Suits

[Dr. Shane]

Suits is a legal drama that ran on USA Network for nine seasons totally 134 episode.  Its popularity has spiked this summer as it became available on Netflix and Amazon Prime.  I watched all 134 episodes.  If there is one word that summarizes the philosophy of the producers of the program it is LOYALTY.  

The program embraces a very secular worldview.  Winning at all costs is the focus of most episodes.  Harvey, the lead character, is known for always winning.  There are multiple antagonists in the series that threaten Harvey's ability to win.  Meghan Markle, now Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, co-stars in the first seven seasons as the romantic interest of Harvey's protétgé, Mike.  Mike has a photographic memory, which in the real world does not exist.  The secular worldview promoted by the series includes that success is measured by financial achievements, sexual relations are part of normal dating, alcohol is the go-to drug for relief, recreational use of marijuana is acceptable and Hollywood is the source of wisdom.  Throughout the series, when the characters are looking for a solution to their problems, they quote lines from great Hollywood movies.

The role of the church is given some exposure in a few episodes where it is revealed Mike attended Catholic school as a child.  Unfortunately, when Mike is hired as a teacher at that same school, the parish priest is forced to fire him because of judgmental parents unable to forgive.  Of course, we know there are many judgmental Christians.  The point I make here is that the small exposure given to the church in the series, paints the church in the worst way as being judgmental and harsh instead of forgiving and transformational.

One of the lead characters, Robert Zane, sacrifices his law license toward the end of the series in order to save Harvey and some others at the firm.  He does this "good deed" to make up for sending someone to jail, where they were murdered, early in his carear when he was young.  He had been carrying that guilt for many years and the act of sacrificing his law license is a way for him to make up for it.  In the series, he says it is about redemption.  The writers and producers of the series illustrate they do not understand the concept of redemption.  A person cannot redeem themselves.  We can pay penance which is an outward expression of repentance.  But we cannot redeem ourselves.  The concept of redemption involves a slave being purchased by a freeman and given his or her freedom.  We cannot buy ourselves out of slavery.  We have not money to do so.  Someone else has to purchase our freedom.  It is a concept born in false religion that a person can somehow earn their own salvation.  The character Robert Zane could repent of his bad deed and show penance as a way to prove his repentance is authentic.  But he could not redeem himself as his character claimed to do in the series.

The series worldview does include a positive view of psychology.  Multiple characters seek therapy and benefit from it.  As a pastoral counselor myself I must make a distinction that is probably not apparent to most that have watch the program.  The therapists in the program are very reluctant to share their personal life experiences with their clients.  That is quite normal in most forms of therapy.  However, that is an area where pastoral counseling distinguishes itself.  In pastoral counseling, the counselor often uses his or her personal experience to relate to and help the client.  That is one reason that many people prefer pastoral counseling over secular therapy. 

The series ends with Harvey winning one last time and everyone living happily ever after.  LOYALTY is emphasized over and over in the serious.    Specifically, the series emphasizes how important it is to be loyal to friends and family.  Multiple times it emphasized that marital infidelity is totally unacceptable.  Overall the secular worldview of the series is disturbing, its emphasis on loyalty adds significant value to the drama.