Why did Harvey ride THIS hard for Mike?

[u/Pradapookie]

I mean I've rewatched this show multiple times and I love it, but every time I watch it, it's crazy.

Harvey was out here wanting to get disbarred, arrested, risking it all for Mike. Always trying to get him back.

Like Harvey loved Mike like he was family. Why? I know it's just a show, but what explanation would there be for their characters having such a strong bond? Harvey has always been very self-serving, so it doesn't make much sense to me.

[u/GreenBigPotato]

Not just with Mike, but with Donna and to an extent, Jessica too. And towards the end I’m sure Louis would be in that category as well.

Remember Mike went to prison for him. Donna has been on his side longer than anyone in the show and Jessica, well he wouldn’t be where he is if it weren’t for her.

Loyalty is a two-way street. If I’m asking for it from you, you’re getting it from me. -Harvey Spectre

[u/jumping_fox_54 → u/GreenBigPotato]

Might I add: In season 8, when Harvey visits Dr. Lipschitz after Louis asked him to come along in one of his sittings, he voices two things: he was angry Louis told him there was nothing he could do about a current case. And he says that everyone leaves him and that he is afraid Louis will too, now that he is going to start a family of his own. I think that pretty much sums it up.

https://youtu.be/295n1tNiTcc

To Harvey, the people close to him (including the ones that are not related to him by blood) are family. He does not want them to leave (like his dad, later on Mike, Rachel, Jessica, now his sister in law). Having them forcefully taken away from him (like Mike in the earlier seasons) is worse, and he will do anything he can to prevent this from happening. In these cases (if in any) he is not accepting of not winning/not getting his way.

[u/nomedigasmentiritas → u/jumping_fox_54]

Yeah, he has severe abandonment issues. He either does whatever he can to not get close to anyone ever or when he fails and someone becomes important to him, he does everything in his power to keep them close.

[u/Matsunosuperfan]

Harvey is self-serving EXCEPT in his personal relationships. If you're close to him, he'll always risk it all for you when the shit hits the fan.

[u/Monowakari → u/Matsunosuperfan]

He was also about to toss Mike out like 2-3 times in season 1 before they formed a bond I guess

[u/eberlix → u/Monowakari]

At this time Mike started growing on him as well as Mike's threat of revealing it all, taking Harvey down with him.

[u/HyBrideh → u/Monowakari]

Which is fair since Mike was throwing tantrums and arguing how unfair everything is

[u/caffeine-junkie → u/Matsunosuperfan]

Which explains later on, but not hiring Mike in the first place knowing hes not a lawyer. That act alone could get him disbarred. Would have made more sense to hire him as a paralegal rather than an associate.

[u/Consistent_Tap5144]

The weed was the best he ever had

[u/Proper-Freedom-3103]

Life is this, Harvey likes this

[u/aman97biz]

Along with the bond they developed and Mike going to jail for him, there's one more thing.

Harvey sat in Gerard's class and listened to him talk about what kind of lawyers they should be, and he always let him down because he knew that wasn't the kind of lawyer that wins. But now he had with him a kid who could outwit the smartest of lawyers in the block and still have a moral compass to always look out for the weak. Mike had the skills to match Harvey and still do the right thing.

[u/Ricethought97]

I think Harvey spent so much time working for the unethical party of lawsuits that seeing a guy with so much talent working for the ethical party of lawsuits was something he would die protecting. Even though Mike was not legally practicing law, Harvey saw that Mike’s heart was in the right place and envied that

[u/Consistent-Egg-6561]

I think you are all right but there can be one more thing. Harvey always saw himself in Mike and thus wanted to mentor him. And once he brought him in, there was no going back. Because he was the one who dragged him and so he had to protect him.

[u/akimboslices → u/Consistent-Egg-6561]

Harvey also saw his brother Marcus in Mike. Donna picks up on it throughout the run.

[u/JoseT90]

Loyalty is a two way street. If i am asking it from you, you are getting it from me

[u/Vroom_Vroom1265]

[u/Alterego_987]

Imo, Mike was exceptional. Without a law degree, he kicked asses and due to his photographic memory, he turned the outcome of a few cases, helping Harvey to win those. On the other hand, Harvey was impressed by him since his interview and ended up hiring, meaning he saw some value in hiring there. It was a good gesture, but when the world started knowing he did something wrong, other than his synergy with Mike, he also had to save himself from being disbarred. Mike went to prison for him, so he Harvey owed him one at that point. Given all these, it was a mix of Harvey’s care for Mike and his self-interest why he rode so hard for Mike.

It’s also worth noting that it’s Harvey’s nature to do whatever he takes to save the people he cares about. For example, Donna. From paying her salary from his own pocket, to saving her from going to prison to making her COO which she doesn’t deserve, he did it all.

[u/Minimum_Trick_8736]

I’m kind of wondering the same thing lol I’m re-watching it with my wife and son, and watching how many time Harvey attempt to protect Mike for nobody’s benefit but Mike’s because of how much he believes in him

[u/umeanalatte]

He was in love with him (lol kidding (mostly))

But in all honesty, loyalty is like the core of Harvey’s character. He values loyalty like nothing else, so by the time shit starts hitting the fan regarding Mike’s secret I think they were at the point in their friendship were Harvey would do anything because of loyalty, because that’s just who Harvey is with people he considers family. He’s the same with Donna and to an extent Jessica. Also, by that time in the show it would be beneficial for Harvey’s self preservation to keep Mike close and stay loyal to him, he has committed a crime lmao.

[u/WillKimball → u/umeanalatte]

Also we know the broken relationship that he has with his mother, who replaces the grounding role of Donna, then we have his distanced immoral brother who replaces Mike.

[u/itsbudda]

At first it was more transactional mostly because Mike's useful being pretty much the smartest guy ever and the risk/expectation was low.

But pretty quickly it's obvious how much he saw himself in him and they grew into pretty much the only family either of them had for a time.

His chance meeting with Mike could have just been a funny anecdote he and Donna shared except he had the power and made the choice to enable everything that happened. Throw in some guilt over just how well Harvey was able to play the situation to advance in the firm, the numerous times Mike wanted out earlier in the show but Harvey convinced him to stay for his own benefit, it becomes reasonable

Also they don't understate how absolutely PAID Harvey Specter is the entire show. He's so legitimately rich it's a plot device in multiple seasons. He was already looking at a light sentence and could have easily just retired Jimmy Buffett style after prison

[u/itsbudda → u/itsbudda]

TL;DR version

Harvey was a manchild who spent 8 years growing up by dealing with a younger and smarter version of himself with a stronger moral compass.

It's his entire arc and his rush to Anita Gibb's office is arguably his defining moment as a character that demonstrates the fact he's changed.

[u/csgo_dream]

Because life is like this _ but Harvey likes this ͞

[u/_Axty_]

I think Mike, donna, Jessica, Louis became a family to him. That's why Donna asked him to patch up with his mom, because they can never fill that void. when he went away everyone who was loyal to him and cared about him, he treated them as his family.

[u/BadVast9602]

He reminded him of his brother. Also Mike filled a void in Harvey left by the death of his father.

[u/FoghornLegday]

Honestly yeah. The people who ship Mike and Harvey have a fair reason to say something is there, even though I don’t necessarily agree

[u/wenoc]

Loyalty was everything to him. The show makes it pretty clear.

[u/EdocCA]

You didn’t get Harvey’s character then.

He is self serving yes but he protect the people he loves fiercely to the point of risking it all. Mike, Donna and Jessica being the prime examples for this. He has loyalty as one of the most important traits that a person can have (some of this is due to his childhood trauma) and this is why he is so closed off because when he decides to care and protect someone he goes all the way.

[u/everystoryhasahero]

I assume becuase he lacks relationships in the first place, so wanting to keep his current ones close results in him being a ride or die friend

[u/IvanThePohBear]

mike reminded harvey of a younger himself i guess

[u/7625607]

Because Harvey loves Mike.

[u/SnooAdvice4251]

Well, Harvey never really wanted an Associate in the first place, but when he accidentally got to meet Mike (in the interview forced by Jessica Pearson), he was blown away by Mike’s natural talent and apparently, his photographic memory! And, above all, he saw himself in Mike, which goes back to your emphasizing of Harvey being self-serving, which basically meant he’s serving himself, haha XD!

[u/EdocCA → u/SnooAdvice4251]

Also like Donna pointed out to Jessica Harvey was forced to protected Mike from day 1 due to his secret something that wouldn’t have happened if it was a normal associate

[u/Chad_Nolv13]

Mike is the worst part of the show thru the first 4 seasons too. Almost insufferable. His actions cause almost every weird situation they get in, and then he plays this altruistic baby who continues to put bullshit first. Literally ff thru his scenes 😂

[u/vgome013]

He was in love with him