4. Moral Complexity in SUITS: Navigating Right vs. Right with Mike (ENTP), Harvey (ENTJ), and Jessica (INTJ)

What do you think about the Ethical Dilemmas that SUITS presents? Mike’s Fraud, Harvey’s Loyalty, and Jessica’s Leadership Struggles?

Explore the philosophical depth of Suits with its challenging moral dilemmas involving Mike’s fraud, Harvey’s loyalty struggles, and Jessica’s leadership choices. Is deception ever justified? When does loyalty become a flaw? Can power and ethics coexist?

Why iNtuitives Love Suits: Moral and Ethical Dilemmas

(Mike’s fraud, Harvey’s loyalty conflicts, Jessica’s leadership choices)

One of the biggest draws for iNtuitive thinkers (N-types) is the philosophical depth of Suits. The show constantly challenges its characters with gray-area dilemmas that test their values, integrity, and long-term strategies.

Instead of clear right vs. wrong, Suits thrives in the space of right vs. right—where different perspectives lead to moral and ethical clashes.

These dilemmas are presented from different perspectives, for differing people:

1. First we have Mike’s Fraud and The Ethics of Deception vs. Doing Good.
2. Then we have Harvey’s Loyalty Conflicts where Personal Ties Compete with Professional Duty.
3. Finally we have Jessica’s Leadership Choices, which are Power vs. Principle.

Let's explore each one, one at a time.

Mike’s Fraud – The Ethics of Deception vs. Doing Good

Moral and Ethical Dilemmas

Can doing something illegal ever be morally justifiable?

If someone is the best at their job, does their background matter?

Aren't those great questions?

There are three perspectives, when it comes to these questions:

1. Mike Ross (ENTP) – The Idealistic Rule-Breaker
2. Harvey Specter (ENTJ) – The Strategic Enabler
3. Jessica Pearson (INTJ) – The Mastermind Who Won’t Bend

?? Mike Ross (ENTP) – The Idealistic Rule-Breaker

Mike sees rules as guidelines, not absolutes. He believes that his ability makes him deserving of the job, regardless of the fraud. To support this belief system, Mike rationalizes his actions with "I help people"—meaning his intentions outweigh the deception. But, at the end of the day, while he tends to struggle with guilt, he ultimately fights for justice rather than self-interest.

?? Harvey Specter (ENTJ) – The Strategic Enabler

On the other hand, Harvey knows hiring Mike is wrong but does it anyway because he values talent over rules. He becomes a strategic enabler: facing internal conflict. Harvey is constantly facing the question, "Am I risking the firm for my personal belief in Mike?

Over time, Harvey realizes that loyalty has limits, and sometimes protecting Mike is more dangerous than the truth.

?? Jessica Pearson (INTJ) – The Mastermind Who Won’t Bend

Unlike Mike and Harvey, as the mastermind who won't bend, Jessica cares about the rules because they protect the firm. From this perspective, she sees Mike’s fraud as a liability rather than an asset. At the end of the day, Jessica is pragmatic, taking the stance: “I don’t care how good you are. You are a risk.”

At the end of the day the ethical questions are:

Does talent justify breaking the rules?

Is deception forgivable if it benefits others?

What does justice really mean—the law, or doing the right thing?

Suits never gives a clear answer—because in real life, it’s complicated. So, what do you think?

Harvey’s Loyalty Conflicts – When Personal Ties Compete with Professional Duty

Moral and Ethical Dilemmas

Can you be loyal to people and true to yourself at the same time?

When does loyalty become a weakness?

These are the questions Harvey struggles with.

?? Harvey’s Loyalty Struggles

When it comes to loyalty, Harvey struggles with loyalty in 3 relationships: Mike, Jessica and Donna. Where loyalty is core value, his dilemmas occur when his loyalty for one challenges his loyalty for someone or something else. For instance:

1. Hiding Mike’s fraud means risking everything—but turning him in means betraying him.
2. Following Jessica means staying loyal to his mentor, but standing up for himself means becoming his own man.
3. He wants to be loyal to her but doesn’t want to face his emotions—leading to a painful disconnect.

That amounts to a lot of tension both within himself and within his relationships with others.

At the end of the day the ethical questions Harvey presents are:

Should loyalty be absolute, or is there a point where you have to walk away?

Can you be loyal to multiple people at once—or does someone always lose?

Is Harvey’s refusal to betray people a strength or a flaw?

iNtuitives love this theme because it challenges the black-and-white idea of loyalty—it’s not just about standing by someone, but about knowing when and how to do it. Agreed? Share your thoughts and feelings in the comments.

Jessica’s Leadership Choices – Power vs. Principle

Moral and Ethical Dilemmas

Is being a great leader about always doing what’s right, or about doing what’s necessary?

Can you be ethical and ruthless at the same time?

?? Jessica Pearson (INTJ) – The Ultimate Strategist

Unlike Harvey, Jessica is more about power vs principle. She leads with strategy, not emotion while still valuing the firm as her legacy. That is how she makes tough, sometimes cold choices to ensure long-term survival. As a result, Jessica constantly struggles with the burden of leadership—she has to make decisions that no one else wants to.

At the end of the day the ethical questions Jessica presents are:

Should leaders be pragmatic or idealistic?

When does protecting something justify unethical actions?

Can you be respected without making enemies?

Jessica’s power struggles make her one of the most compelling characters—she’s never the villain, but she’s also never fully the hero. What would you do in her situation? We would love to hear about your perspective and experiences in the comments!

Finally, Which Character Are You Aligned With?

Find out at www.16personalities.com.

Final Takeaway:

1. Mike’s fraud asks if deception is ever morally right.
2. Harvey’s loyalty conflicts explore whether relationships should outweigh principles.
3. Jessica’s leadership choices test if power can ever truly be ethical.

This is why iNtuitives love Suits—because it doesn’t just ask “What’s right?” It asks, “What’s right for whom, and at what cost?”

?? Want to go deeper into any one of these dilemmas?