In the popular legal drama ‘Suits’, the rapid elevation of Donna Paulsen from secretary to COO sparked controversy among fans. While the show’s creators aimed to highlight her growth journey, this abrupt transformation lacked the necessary obstacles and challenges to feel believable.
Donna’s exceptional secretarial skills and witty interactions made her a beloved character. However, her meteoric rise to COO undermined the authenticity of her character arc. Instead of organic progression, the narrative forced her into a position of power without adequately addressing her struggles and triumphs along the way.
Donna Paulsen (Sarah Rafferty) and Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht) (Via IMDB)
The questionable promotion resulted in Donna losing her relatable qualities and failing to provide meaningful challenges to her character. Her interactions with other characters felt forced, and her exceptional skills as a legal secretary were relegated to the background. This drastic shift left viewers questioning the integrity of her character development.
Ultimately, Donna’s swift ascent to COO stands as a cautionary tale, demonstrating how well-intentioned creative decisions can ultimately sabotage the integrity of even the most compelling characters.
