Suits’ Donna Problem: The Show Failed to Give Her the Arc She Deserved

Despite the fact that Suits is renowned for the unforgettable bromance between Mike (Patrick J. Adams) and Harvey (Gabriel Macht), it was Donna, portrayed by Sarah Rafferty, who frequently captured our affection. Starting as Harvey’s secretary and swiftly advancing through the firm’s hierarchy, Donna was the problem solver of the team, consistently stepping in to save Harvey and displaying an almost uncanny ability to anticipate what others required before they even knew. Though Donna’s charm became increasingly hard to resist across Suits’ nine seasons, this doesn’t necessarily imply she received the recognition she deserved on the television series.

On the show Suits, there are numerous powerful female characters, with Donna being one of them without a doubt. However, the creators of Suits made some errors when developing her role and giving her a storyline commensurate with those of other characters. The relationship between Donna and Harvey, both personally and professionally, was crucial to her character, but it sometimes restricted the series’ progress. Although Donna is not reprising her role in Suits L.A., it would be fantastic if Rafferty made a comeback, providing the franchise with an opportunity to rectify one of its major missteps.

Donna Was Great, But Suits Didn’t Know What To Do With Her

They Made Her Character Fun & Dynamic, But Underutilized Her

From the instant Donna appears on-screen in the opening episode, she’s undeniably captivating and exudes a magnetic presence, making it hard to look away. She’s sharp-witted and humorous, qualities that leave many characters, including Harvey, enamored with her. However, despite the significant impact Donna’s character could have had on Suits, the show consistently struggled to effectively integrate her into the narrative, often sidelining or assigning her forgettable storylines that quickly lost focus.

In essence, Louis Litt (portrayed by Rick Hoffman) is among those rare individuals who acknowledge and respect Donna properly, yet he frequently commits regrettable mistakes in their relationship. More often than not, the needs of the firm and the personal aspirations of others take precedence over Donna’s growth. Although Donna occasionally voiced her concerns, she was unable to criticize the series itself. Notably, Donna is one of the few characters who remained with Suits until its conclusion, a loyalty that should have resulted in a more intricate character progression for her.

Suits’ Most Infamous Storyline Highlighted The Show’s Donna Problem

This Is A Plotline Most Fans Would Rather Forget

The “Donna” plotline from the show “Suits” is a controversial one that we often choose to forget, as it significantly impacted Donna’s characterization in an unfavorable way throughout the series. Rather than progressing her growth and utilizing her numerous talents, “Suits” introduced “The Donna,” an early form of artificial intelligence designed to mimic Donna’s actions and thought processes, predicting users’ needs. Unfortunately, this innovation was met with disapproval by many viewers, as Donna’s character transformed when she focused on developing The Donna, causing a shift in her persona within the series.

It’s not just a future possibility, but technology capable of behaving like a person is already a reality today. Yet, when the TV show Suits introduced it in 2017, it seemed far-fetched. The storyline reflects how Suits overlooked Donna’s character development compared to others. It seems reasonable that Donna would aspire to forge her own path with a successful idea, but the show could have facilitated this by giving her more opportunities to distinguish herself from Harvey.

Donna Rarely Got To Be Her Own Character Outside Of Harvey’s Circle

All Of Her Character Arcs Revolved Around Harvey

Despite the fact that Harvey and Donna are an exceptional couple on Suits, the show occasionally falters when it comes to nurturing their romance. While Harvey is a well-established character from the start, Donna gains more significance as the seasons advance. Consequently, Harvey’s backstory and personal life have been more fully fleshed out compared to Donna’s. Even in moments where Donna takes center stage, these instances often revolve around Harvey or his friends. Donna and Louis had a unique relationship of their own, but they frequently found themselves drawn back into Harvey’s sphere in each episode.

Although the intriguing will-they-won’t-they dynamic between Harvey and Donna kept us hooked, their relationship might have felt more balanced if Donna had a broader personal life separate from Harvey. Transitioning from a boss-employee setup to a romantic one can be challenging, even for a pair as harmonious as Harvey and Donna. I don’t suggest altering their love story in the series, but Suits could have given Donna more chances to explore her own life, something the show rarely did. Donna appeared to have a deep inner world, such as her passion for theater, which the series didn’t delve into as much as it could have.

Title Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Suits (2011–2019) 91% 87%

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2025-05-15 02:17