Many people did not realize how entertaining Suits was until it gained massive popularity on Netflix in the summer of 2023. However, plenty of dedicated viewers already knew that it was one of the most defining legal dramas of its time. While the show had flaws, especially in later seasons, its early episodes delivered something special.
The original series featured Gabriel Macht as Harvey Specter, a highly skilled and confident corporate lawyer. In the pilot episode, Harvey grew tired of hiring traditional law school graduates. Instead, he took a risk by recruiting Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams), a brilliant young man with a photographic memory who had never attended law school.
Mike had been working as a bike messenger and occasionally dealing drugs, but his intelligence and charm made him stand out. Their partnership added a fresh twist to the typical legal drama, and the show thrived because of the incredible chemistry between its cast members, including Sarah Rafferty, Gina Torres, Rick Hoffman, and Meghan Markle before she became royalty.
In 2023, more than ten years after its debut, Suits became the number-one show worldwide. The show’s unexpected rise in popularity made a continuation feel inevitable.
NBC soon announced a new spin-off titled Suits: LA, bringing the series back with a different setting and a new protagonist. Series creator Aaron Korsh has worked to recreate the magic of the original while giving this new story its own identity.
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Introducing Ted Black: A Lawyer with a Complicated Past
Stephen Amell plays Ted Black, the central character in Suits: LA. The premiere episode introduces Ted at a turning point in his career. He is a die-hard Yankees fan and compares himself to Patrick Mahomes at different points in the episode.
His background includes working as a top federal prosecutor in New York, where he handled cases against dangerous criminals. However, after a tragic event right before his biggest case, Ted left New York and moved to Los Angeles. He changed his focus to entertainment law and helped build one of the biggest firms in the city with his business partner, Stuart Lane (played by Josh McDermitt).
Ted and Stuart want to expand their firm by merging with another law office owned by Ted’s ex-girlfriend, Sam (Rachelle Goulding). Ted, who struggles with trust issues, surprisingly agrees to this merger. However, he soon faces an unexpected betrayal that shakes up his world and sets the stage for the series’ central conflict.
The show emphasizes that Ted’s past holds the key to understanding his future. Flashbacks reveal his final case in New York, where he pressured a witness into testifying against a dangerous gangster.
This gangster had a reputation for eliminating anyone who testified against him. Just as the witness agreed to testify, an explosion destroyed his home, nearly killing Ted in the process.
Surprisingly, the explosion did not immediately drive Ted out of criminal law. He continued working on the case even after doctors confirmed his witness had died. The premiere does not reveal the case’s outcome or the exact reason Ted left New York, but it hints at deeper connections involving his father and the criminals he once prosecuted.
After moving to Los Angeles, Ted and Stuart built their firm together. Despite his years of experience in the legal system, Ted holds the belief that every person accused of a crime is guilty. This mindset makes him dislike criminal defense attorneys, even though he decides to build his new firm with one.
While Stuart focuses on criminal defense, Ted takes charge of entertainment law, which mainly involves negotiating contracts. He shifts from putting criminals behind bars to securing better salaries for celebrities. The audience does not yet know the full reason behind this career change, making it one of the more puzzling aspects of the show.
Power Struggles and Betrayal Shake Up the Firm
Ted and Stuart plan to merge with Sam’s firm to strengthen their legal empire. Despite his well-known trust issues, Ted agrees to the merger without much hesitation. However, things quickly take a shocking turn. Stuart and Sam betray Ted by taking all of his employees, leaving him with only two junior partners who do not get along.
Before this betrayal, Ted had been preparing to choose between two promising attorneys for a leadership position in entertainment law. Rick (Bryan Greenberg) had been a loyal and talented lawyer whom Ted trusted. Meanwhile, Erica (Lex Scott Davis) had a sharp, aggressive style that made her highly effective in their field.
The show initially presents Rick as a character similar to Mike Ross from the original Suits. He is portrayed as more compassionate than Ted, showing genuine care for his clients. Rick repeatedly tells Ted that he deserves the promotion, but in the end, he turns against him.
He chooses to leave with Stuart, claiming that his decision has nothing to do with the fact that Ted wanted to make both him and Erica co-leaders of the entertainment division. Instead, Rick insists that he is leaving because Ted agreed to defend a wealthy film producer in a criminal case.
Rick acts as if Ted’s decision to do his job and represent a client in court is unacceptable. The idea that a lawyer should not defend someone accused of a crime contradicts the core principles of the legal system. Despite this contradiction, Rick leaves, making his motivations unclear.
After Rick’s departure, Erica becomes Ted’s strongest ally. She quickly secures herself as the sole head of entertainment law and earns a promotion to partner. She remains loyal to Ted because he stood by her when Stuart initially wanted her to handle only “diverse” clients. That moment of support gave her confidence in Ted, motivating her to prove that his faith in her was justified.
The show hints at the possibility of Ted and Erica developing a dynamic similar to Harvey and Donna or Harvey and Jessica from the original Suits. However, with only one episode aired, it remains uncertain how their relationship will evolve. Some viewers may hope that Erica eventually leaves to start her own firm, especially since Ted’s firm appears disorganized and lacks direction.
The Unexpected Supernatural Element in Suits: LA
One of the most surprising elements of the premiere is Ted’s hallucinations. While flashbacks show that he is haunted by his past, the show takes this idea literally by making him see visions of his deceased brother.
Ted’s brother had Down Syndrome and was killed the night before their father was supposed to go to prison. The details surrounding his death remain unclear, but Ted blames his father and refuses to forgive him, even as the man faces his own mortality.
The original Suits took over two seasons to show Harvey Specter’s deep emotional issues, but Suits: LA reveals much of Ted’s backstory in its first episode.
Despite all this information, many of the details feel disconnected from the legal drama. Ted’s visions raise concerns about his mental state and whether he is fit to practice law. The supernatural aspect is unusual for a Suits spin-off and leaves many questions about how it fits into the story.
What Suits: LA Needs to Figure Out
So far, Suits: LA presents a complex character in Ted Black, a lawyer balancing entertainment law and criminal defense while battling ghosts from his past.
His closest colleagues betray him at a crucial moment, leaving him with only Erica as a reliable partner. His father is potentially responsible for his brother’s death and is now dying, adding another layer of conflict.
The original Suits was dramatic but remained grounded in legal cases and firm politics. In contrast, Suits: LA struggles to define itself. It shifts between different types of law without a clear focus. The show has strong elements, but it needs to refine its direction to reach its full potential.
Where Suits: LA Stands and What Lies Ahead
Suits: LA introduces a new chapter in the Suits universe, bringing fresh characters, high-stakes betrayals, and unexpected supernatural elements.
Ted Black is a compelling protagonist, but his journey feels scattered as he faces legal battles, personal struggles, and shocking betrayals. The show attempts to balance entertainment law with criminal defense, yet it has not fully established its identity.
The original Suits thrived on sharp legal drama and strong character dynamics, and Suits: LA has the potential to do the same if it refines its focus. Ted’s backstory adds depth, but his hallucinations and unclear motivations create confusion. The show must decide what kind of legal drama it wants to be.
With time, Suits: LA could develop into a worthy successor to the original. For now, it remains an intriguing but uncertain addition, leaving viewers hopeful that future episodes will bring more clarity and purpose to Ted’s story.
New episodes of Suits: LA air Sundays at 9 PM on NBC and are available for streaming the next day on Peacock.
