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Suits LA Season 1, Episode 10 Review: The Show Keeps Setting Itself Apart

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In Season 1, Episode 10 of “Suits LA,” titled “Slugfest,” it becomes evident that the spinoff will not replicate the charm of the original “Suits.” This is due to a significant distinction: the characters in this series often come off as unappealing. This episode delivers an engaging dramatic experience, but falls short of capturing the warmth and depth that characterized its forerunner.

Retrospective Rumble”

In this episode, we delve into the past as Ted Black and Stuart Lane engage in a simulated trial to ascertain who will be at the pinnacle of their law school class. It bears resemblance to Mike Ross’ mock trial encounter, but with more weighty consequences. Meanwhile, the current narrative finds Stuart being caught off guard by David Bowie yet again. This hour is filled with questionable choices, so buckle up and prepare for a thrilling ride!

Suits LA Season 1, Episode 10 Feels Like an Episode Out of Place

This Story May Have Worked Better Earlier in the Season

In essence, “Slugfest” primarily serves as a background story, providing insights into Stuart’s feelings of insecurity, specifically concerning his friendship with Ted. This sheds some light on why Stuart might have left Ted out in the cold, given his long-standing frustration about playing second fiddle to Ted Black, who is more popular and seemingly has everything.

However, this isn’t exactly new information; it merely reinforces what viewers already knew. The main plot, or A-story, doesn’t seem to advance the series in any significant way, which could be considered one of the episode’s main drawbacks.

It seems intriguing to consider if the mock trial segment in this narrative might have had a greater impact earlier in the series, especially when Ted was still grappling with Stuart’s departure and the audience was still trying to understand who Stuart was and why he would betray his friend like that. Placing these flashbacks before Episode 10 would have provided more context rather than after we already knew the David Bowie storyline. Although the David Bowie theme does underscore Stuart’s disorientation, Stuart’s neuroses are so integral to his character that it seems plausible to present these two storylines independently. It makes sense for a character like Stuart to experience multiple crises simultaneously.

The emotional journey of the episode revolves around the message delivered by Helen, Stuart’s wife, that “you’re still family” despite their season-long disagreement, which is indeed touching. However, prior to this, they had already started mending their friendship, a significant step being when they both visited Ted’s father’s grave together earlier in the series. This element seems somewhat predictable for viewers who have followed their storyline closely.

Ted does intervene to rescue Stuart from Bowie in a situation that feels like a classic deus ex machina resolution. Yet, from a character development perspective, this scenario appears familiar because it revisits territory we’ve seen before. A more surprising twist could have been if Ted confessed his longing for Stuart at the office or if Stuart expressed his dissatisfaction with the merger with Samantha after all.

The Suits LA Characters Keep Being More Frustrating Than Endearing

Character Development Moves Back and Forth Again

In this latest installment of “Slugfest”, the recurring challenge persists, similar to Suits LA’s seasonal struggle: the characters aren’t very endearing and it appears the show doesn’t prioritize making them so. The episodes continue with some questionable actions and misunderstandings, but in the end, apologies are exchanged, and everything seems forgiven. Even the characters who initially seemed relatable – such as Bryan Greenberg’s Rick Dodson – face difficulties because Erica expects Rick to assist her with Stuart, and becomes upset when he fails to do so. Fortunately, Rick demonstrates maturity by acknowledging that their back-and-forth isn’t beneficial for either of them.

Essentially, the interactions between Stuart and Ted during the mock trial were mostly underhanded tactics, driven more by pride than any genuine concern for winning. Stuart manipulated the situation by involving Ted’s father in the trial and Ted retaliated by revealing Stuart’s relationship with Helen, which was irrelevant to her character. Moreover, Stuart nearly exploited Eddie, who has a disability and might not fully comprehend the situation, against Ted. In the end, they both dropped their cases to preserve their friendship, but later they seemed to find amusement in their strategic plays at a bar. The significance of being number one in the class might help set up Stuart’s future, but this isn’t delved into deeply.

In contrast to the competition-driven conflicts in the original series where personal, harsh actions were accepted, the confrontations in “Suits LA” seem excessive and primarily driven for dramatic effect, demonstrating that winning is more important than ethical behavior for both parties involved. Moreover, when evidence used by Stuart leads to Bowie’s murder charges being dropped, Samantha’s indifference towards potential miscarriage of justice highlights the show’s focus on characters’ well-being over justice. While “Suits” had its share of moral ambiguities, it retained a sense of compassion; however, the spinoff series lacks this heart and focuses more on grandeur.

Suits LA Episode 10 Does Answer One Important Question

Viewers Get Some Insight Into Ted and Samantha’s Past

One intriguing highlight of Suits LA Season 1, Episode 10 unfolds in the final scene, revealing that Ted got acquainted with Samantha through Helen. This happens when Helen introduced her friend to the bar where Stuart and Ted were socializing together. Though this revelation isn’t entirely unexpected, it does provide a crucial detail about their past – which has been somewhat overlooked in Samantha’s character development. As the series tries to incorporate romance into its narrative, this additional insight into Samantha’s background helps enhance her character and makes the romantic elements more engaging.

In their discussion, Ted Stevens and Amanda Black discuss the current state of their relationship due to her taking over the criminal division at Black & Associates while he was in New York. Amanda suggests that this is where things stand for now. Although Ted is okay with this, their feelings towards each other have never been particularly strong, leading to an awkward dynamic between them. This has given the impression of a forced attempt to give Ted a new romantic interest following his breakup with Samantha. Rick and Erica’s interactions were becoming repetitive prior to this episode. On the positive side, it’s great to see more of Helen in the storyline, but there are instances where she seems less like a character and more like a plot device, as some scenes portray her simply instructing or directing others to do something.

The tenth episode of Suits Season 1 packs quite a punch with its unexpected twists. For instance, Ted’s relentless father reappears, showing no signs of change despite his questionable actions. On the other hand, Stuart makes a mistake he can’t undo. There’s certainly a lot going on in this series. However, viewers might find it hard to connect or empathize with these characters since they often seem indifferent towards each other.

Suits LA airs Sundays at 9:00 p.m. on .

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2025-04-28 19:51

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