Of course, while losing a parent is significant enough in and of itself, the impact of Harvey’s mom’s death is compounded by a number of difficulties in his life befitting the fact “Suits” was at that point nearing its series finale.
In the lead-up to the event, in the Season 8 finale Robert Zane (Wendell Pierce) defends Harvey during an ethics hearing and as a result becomes disbarred. Then, in Season 9, Harvey’s friend Samantha Wheeler (Katherine Heigl) is fired for manufacturing evidence in a case that Harvey desperately wants her to win, on the other side of which is Faye Richardson (Denise Crosby). So, when Donna lets him know that his mother suffered a fatal heart attack, his existing hardships are only intensified.
Moving forward, Harvey is in the midst of an attempt to get Faye to step down from her position as partner at Specter Litt Wheeler Williams in response to Samantha’s somewhat unjust firing. While it seems like the loss of his mother during this pivotal time might hinder his efforts, especially amidst some manufactured discord between him and Samantha, he ends up successful and triumphant in the series finale. Furthermore, at his story’s conclusion he marries Donna after her involvement in the ordeal with his mom has perhaps brought them closer to one another.
