In a television series, character development is often a delicate balance between consistency and evolution. It’s a fine line to tread, and sometimes, a single misstep can spell disaster for even the most beloved characters. Across different genres,controversial creative decisions surrounding character developmenthave generated debate among fans. For example, Skyler White (Anna Gunn) fromBreaking Badhas been criticized for her drastic development, from becoming the moral compass on the show to getting involved in Walt’s drug empire.Game of Thrones' fan favoriteJon Snow(Kit Harington) shifted from a warrior whose loyalty was to protecting his people, to a romantic willing to do anything for his girlfriend, eliciting sharp criticism. InSuits,Donna Paulsen’s meteoric rise from secretary to Chief Operating Officer (COO)stands out as an example of how even the best intentions can mar the integrity of a character.
On the run from a drug deal gone bad, brilliant college dropout Mike Ross finds himself working with Harvey Specter, one of New York City’s best lawyers.
Donna Is One of ‘Suits’ Best Characters
One of the attributes that makes Donna (Sarah Rafferty) arguablythe best character onSuitsis how she seamlessly showcases her wit and sass through the many interactions she has with other characters as a corporate secretary. In the role, we see how she interacts with those in the company, no matter where they stand in the hierarchy. It’s a role that defines her, and the phrase “Donna knows,” exemplifies her omniscient status in the company. When she quickly rises to become the Chief Operating Officer (COO), it’s a confusing shift that leaves us questioning the authenticity of her character arc. While it is natural for characters to evolve and grow,this sudden leap felt forced and unrealistic.
It’s Donna’s exceptional skills as a legal secretary, her ability to read people, and her support for the team that make her such an outstanding character, and turning her into a COO feels like a forced move. Her new role distances her from the interactions that used to make her character thrive. Herstory would have been more compelling if it had focused on her growth in an organic way, which would have provided better interactions with other characters instead of a quick promotion to the very top.
Donna Jumps From Secretary to COO on ‘Suits’
To recap, in theSuitsepisode where Donna becomes COO, she asksher love interest and boss, Harvey Specter(Gabriel Macht), for a promotion to Senior Partner at the law firm. Harvey is hesitant, as she is not even a lawyer, but promises to consider her request aftershe states her case on the sacrifices she has made for both Harvey and the firm.With the day having gone by and no response from Harvey, she is nervous and reaches out to Gretchen (Aloma Wright). Gretchen tells her that she should have shown her commitment by handing Harvey a check, which is a requirement for making Senior Partner.
We later learn that she did give Harvey the check from her conversation withthe insensitive Louis Litt(Rick Hoffman), where she asks him to give away control of the associates. This infuriates Louis, who is just learning of the promotion, prompting him to protest. Harvey learns of the argument and defends Donna, saying he is the one making decisions at the firm after Jessica’s (Gina Torres) departure. They leave the scene withLouis accepting Harvey’s decision to promote Donna to Senior Partner.
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However, when Katrina (Amanda Schull), who rejoined the firm hoping to make Senior Partner, tells Harvey that Donna’s promotion takes the shine off the position, Harvey rescinds the promotion. When he informs Donna of his decision, she asks for the COO role. She argues her case, Harvey eventually agrees, and,in a matter of hours, Donna moves from secretary, to Senior Partner, to COO. Even thoughSuitsremains captivating forthe rest of its run, this particular scene marred one of the show’s finest characters' organic developments.
Donna’s Quick Promotion on ‘Suits’ Doesn’t Make Sense
Characters' journeys are often marked by challenges and struggles that shape their growth, andthese redemption arcsendear them to viewers. Donna’s upward thrust to COO is devoid of these trials. Despite having worked at the firm for a long time and her undeniable contribution, her speedy elevation neglects the opportunity to showcase her overcoming obstacles, which would make her character arc make more sense. This omission made it hard for viewers to accept this move in her character development. In addition, in her COO role,Donna’s exceptional prowess as an unparalleled legal secretary is diminished. She loses some of the traits that made her so adored to begin with. Even when she does return somewhat to the old Donna, it isn’t as satisfying to see as when she was climbing the ranks as an underdog before her expedited promotion.
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Donna’s promotion also comes at the cost of her authentic relationshipsand offers nothing new to challenge her. Immediately after she gets the Senior Partner’s promise, she confronts Louis, telling him that, as her equal, he can no longer intimidate her. Rather than seeing her facing a worthy contest,it is Harvey who comes to her rescue. As COO, she does not get any meaningful challenge to test herself against. You would expect that with such a promotion, her character’s challenges would grow with her new responsibility. This did not happen, making her character arc fall flat. While it is not uncommon to see beloved characters on television undergo changes that either enhance their arcs or leave them tarnished,Donna Paulsen’s swift promotion from secretary to COO, unfortunately, falls into the latter category. It’s a tale that demonstrates how even the best intentions can lead to the derailment of a character’s journey.
Suitsis not alone in this aspect. Iconic shows likeFriendsexperienced similar pitfalls when introducing divisive storylines for beloved characters. The infamousromantic arc between Rachel and Joeyshows how even the most successful shows can falter when pushing characters into contrived scenarios. Likewise, Donna Paulsen’s abrupt elevation to COO withinSuitsis a reminder that character development is a delicate art. While the intention may have been to showcase her growth, therushed progression undermined Donna’s very essence, effectively ruining one of the show’s best characters.
