The latest episode of Suits LA proves that the show is settling into a strong rhythm. Episode 5 picks up right where the previous episode left off and delivers a mix of intense courtroom drama, personal conflicts, and unexpected revelations.
The episode starts unusually—with Ted (played by Stephen Amell) having a strange and chaotic dream. His subconscious takes him through a mix of trial preparation and personal tension, as he practices his opening statement in front of Amanda (Maggie Grace) and Samantha (Rachelle Goulding). The dream takes a bizarre turn, nearly leading to an intimate moment among the three, before his alarm wakes him up.
Ted wakes up thinking that was the most frustrating part of his day, but he is wrong. The real trouble begins when he steps into court. His client, Lester (Kevin Weisman), faces his first day of trial, and the stakes are high.
Prosecutor Elizabeth Smith (Sofia Pernas) increases the pressure, pushing Ted into a difficult position. His defense strategy begins to fall apart, and he loses a key ally when Kevin (Troy Winbush) discovers something that threatens to destroy their case.
While Ted struggles in court, there is some positive news. Despite working at opposing law firms, Erica (Lex Scott Davis) and Rick (Bryan Greenberg) manage to put their differences aside. Their connection is undeniable, and they work together to help Kevin investigate Lester’s version of events. Though small, this is one of the few victories in an episode filled with major losses.
Ted Faces a Tough Opponent in Court
Lester’s day in court finally arrives, and Ted is ready with a strong opening statement—thanks to the unusual rehearsal in his dream. However, Elizabeth Smith has her own strategy to disrupt his momentum.
Just as Ted begins, she interrupts and requests access to Lester’s divorce transcripts. This request follows an article published by the Los Angeles Times, in which Lester’s wife (Kristen Hager) publicly expresses support for him.
This sudden turn of events creates three immediate problems for Ted. First, his well-planned argument for the jury is ruined. Second, he must find out what damaging information the transcripts contain before Elizabeth can use them. Lastly, he needs to figure out how Elizabeth obtained these confidential documents in the first place.
Amanda, ever resourceful, is ready to help Ted track down the leak. However, when Ted heads to Railsback Lane to get answers, he ends up in a physical altercation with Stuart (Josh McDermitt). The tension is high, and Ted realizes he is running out of time.
Back at the office, Amanda pieces together what happened. She suspects Elizabeth deliberately planted the news story so she could later use it as a legal excuse to request the transcripts. They can stop her from introducing potentially damaging testimony if they can prove this. Kevin tries to find the phone records to confirm their theory, but they run into another problem—Lester suddenly disappears.
A Desperate Move to Gain More Time
Lester’s absence is alarming, and Amanda uses her influence to convince the judge to give them 24 more hours. Meanwhile, Ted has another secret up his sleeve. It turns out that he was the one who hid Lester, buying them more time to prepare for the trial.
Although this tactic temporarily helps, it backfires when the judge becomes suspicious. When the trial resumes, the judge allows Elizabeth to present the divorce transcripts, even though Amanda and Kevin manage to obtain a sworn statement from the journalist who wrote the Los Angeles Times article. The journalist confirms that Elizabeth pressured him into running the story, but the court still permits the evidence.
Elizabeth uses the transcripts to paint Lester’s wife in a negative light, twisting the narrative to make Lester appear untrustworthy. Ted tries to object, but his efforts are unsuccessful.
Amanda is furious at Ted’s decision to hide Lester. She strongly believes in winning cases ethically, without bending or breaking the rules. Ted, however, has shown that he is willing to cross ethical lines when necessary. Their disagreement reaches a breaking point, and Amanda makes a bold decision—she quits as Ted’s second chair. Their argument is heated, and when they part ways, it is clear that their professional and personal relationship is in serious trouble.
Kevin and Erica Uncover a Shocking Truth
While Ted is dealing with courtroom chaos, Kevin takes matters into his own hands. He starts investigating Lester’s past statements, hoping to find inconsistencies. His gut feeling tells him that something is off—Lester’s police statement and the story he gave to Ted and Kevin sound too rehearsed.
Kevin enlists Erica’s help in figuring out if Lester’s story came from somewhere else. Erica then brings Leah (Alice Lee) into the mix, hoping her knowledge of screenwriting might provide answers. When Leah doesn’t recognize the story, she suggests asking Rick, who has access to Lester’s unpublished scripts.
Rick quickly identifies the police statement—it matches one of Lester’s old screenplays. This discovery is a game-changer. It proves that Lester fabricated his version of events, using a script he had written years ago.
Kevin immediately confronts Lester with the evidence. After some pressure, Lester finally confesses—he did, in fact, kill his partner. The details of what really happened that night remain unclear, but one thing is certain: Ted is defending a man who is guilty. This revelation hits Kevin hard, as his worst fear is now a reality.
A View Into New York—And a Broken Engagement
Away from the chaos in Los Angeles, the episode also checks in on the New York storyline. The New York version of Ted is planning to propose to Samantha, showing a rare romantic side.
During lunch with Kevin, Ted asks for help in setting up the perfect proposal. Kevin agrees and takes Samantha out for a casual dinner to distract her. But before they can finish their meal, Kevin gets an urgent call.
Pellegrini, the mobster that Ted and Kevin have been building a case against, has struck back. He has had Samantha’s comedian client murdered. This client had unknowingly helped Ted impersonate a witness, and Pellegrini’s retaliation is swift and brutal.
The news sends shockwaves through the team. Although the audience doesn’t see Samantha’s immediate reaction, it is clear that this event will have major consequences. Earlier in the episode, Samantha had told Kevin that she would “marry Ted tomorrow” if he asked.
But now, her client’s death changes everything. Ted’s risky tactics have cost someone their life, and it is easy to see how this could have led to the end of his relationship with Samantha.
Ted (Stephen Amell) starts his day in an unexpected way—waking up from a chaotic dream involving a courtroom speech, Amanda (Maggie Grace), and Samantha (Rachelle Goulding). But reality proves far worse. Lester’s (Kevin Weisman) trial is in full swing, and prosecutor Elizabeth Smith (Sofia Pernas) is playing hardball.
She shocks Ted by demanding access to Lester’s divorce transcripts, using a newspaper article as justification. Ted scrambles to stop her, but Elizabeth is always one step ahead.
Ted’s problems don’t stop there. His attempt to buy time by hiding Lester backfires when Amanda finds out. Furious at his reckless tactics, she calls out his lack of ethics and quits as his second chair. The courtroom isn’t Ted’s only battlefield—his relationships are crumbling around him.
Meanwhile, Kevin (Troy Winbush) makes a shocking discovery. Lester’s police statement is nearly identical to a screenplay he once wrote. With Rick’s (Bryan Greenberg) help, Kevin confirms the truth: Lester copied his story from his own script. When confronted, Lester admits his guilt. Now, Kevin must deal with a harsh reality—he is defending a murderer.
As the episode unfolds, Ted’s questionable choices push people away, and Kevin faces a moral crisis. With Lester’s lies exposed and Amanda gone, the future of the case—and the firm—hangs in the balance.
Final Thoughts on Episode 5
Episode 5 of Suits LA delivers intense drama and unexpected twists. Ted faces his toughest challenges yet, both in court and within his own team. Amanda’s departure marks a major shift in the series, and Kevin’s discovery about Lester’s deception could change everything.
The episode also deepens the personal conflicts, showing how Ted’s methods put his relationships at risk. Whether it is his falling out with Amanda or the trouble in his past engagement with Samantha, it is clear that Ted’s choices have lasting consequences.
With Lester’s trial still ongoing and the truth about his crime now exposed, the next episode promises even more drama. Suits LA continues to raise the stakes, keeping audiences eager for what comes next.
Also Read: ‘Suits LA’ Episode 3 Recap: Episode 3 Brings Star Power, Drama, and Unexpected Twists
