Lens

April 29, 2025

This is not usual for my blogposts but in this one, I want to discuss an episode from the TV Show Suits. To give some context to the case I am about to discuss, Harvey is the protagonist and Tanner is the antagonist. I wouldn't say Harvey is the cleanest lawyer but he at worst plays in the grey zone and never does dark things. Tanner, in contrast, does whatever dirty thing it takes to win.

In a particular case Tanner, obviously, starts using his dirty tactics. Harvey, being the cleaner lawyer, is pressed against the wall. But he figures out that to win the case, he has to look at it from the lens of Tanner. He figures out a way to threaten Tanner that he is gonna perjure himself if Tanner doesn't settle. Tanner, the dirty lawyer, believes that Harvey is gonna perjure himself as he can't think why Harvey wouldn't given the scenario. Harvey is bluffing here. Although he wouldn't perjure, he just bluffs and convinces Tanner that he would actually do. Tanner gets convinced easily because if the situation was reversed, Tanner would jump at a chance to win even if it involves perjury.

I was very impressed to see the brain games. Harvey has a lens. Tanner has a lens. To win, Harvey had to put aside his lens and think from Tanner's lens.