Suits season 8: How should series address Mike, Rachel?

Moving into the start of Suits season 8, it should feel clear that we are entering a new era for the series and an important one. After all, Mike and Rachel are each saying goodbye to this world. They are off in Seattle, starting a new life and getting a fresh start. That’s great for them, but at this point it’s likely clear to everyone else that they are in the midst of a very different world. Harvey, Louis, and Donna are the only remaining anchors. Katrina and Alex will have a larger role, and with that, we’ve also got Katherine Heigl coming as Samantha Wheeler.

So how can Suits address all of these changes moving into season 8, while still also allowing the show to keep its signature tone? We’ve got a few simple suggestions.

Scale out references to Mike and Rachel – Don’t overwhelm audiences with reminders in the premiere that the two are gone — reference it, but allow Harvey and others to move forward. From there, reference the characters moving forward as it would happen in life. There’s a void there that will need to be filled and it can’t be ignored. Having the characters fall completely off the map is unrealistic, especially since they are good friends to our established favorites.

Balance out Samantha’s arrival – While we understand that Heigl may be the most-famous person on the show now, we’d resist temptation to make much of the premiere about Wheeler. Television fans like stability and understanding what they are getting. With that, we do think that it’s somewhat dangerous to present too much of one specific thing right away. If we were Suits, we’d take our time getting to know Samantha.

Give us more of Alex and Katrina – On the flip side, we’re okay with the series leaning more on Amanda Schull and Dule Hill in the early going, mostly because the two are familiar faces and viewers know a thing or two about them. It’d be nice to know a little bit more.

Related – Check out a new video discussing the cast and what’s next

How do you think that Suits season 8 should pick up the story after Mike and Rachel’s departure? Share right now in the comments!

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