Warning: SPOILERS for Suits LA season 1, episode 1.Suits LAis off to a rocky start, but the original series holds the solution to the spinoff’s convoluted plot problems. The West Coast successor toSuitsbecame one of themost anticipated new shows of 2025as soon as it was announced, but the pilot episode left much to be desired. From lackluster character introductions to high-intensity twists that felt unearned, the pilot episode seemed to have a weak grasp on an overall plan forSuits LA, as it tried to emulate the original series too much and failed to commit to its more original ideas.
DespiteSuits LA’s poor initial reviews, the spinoff has the rest of its flagship season to find its footing, and I have faith it’ll recover from its most egregious issues.Suits LAmay take a second to cement its identity as a standalone spinoff,but the pilot episode ironically could have been leagues better if it borrowed one main aspect from the original series. Instead of Stephen Amell’s Ted Black standing in as the new Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht),Suits LAwould have been better off trying to emulate Patrick J. Adams as Mike Ross.
Suits LA Needed An Ingénue Character Like Mike Ross
The Genius Was Also The New Kid At The Start
While Mike Ross had impressive problem-solving skills and an eidetic memory that attracted Harvey in the first place, he was still a complete newcomer being thrown into the deep end ofSuits. Passing the bar didn’t mean Mike had the practical experience to handle cases, clients, and courtrooms. In fact,Mike’s greenness was an early source of conflict forSuits. Aside from keeping the secret that he never went to law school, Mike also had to learn the practicalities of being a lawyer on the job. Mike may be one ofSuits’best characters, but he earned his place.
Suits LAcould have laid the foundation before revealing the multiple pilot episode twists, ensuring a more sympathetic aftermath.
Suits LAwouldn’t be able to get away with having a genius like Mike on its roster, but the spinoff could’ve benefited from a fresh face at the firm. A new employee is the perfect narrative conceit to give exposition without it feeling like an information overload. A young gun joining the firm would need to meet their coworkers, setting up more natural character introductions and giving an overall impression of the relationship dynamics and working tone. Consequently,Suits LAcould have laid the foundation before revealing the multiple pilot episode twists, ensuring a more sympathetic aftermath.
Having A New Mike Offers A More Interesting Perspective In Suits LA
The Spinoff Drops You Into The Deep End
DespiteSuits LAincluding betrayal after betrayal in the pilotepisode, the impact fell flat since the audience didn’t have enough time to grow attached to the characters before their world turned upside down. If the pilot had paced itself and introduced a new hire to show the hierarchy without explicitly talking about it, Stuart Lane (Josh McDermitt) backstabbing Ted Black would have been more monumental. Starting a series mid-conflict is certainly a creative choice, butSuits LArushed the narrative and couldn’t stick the landing.
Why Doesn’t Victoria Justice Play Herself In Suits LA?
Suits LA’s setting means it can have actors appear as themselves, but that was not the case for Victoria Justice, who plays an all-new character.
Even focusing on a new client to introduce the firm could have worked to set up theSuits LAconflicts more subtly. The ingénue character would be going in blind just like the audience, offering a narrative mirror to translate the plot. World-building is an important part of any series, but a spinoff especially has to clearly establish its place in the universe to demonstrate that, even if things seem confusing, there’s a clear plan for where everything is heading and why it matters. Without that anchor, no amount of plot twists will affect the audience.
How Suits LA Can Still Make The Most Out Of Its Characters
They Have Potential, But They Need More Attention
Even if the pilot failed to capitalize on it,Suits LAhas a talented cast of charactersthat is capable of selling a legal drama. Lex Scott Davis is widely regarded as the best part of the pilot, with many thinking her characterErica Rollins is the true lead ofSuits LA. If the spinoff promotes Alice Lee’s Leah to the main cast and sets up a proper mentorship between her and Erica, there would be a realistic vehicle for exposition that makes sense within the overarching narrative.
New episodes ofSuits LAcan be streamed on Peacock the day after they air on NBC.
Erica and Leah’s partnership may invite comparisons to Harvey and Mike, but the unique circumstances ofSuits LAcould offer enough distinction. However,Suits LAmust accept that Erica is her own person, not the California version of Rachel Zane (Meghan, Duchess of Sussex), Jessica Pearson (Gina Torres), or any other powerful female character fromSuits.Suits LAhas all the pieces it needs to craft a captivating legal drama, but only time will tell if it’ll learn from its past mistakes and grow.
