While last week Hardman’s presence was only felt, but never seen; this week he goes to considerable lengths to insert himself in Jessica and Harvey’s business (it’s his business too you know). This week’s CoW focuses on renegotiating contracts between the nurses and the administration at Prescott Hospitals.Harvey feels the proposal is fair (to the hospital, that is), but Nurse Nell is an old pro and she’s come fully prepared with her research and the threat of a strike to ensure the nurses get what’s fair, to them. Mike believes a T.R.O is the best way forward, however Harvey would much rather have an outright injunction against the strike.Hardman hijacks Harvey’s case hearing and gets the T.R.O he wanted to avoid. Backed into a corner, Harvey forces the nurses to go on a stike and regain control of the negotiations. Posing themselves at an impasse, Hardman convinces Mike (behind Harvey’s back) that the only way to move forward is to send him in as a mediator. Mike, the Bleeding Heart invites Nurse Nell to meet his grandma at her home, showing her he too is invested in the outcome of the negotiations. Mike would’ve always the nurses’ demands justified as much as Harvey would’ve found his initial proposal to have been the same. The struggle for control in the final outcome of the contract mirrors the power struggle between Hardman and Harvey; as does their need to put each other in their place. Mike should’ve been smarter to have gotten caught in the middle of it. I seriously am beginning to question everyone’s intelligence on this show (except for the ladies).
Speaking of the ladies, it’s heartening to see Donna help Rachel find some peace over her break up (at the bottom of a bottle, that is). Watching them pretend to be Harvey and Mike lets us have a look at how they see their male counterparts (Fun!). Rachel realises that Mike still has feelings for her, well its not much of realisation, the guy practically writes on ode to her (and has her type it out!) and she confronts him. And although Mike may still care for her, he’s not ready to tell her his secret and the fact that he may hold some things dearer to him than her, catalyzes her into re-evaluating her own life and she is seen taking the LSATs again. I sincerely hope she passes and eventually takes over Mike’s job.
Loius’ under-appreciation runs deepr than just Jessica and Harvey, even the interns dont respect him. When a drop in the quality of life of the associates threatens to end Pearson Hardman’s exclusive dibs on Harvard recruiting, a consultant is sent in to individually evaluate them. Sheila is Louis’s female equivalent and she brings to his notice the ripples of disrespect in his underlings. Loius schools the newbies by doing all their work in one night and letting them know that the opportunities he allows them to have, to excel; those opportunities do not exist in any other firm. It may have been a speech for the associates, but it is also almost a plea to Jessica to give him the oppportunity to shine. For, although he may not disrespect Jessica, he does need to feel that she sees the potential in him to excel too.
After having been used by both Hardman and Harvey, Mike is mad at Harvey for playing him as a pawn. Harvey tell him the circumstances under which Hardman was forced to leave and makes it clear he trusts Mike and Mike should start returning the favor. Hardman is shrwed and his moves will be subtle and precise and it’s best to prepare Mike for the impending battle.
- Grandma gets featured quite a bit in this episode. Foreshadowing?
- “I’m a Rabbi” *hair twirl
- “Louis, I’m only gonna say this once, so you better enjoy it. You’re the man.”
Shazia is part bionic, part crazy (parts not mutually exclusive), and would be happy conversing solely in TV quotes, forever hopeful she’ll be one-upped in her obscure TV references. She blogs here and microblogs here.
