If you have come this far with Suits L.A. and still find yourself a little apprehensive about NBC’s new law series, it may be time to release that urge to compare the west coast reboot to its OG New York counterpart.
While the two shows share similar elements, like scene pacing, sharp-tongued, quick-witted characters moving with purpose from plush office to plush office in their tailored Tom Ford suits, reciting their take on the law, it is important to allow this new iteration the chance to find its own footing and chart its own course for being something new in this space, however, possible that can be with such a crowded field of television legal dramas — past and present.
But, I know what you are thinking — we are six episodes in, and, at times, the new show has yet to fully embrace that directive, itself. While I do not disagree, I will say, there is considerable effort being made, at times. And, other times, the show still seems to struggle with giving us a fresh take on the law and all those who live in its world.
Which brings us to where we are today — more than halfway to finish line on its first season, Suits L.A., for all intents and purposes, has unfortunately collapsed into a singular storyline —Ted Black’s (Stephen Amell) murder trial in defense of movie producer Lester Thompson, played by Kevin Weisman. Singular in the sense that every character’s time on canvas in this go-round feeds into that narrative in some way. The trial dominates the action and dialogue, whether characters are present in the courtroom or not. Unfortunate, because there is so much other story, surrounding the law and the unique positioning of the entertainment industry as a player in it, that could be told from the supporting roles.
While the show does its best work in the courtroom, what it should not do is move away from those B-plots featuring real-life celebrities playing themselves. What could be mistaken for filler scenes when the series started in late February actually gave us a more nuanced look backstage at the entertainment industry and offered viewers another cinematic take on the law. To move away from those particular sub-stories to having all characters focus on one plotline leaves the show lost in the crowd of been there, seen that.
In doing so, we have fallen back, once again, into the chasm of only Ted Black, the character, getting the full circle emotional depth, growth, and backstory, for who he is and why he does what he does. It seems Ted is the only one allowed on the field to wrestle with his own personal conflict; the other characters are left on the sidelines as cheerleaders to ensure he stays winning. No shade to the character or the actor, but this showcases a significant missed opportunity to create interest in the other bodies in the room. The myopic world the series has found itself in leaves a lot of great story on the table to be told from this arena, inviting the critical comparisons to its predecessor.
But, I am not giving up on what could still be.
I, for one, am hopeful that the dance around Rick Dodsen (Bryan Greenberg) and Erica Rollins’(Lex Scott Davis) previous situationship gets a chance to come centerstage, or the expansion of Maggie Grace’s Amanda and her time onscreen becoming more and more challenged by the morality of her pro bono work juxtaposed against that of her office mates’, whose work centers on the super rich and famous; or even that we get to delve into Stuart’s seemingly quirky life outside of the office that has been hinted at with his penchant for cosplay — episode 1, if you’re curious.
Perhaps, when Lester’s trial concludes, we will get such opportunities to see these other characters step into the light, and allow us space to care about them when they are away from Ted.
But, that may be a conversation for another time, or, at least, a different review. For now, we will stay focused on where life is today for our fav L.A. lawyers. So, in speaking of Lester’s trial, the episode wastes no time thrusting us back into the action of the legal proceedings of the movie producer accused of murdering his business partner on the back lawn of his Hollywood home.
At the start of the episode, we get a recap of the information that Kevin (Troy Winbush) has learned from Lester that could seriously impact the case and his defense attorney, Ted. Though we have come to the moment of closing summations for the defense, getting to this point in the trial has not been without its hurdles. While Ted is a charismatic and rather shrewd attorney, admittedly, this is his first criminal defense case and one for which he may not have had a healthy enough respect for, underestimating how charm and being the coolest guy in the room will not go far in winning his client an acquittal.
On the other side of the legal table in this case is an equally shrewd, if not more adept, prosecutor in Assistant DA Elizabeth Smith. So much so that Ted is forced to call on Amanda to help him infuse the question of ADA’s likability into the conversation with the jury. Ted convinces his second chair to take the stand to recount her previous case with a young client who was wrongfully convicted, in which ADA Smith used similar tactics to win a conviction as she was employing now in Lester’s trial.
Unfortunately, though steeped in emotion, particularly for an attorney, Amanda’s time on the stand did not yield the immediate results needed. Nevertheless, she and Ted still allowed themselves to hope it succeeded in creating a measure of reasonable doubt for the jurors.
While the trial proceeds, Ted’s former partner, Stuart, still bitter from Ted stealing his client, makes a play to do the same. Only this time, Stuart makes a move to pilfer more of Ted’s legal talent by approaching Erica with a covert job proposition. Under the guise that it would be best to jump ship from Ted Black & Associates now, before her boss takes the whole ship down with the loss of the Thompson trial, he invites her to join the team at Railsback & Lane. Whether it was loyalty or pride, or a healthy dose of both, Erica digs her heels in and recommits to staying with Ted. Personally, I doubt Erica appreciated being Stuart’s second choice, yet again.
This week’s flashback opens another important door into Ted’s past in New York City. Only this time, we get answers to some nagging questions — specifically, why did Ted and Samantha (Rachelle Goulding) go their separate ways and how did they both end up in California? We come by these more intimate details when a key piece of information about the organized crime case Ted had been working on there is given to him at the most inopportune moment. The impact of which can still be felt in the present day with challenges continually rearing their ugly head during Lester’s trial. And, for the first time since the series began, the flashbacks finally serve their purpose — revealing some of the critically important lessons Ted continues to learn from his past.
Nevertheless, to pour gasoline on the case that could quickly become a dumpster fire, Ted also learns new facts about Lester’s testimony that could put the case in a no-win situation when a rebuttal witness for the prosecution threatens to implode the defense. As a result, Ted is forced once again to confront Stuart and grovel for his legal assistance. In a surprise turn, Stuart agrees and the two former partners work through the night to find a potential way out for Ted’s client.
If it works, Lester will have to go back on the stand in his own defense. But, will it be enough to prove his innocence?
And, now with just four episodes left in the series’ debut year, we are left to wonder what happens next. You’ve come this far with Suits L.A., so why stop now on finding out for yourself how Ted and friends close out the season. Who’s hanging in with me to the end? Come on…you did give Harvey and Mike a chance, after all.
Suits L.A. airs Sundays each week on NBC. Can’t watch it live? Each episode is also available for streaming the following Monday on Peacock.
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