After an opening episode that tried to do too much, Suits: LA returns with a more focused second episode. The premiere introduced Ted Black (Stephen Amell) as a former New York prosecutor struggling to adjust to his new life as a defense attorney in Los Angeles.
It also gave viewers a lot of background information, including visions of Ted’s deceased brother, which felt overwhelming. Fortunately, Episode 2 leaves those elements behind and focuses on character development, legal strategy, and power struggles.
Ted is determined to prove Lester (Lester Thompson) is innocent, and he relies on his right-hand man from New York, Kevin (Troy Winbush), to help build the case. While Kevin searches for the truth, Ted is only interested in information that supports his belief in Lester’s innocence.
His approach creates challenges, especially when he has to face prosecutor Elizabeth Smith (Sofia Pernas). She is sharp, relentless, and ready to push Ted to his limits in court.
While Ted fights his battle, Erica (Lex Scott Davis) and Rick (Bryan Greenberg) engage in a legal war of their own. They are competing to retain Dylan Pryor (Victoria Justice) as a client. Rick needs Dylan to prove himself at his new firm, while Erica knows that losing another client could severely hurt Ted’s firm.
By the end of the episode, both Ted and Erica are in difficult positions, but neither is out of the fight. They both find unexpected allies who could change their fortunes.
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Ted Faces His Biggest Challenge Yet in Court
Ted may have years of experience as a federal prosecutor, but criminal defense is an entirely different game. He expects Lester’s case to be handled by an older, less aggressive district attorney. However, because of the high-profile nature of the case, the DA’s office assigns Elizabeth Smith instead. She quickly proves to be a fierce opponent.
Elizabeth wastes no time putting pressure on Ted. She offers Lester a plea deal that would require him to spend years in prison. Ted rejects it immediately, but Elizabeth reminds him that he is legally required to present the deal to his client. Ted reluctantly does so, but Lester refuses to consider any deal that involves time behind bars.
As the case develops, Kevin uncovers financial records showing that Lester and his creative partner had been stealing from each other. This information contradicts Lester’s earlier claim that his partner suddenly became erratic before shooting himself. When faced with the evidence, Lester admits that he confronted his partner about the missing money, which led to the chaotic situation.
The situation becomes even more complicated when Elizabeth returns with new evidence. She reveals that Lester’s partner was having an affair with Lester’s wife. This revelation gives the prosecution an even stronger motive for murder. Ted struggles to process the information, but an unexpected twist soon follows.
Elizabeth runs into Amanda Stevens (Maggie Grace), and the tension between them is immediate. They have clashed in the past, and there is clear animosity between them.
Amanda, who has been supporting Ted, makes it clear that she will do everything she can to help him defend Lester. Her determination to see Elizabeth lose could be Ted’s biggest advantage moving forward.
Erica and Rick’s History Fuels Their Rivalry
While Ted battles in court, Erica and Rick engage in their own legal showdown. Their professional rivalry takes center stage as they fight over who should represent Dylan Pryor. Rick originally signed Dylan to Ted’s firm in the premiere, but now he needs her to join his new firm to strengthen his position.
Their competition brings up old feelings, as it is revealed that Erica and Rick were once romantically involved. The details of their breakup remain unclear, but there is clear tension between them. Their arguments go beyond legal strategy, as personal frustrations bubble beneath the surface.
Erica takes a bold approach to keep Dylan as a client. She manages to get Dylan out of an independent film contract, allowing her to take on a major action role with Warner Bros. At first, this seems like a major victory. However, Erica makes a critical mistake—she never reads the revised script of the independent film.
Rick, on the other hand, pays attention to the details. He discovers that the new script offers Dylan a compelling role, similar to the one that originally made her famous. Using this knowledge, he negotiates a deal that allows Dylan to take on both projects. She ultimately decides to stay with him as her lawyer.
Erica is frustrated by the loss, but she refuses to give up. After a conversation with Ted, she realizes two important things. First, she underestimated Rick. Second, she failed to recognize the value of Leah (Alice Lee), a colleague with extensive pop culture knowledge.
Leah had warned Erica that Dylan would want to consider the revised script, but Erica ignored her. Now, Erica sees Leah as an important ally, and their teamwork could pose a serious threat to Rick moving forward.
Flashbacks Offer More Insight Into Ted’s Past
The visions of Ted’s deceased brother may be gone, but the flashbacks remain. Fortunately, they feel more focused in this episode, providing meaningful details about Ted’s past.
The flashbacks reveal that Samantha (Rachelle Goulding) was an entertainment lawyer in New York when she and Ted were together. This information makes Ted’s career change feel more natural, as he was already connected to the entertainment law world through her.
However, their relationship was filled with tension. Ted’s aggressive approach as a prosecutor created conflicts between them. The breaking point came when he used one of Samantha’s clients to trick a witness into testifying in a mob case.
Samantha was furious because Ted did this without asking her, putting her client—a stand-up comedian—in serious danger. The mobster in question was known for targeting people on Ted’s witness list.
Samantha confronted Ted about his hypocrisy. He often criticized other lawyers for using people, yet he was willing to do the same thing in pursuit of what he believed was justice. Ted refused to acknowledge the double standard, further straining their relationship.
The flashbacks do not reveal whether Ted won his final case in New York or what move earned him his “hall of fame” reputation. However, they make it clear that Samantha had valid reasons for distancing herself from him and cutting him out of his own firm.
What’s Next for Suits: LA?
With the second episode, Suits: LA is beginning to find its rhythm. The legal battles feel more engaging, and the rivalries are becoming more intense. Ted is still struggling to adjust to his new role, but he is beginning to realize that criminal defense requires a different approach than prosecution.
Meanwhile, Erica and Rick’s rivalry is heating up, with their past relationship adding another layer of complexity. Erica’s loss in this episode teaches her an important lesson, and with Leah by her side, she may be even stronger in the future.
The flashbacks continue to offer valuable insights into Ted’s past, making his character more complex. His relationship with Samantha remains an intriguing mystery, and future episodes may provide more answers.
Suits: LA airs Sundays at 9 PM on NBC. Episodes are available to stream the next day on Peacock.
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