You've seen the look. Harvey Specter, usually the coolest guy in any room, suddenly gets a weirdly intense glint in his eye. Donna Paulsen walks in, hands him a simple, metallic kitchen tool, and they start a bizarre pre-trial dance that has absolutely nothing to do with litigation.
If you’ve spent any time binge-watching Suits, you know exactly what I’m talking about. The can opener. It’s the show's biggest "MacGuffin," a mystery that stretches across nine seasons without ever once showing us the actual payoff. It’s frustrating. It’s iconic. And honestly, it’s kinda the heart of the show.
So, what does Harvey do with the can opener, and why are there thumbtacks involved?
The Origin Story: Whipped Cream and a Diner
To understand where the can opener came from, you have to go back to the days before Pearson Hardman—back when Harvey was just a hungry Assistant District Attorney and Donna was the only person who could keep him in line.
In the Season 3 episode "The Other Time," we finally get a glimpse into the history of their "thing." Before the can opener, there was whipped cream. This was their original ritual, something they used to celebrate or prepare for cases. But then, they finally crossed the line. They spent one night together, and as Donna famously put it, the whipped cream was "ruined" because it was now tied to something... much more adult.
They needed a new ritual. Something that didn't have the sexual baggage of the whipped cream, but still felt like theirs.
While sitting in a diner, Harvey reached into a waitress’s pocket, pulled out a can opener, and said, "Maybe something to do with a can opener?" Donna called it the dumbest thing she’d ever heard. Naturally, it became their sacred tradition for the next decade.
Why the Can Opener Ritual Still Matters
It’s easy to dismiss the can opener as a cheap writer’s trick to keep fans talking. And sure, that’s part of it. But in the world of the show, it serves a much bigger purpose.
Harvey is a guy who lives for control. He wears three-piece Tom Ford suits like armor. He never lets anyone see him sweat. But the law is unpredictable. Trials are chaotic. The can opener is Harvey’s way of grounding himself. It’s a superstition, sure, but it’s also a bridge to Donna.
Throughout the series, we see the ritual evolve. By Season 2, we find out there are thumbtacks involved. Later, we hear mentions of "the thumb tack" in the singular. This isn't just a kitchen tool anymore; it’s a complex, multi-step process that apparently involves physical coordination and a whole lot of inside jokes.
What are they actually doing?
Since the show never shows the act, fans have gone wild with theories for years. Here are the most plausible ones that actually fit the characters:
- The "Opening Statement" Theory: In the series finale, Donna makes a comment about Harvey practicing his "oral argument" on her instead of using the can opener. This led many to believe Harvey literally treats the can opener like a microphone or a mock judge while he rehearses his opening statements. It’s dorky, which is why he’d only do it with Donna.
- The "Whoop-Ass" Metaphor: It’s a bit on the nose, but some think it’s a literal manifestation of "opening a can of whoop-ass" on the opposing counsel.
- The Thumbtack Game: Some believe they use the can opener to flick thumbtacks into the ceiling or into a specific pattern. Given Harvey’s competitive nature, a game of skill makes sense.
- The Psychological Anchor: It might not be "doing" anything physical. It might just be the act of holding a mundane object from their "simpler" days to remind them that no matter how big the case is, they’re still just those two kids from the DA’s office.
What the Creator and Cast Have Said
If you’re looking for a "canon" answer, you’re going to be disappointed. Aaron Korsh, the creator of Suits, has been very clear about this. He once told Entertainment Weekly that he has "notions" of what they do, but he deliberately chose never to reveal it.
"I’d rather you want to know than know," Korsh said.
He’s right. The second they show Harvey and Donna actually opening a can of peaches or whatever, the magic is gone. It’s the "briefcase from Pulp Fiction" effect. Whatever you've imagined in your head is probably cooler than whatever the writers could have put on screen.
Gabriel Macht and Sarah Rafferty have also played coy. Rafferty once joked in an interview that the ritual was "too suggestive" for television, while Patrick J. Adams (who played Mike Ross) once theorized they just sit there and silently open cans of tuna.
The Mystery is the Point
Basically, the can opener is a symbol of the "Darvey" relationship. It’s something that belongs only to them. Mike Ross, Harvey’s protégé, was eventually let in on the secret (we see the elevator doors close on them as Harvey starts to explain), but the audience is kept at arm’s length.
It highlights the intimacy between a boss and a secretary that eventually becomes a partnership of equals. It’s about trust. You don’t do weird stuff with a can opener and thumbtacks with someone you don't trust with your life.
When Donna leaves Harvey to work for Louis Litt in Season 5, the absence of the can opener is a massive plot point. It’s not just about losing an assistant; it’s about the loss of his "mojo" and the person who makes the chaos of the legal world manageable.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're still obsessing over what happens behind those closed office doors, here is how to view the mystery:
- Don't look for a literal answer: There isn't one. The writers purposefully left it blank.
- Focus on the season 3 flashback: That's the only time we get a "real" explanation of the why, even if we don't get the how.
- Watch the body language: Pay attention to how Harvey and Donna look at each other whenever the can opener is mentioned. It’s a tool for emotional beats, not plot points.
- Revisit the Finale: The "oral argument" line is the closest the show ever gets to a reveal. It's the writers giving a wink to the fans who suspected it was a rehearsal tool.
The can opener remained one of the few things in Harvey Specter's life that wasn't for sale, wasn't for show, and wasn't about winning. It was just about the two of them. Sometimes, in a show about high-stakes backstabbing and billion-dollar deals, a weird kitchen utensil is exactly what you need to keep things human.
Next Steps for Your Suits Rewatch
If you want to track the evolution of the gag, start with Season 1, Episode 12 for the first mention. Then, skip to Season 3, Episode 6 ("The Other Time") to see the diner origin. Finally, watch the interaction between Harvey and Mike in the Season 2 finale to see just how much Harvey values the secret. Keeping a list of every mention of "thumbtacks" vs. "can opener" reveals just how much the writers enjoyed messing with the audience.