One could argue it’s still too early to tell, as viewers weren’t immediately convinced about Suits when it first aired in 2011, but although Suits LA has managed to replicate a few of the nuances which gave life to the original series, it is missing key elements, namely a charismatic dynamic between a cocky litigator like Harvey Specter and a witty sidekick like Mike Ross. This relationship was the glue of the show and though Mike (Patrick J. Adams) departed the show after seven seasons, fans called for his return over the following two seasons.
“Seven Days a Week and Twice on Sunday” – Suits L.A., Pictured: Stephen Amell as Ted Black. David Astorga/NBC ©2025 Network. All Rights Reserved
The show centers around Ted Black (Stephen Amell), a former federal prosecutor in New York, turned entertainment lawyer in Los Angeles, and friend to Harvey Specter.
Ideally, Suits LA should be able to stand on its own but the characterization feels like a forced replica of that on Suits. Ted’s idiosyncrasies are clearly meant to be an imitation of Harvey’s, from his vocabulary to his body language. It feels forced and does not fit the overall vibe of the show. Unfortunately, the dialogue is not quite as quippy and the characters don’t possess the same chemistry which Harvey (Gabriel Macht) and Jessica (Gina Torres) exuded, nor that of Harvey and Louis (Rick Hoffman).
What Suits: LA Gets Right
One of the defining elements of the original series was the use of music and musical scores throughout the episodes, some which quickly became memorable and recognizable like the tense music which played whenever Hardman made an appearance or when depositions got hostile and seemed like a dead end. Christopher Tyng, the composer for Suits, curated perfect themes for the show and expertly conveyed the unspoken story and dictated the mood of the scene. The music composer for Suits has managed to create a similar vibe lending to Ted Black’s dialogue.
Pop culture references, particularly sports, was an often occurrence in Suits, usually done between Harvey and Mike, much to the annoyance of Louis.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Suits spinoff without that infamous interjection – “Goddamn!”.
What’s Missing
What made Suits a hit was the knowledge that the stakes were always high and the risks were always worth it. Suits LA is stripped of any appeal in that area. Where is the lawyer who never graduated from any law school? Where is the managing partner whose name is on the wall but has not been seen or heard from? Where is the meddling best friend who threatens to disclose to truth? Jessica hadn’t even found out the truth about Mike until the season 1 finale. In comparison it feels like we know almost everything about Ted’s character in 44 minutes. There is so much packed into the premiere and fans won’t be able to get invested due to the constantly changing dynamics.
“Seven Days a Week and Twice on Sunday” – Suits L.A., Pictured: Stephen Amell as Ted Black. David Astorga/NBC ©2025 Network. All Rights Reserved
In this TV industry climate shows are here today, gone tomorrow. Streaming services have stripped us of what cable provided – fleshed out characters with interesting backgrounds where we slowly unravel the complexity of their lives through various plot devices and not just through dialogue and flashbacks. The old refrain of “show, don’t tell” has seemed to be a thing of the past these days. We must, however, adjust for the shows of today which are not automatically guaranteed a five season run and therefore Suits LA gets a pass. It just feels rushed and inauthentic by knowing so much about the character one episode in.
Suits allowed a natural development between Harvey and Mike, with the former taking him under his wings and teaching Mike more than he ever could as an associate to any other lawyer.
While we could get an idea of how Suits would develop overtime, it’s hard to say the same about Suits LA.
The Jury is Out
If you haven’t seen Suits yet, you might want to hold off, for now. At least not until you’ve watched Suits LA. Unfortunately it will be impossible not to make constant comparisons and be on the lookout for Suits references, but if you are in fact a Suits fan and have seen the original series, Suits LA just might surprise you. It will require an objective unbiased view for maximum enjoyment but the premiere promises potential. So far Gabriel Macht is the only Suits cast member reported to have a role in Suits LA.
Suits LA premieres Sunday, February 23, on NBC at 9pm ET. Are you interested in this spinoff? Will you give it a chance? Let us know in the comments!