardman’s takeover. While lawyers are known for being selfish, greedy vultures, this episode proves that while Harvey has the tongue of the devil, he has the heart of a saint.
3
“No Way Out”
Season 3, Episode 16 (2014)
U.S. Attorney Eric Woodhall targets Harvey and Mike over past misconduct. Mike considers taking a job at an investment firm to escape legal risks. Meanwhile, Scottie and Harvey argue over trust and transparency. Woodall pressures Jessica, but Harvey and Mike expose his abuse of power. Mike tells Rachel he’s taking the new job.
No institution is scary enough for Harvey, including a federal prosecutor. Harvey knows that it’s no use defending himself and Mike over the accusation thrown at them. But instead of backing down, Harvey redirects the fire by building a case strong enough to discredit Woodhall. He neutralizes a federal threat without ever stepping into court, proving once again that he’s one of the smartest characters on TV.
2
“One Last Con”
Season 9, Episode 10 (2019)
To remove Faye, Harvey and Mike stage a fake fight to distract her while Gretchhen swaps documents. When Faye signs it, Harvey continues to keep his plans under wraps. Everything culminates when he confronts her privately and convinces her to step down without threats, lawsuits, or blackmail. True to Harvey’s nature, he doesn’t exert unnecessary force. He keeps things classy by utilizing the leverage they have without the humiliation.
The brilliance isn’t just in the con. The real highlight of “One Last Con” is in the choices Harvey makes after. Once the firm is safe, Harvey does the unthinkable: proposing to Donna. If that’s not unbelievable enough, Harvey resigns and moves to Seattle to work with Mike, leaving behind the title, and everything he built to be with his day one.
1
“Pilot”
Season 1, Episode 1 (2011)
Harvey is promoted and must hire a Harvard associate in a perfect TV pilot. Luckily for him, Mike, who happens to be fleeing a drug deal gone wrong, stumbles into the interview. He might not be Ivy League material, but Harvey is impressed by his photographic memory and legal knowledge. There’s a catch: Mike’s never been to college, let alone taken the bar exam. But when Harvey hires him and Mike quickly proves his skills in a sexual harassment case (albeit some trials along the way), Harvey knows he can trust Mike.
Harvey’s made some wild decisions in his life, but risking his credibility and employing a degree-less nobody to his line of work has to be the most delusional business choices Harvey’s ever made. Choosing Mike as his associate sets the tone for his character: smart but reckless, knowledgeable but instinctual. While Harvey literally has a pool of Harvey graduates at his beck and call, the man trusts his gut and believes in raw talent.
