Movies

Suits LA: Why This Spin-Off Fails to Capture the Original’s Magic

BBG News

2023 summer was quite intriguing! Who would’ve thought that the humble USA Network series, “Suits” – a legal procedural from 2011, would turn into one of Netflix’s all-time blockbusters? The anticipation for a sequel or reboot became palpable. And here I was, eagerly waiting for it!

Fortunately, the original showrunner, Aaron Korsh, is back with a West Coast twist on the legal dramedy. The characters are as brash and quick-witted as their New York counterparts, but they seem to spend more time soaking up the California sun. I can hardly wait for this spinoff, “Suits LA“, premiering on NBC from February 23!

The story revolves around Ted Black (Stephen Amell), the top-notch entertainment lawyer of Los Angeles. However, through a sequence of flashbacks, we discover that he was once a New York prosecutor, holding in contempt lawyers who prepared contracts for celebrities. The characters surrounding him are reminiscent of those found in the series Suits, as if Korsh borrowed certain personality traits from his initial cast members, mixed them together, and reintroduced them as ruthless partners and associates with distinct personalities.

In the initial episode, viewers are plunged directly into a heated breakup between Ted and his law firm co-founder Stuart Lane (Josh McDermitt). Stuart, still bitter from an argument that’s often hinted at but never displayed, teams up with Ted’s ex-lover to establish a new law firm, effectively betraying their longtime friendship. Since we’re not provided with any background on how these relationships developed and disintegrated, it’s challenging to sympathize with Ted as he attempts to recover. Similarly, we find it hard to invest in any attempts to reconcile with his former colleagues, friends, or partners. The series, particularly in its early phases, is somewhat perplexing and not overly insightful. However, this isn’t the show’s major downfall.

The compelling factor behind binge-watching Suits was its intriguing premise: Mike (Patrick J. Adams), who didn’t possess a law degree, was surprisingly hired by his mentor Harvey (Gabriel Macht) due to his exceptional memory that made him a legal prodigy. He consistently managed to crack the seemingly impossible legal puzzles before the end of each episode. The suspense stemmed from the constant possibility that Mike—and Harvey as well—could be exposed at any moment for their deception.

Is it surprising that Mike kept this information hidden for multiple seasons? Yes, indeed. However, this very plot twist prevented the show Suits from becoming a commonplace case-of-the-week procedural. Each week, the legal conflicts served as the B plot, but the heart of the story revolved around Mike and his mentor Harvey forming a bond as they conspired to keep Mike’s unqualified status secret from friends, colleagues, and love interests. It was a stretch of credibility, yet it provided a crucial foundation for the series.

Unlike what some might assume about Suits LA, Korsh doesn’t rely on grandiose assumptions. Instead, he packs a substantial amount of Ted’s backstory into minimal screen time. Currently, it’s fashionable among TV writers to employ excessive flashbacks to disclose character secrets – shows such as Paradise, Apple Cider Vinegar, and No Good Deed are recent examples of this overuse. Shows like Lost and Orange Is the New Black used flashbacks to gradually develop their characters, but it seems that newer shows are fixated on flashing back to a character’s past almost immediately after they’re introduced, in an attempt to explain their struggles. Some blame streaming platforms like Netflix for this trend, as they may require characters to verbally state their actions to ensure clarity even amidst household chores like laundry folding. The art of subtle dialogue seems to be waning.

Perhaps no series employs flashbacks as perplexingly as Suits LA. In its opening episode, Ted frequently falls asleep and has dreams set in the past. These dream-recollections abruptly plunge us into the action with sequences involving mobsters, a negligent father, and an explosion—all prior to cutting back to disconnected discussions in present-day. The result is disconcerting. Furthermore, there’s a moment that will undoubtedly make you roll your eyes when the true identity of a specific character is unveiled at the end of the first episode. (Believe me, it’ll elicit groans.)

In Suits LA, something’s missing that could be overlooked if only the characters were as captivating as the original duo, Harvey and Mike. From the very first instance when Mike unintentionally walked into an interview with Harvey, Adams and Macht displayed a magnetic on-screen chemistry. Over numerous seasons, we discovered their backstories—loss of parents, infidelity, trust issues—not in one episode, but gradually. Suits kept audiences hooked by having these two characters subtly expose each other’s polished exteriors, eventually revealing the vulnerability beneath. The comedic performances from Rick Hoffman and Sarah Rafferty, portraying the bumbling Louis and strong-willed Donna respectively, added a touch of levity and completed the ensemble.

By the second and third episodes, the chaos in Suits LA starts to subside slightly. However, it’s not completely calm as there are still reminders of their risky pasts through flashbacks and ominous hints. But we also see them handling cases, proving defendants’ innocence, and since this is L.A., dropping names of famous celebrities. (In a line that may raise eyebrows even before the show airs, Ted boasts about his extraordinary status, likening it to that of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.)

However, the outcome seems more like a typical procedural rather than the groundbreaking series that initially gained popularity on USA Network. Amell delivers a commendable impersonation of Macht, combining both arrogance and charm with occasional outbursts, but it’s still an imitation. Why not cast Macht himself and construct a show centered around him instead? The current version pales in comparison to its original counterpart.

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2025-02-23 16:06

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