Louis Litt looks downright giddy at the beginning of "Suits" season five when Donna officially starts working for him, but he still holds some sympathy for his partner Harvey who is struggling over the loss of his most-trusted legal secretary.
"Louis for sure has empathy for Harvey at the start of the season regarding the loss of Donna (Sarah Rafferty)," Rick Hoffman, who plays the power-hungry attorney at Pearson Specter Litt. "It affects Harvey (Gabriel Macht) in more ways than one and will have a trick-down effect on everyone else. It really does have a weighted effect on the firm."
But how long will Louis sympathize with his sullen co-worker?
"Not long," Hoffman says, chuckling.
Louis won't have time to worry about Harvey's feeling when the firm's new head of Compensation Committee, Jack Soloff (John Pyper-Ferguson), comes asking for a favor on a proposal he wants to pass. Hoffman couldn't divulge too much about said proposal, the decision Louis makes will have a "ripple effect on what's to come for the firm."
He added, "You really can't peg who [Jack] is from the get-go and it's annoying because [Louis] is trying to see where this guy comes from."
With things heating up at work, Louis will have little time to explore any romantic entanglements. He ended his last relationship with Sheila in the middle of season four and has been single ever since.
"As for now, Louis is content with the other love of his life in the workplace and that's Donna," Hoffman says. "I think his heart is pretty full for now on a work level."
Heading into season five, the 45-year-old actor is enjoying his longest series regular run on the USA drama. The only thing he'd like to see the writers introduce for his character is a possible working vacation in the tropics.
"I would always like to see Louis in the Caribbean, enjoying the turquoise water. Maybe he's doing some business down there for a couple episodes. That would be awesome," Hoffman says.
For now, Louis will be stuck in the New York office. But at least he's got Donna.
"Suits" premieres its fifth season tonight, June 24 at 9 p.m. on USA.
