Warning: SPOILERS for Suits LA episode 2.Suits LA has finally given Ted Black (Stephen Amell) a unique ability to set him apart from the crowd, but the spinoff’s lead lawyer is self-sabotaging before he’s even found his footing. The long-awaited successor to Suits comes 6 years after the original series ended, but the West Coast spinoff has gotten off to an underwhelming start. The pilot episode of Suits LA was filled with betrayal, but the clumsily-constructed introduction left the first episode feeling like a misplaced season finale. Suits LA simultaneously felt like an imitation of the original and unidentifiable as a franchise title.
Despite Suits LA being one of the most anticipated new shows of 2025, the pilot episode caused enough concern to amp up the pressure on episode 2 to deliver a more cohesive product. In some ways, the convoluted legal drama felt more sure of its identity, but that doesn’t mean it’s now without flaws. Suits LA episode 2 was a step in the right direction for many aspects of the show, but it only highlighted the confusing characterization of Ted Black, the man who is meant to lead the Suits LA cast of characters.
Ted’s Past As A Federal Prosecutor Could Make Him A Skilled Defense Attorney
His Past Could Help, Not Hurt His Present
The little revealed about Ted Black before the Suits LA premiere revolved around his hidden, hauntingly sordid past as a federal prosecutor in New York. The spinoff picks up over a decade later as Black runs an entertainment law firm on the other side of the country. Following the biggest twist in Suits LA episode 1, Ted takes on a case as a criminal defense attorney to defend his client, Lester Thompson (Kevin Weisman). Though Suits LA exhausts its reasons for Ted to despise criminal defense law, episode 2 hints that his past could be his key to success.
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Despite his old friend Kevin (Troy Winbush) materializing crucial evidence to help strategize for the case, Ted denies how the new information— from shady bank records to potential motive— paints a solid case for the prosecution. If he just put his personal problems aside, Ted’s expertise as a renowned prosecutor would make him a valuable asset to the case. As Suits LA establishes early on, Ted knows how to beat the system, meaning he’s familiar with all the winning tactics regardless of how above board they were (or, more importantly, weren’t). That knowledge is critical to forming an iron-clad defense.
Why Ted Refuses To Revisit His Prosecutor Days In Suits LA
The Full Answer Is Still Unraveling
As infuriating as it is to watch as Ted circumvents all logical decisions in Suits LA episode 2, there is an understandable— albeit flimsy— reason for his hesitation. All that’s been confirmed about Ted’s past has been explicitly shown in flashback sequences, one of the major reasons for Suits LA’s poor initial reviews. From his heavy-handed Daddy Issues to his imbalanced relationship with ex, Samantha (Rachelle Goulding), Ted’s New York years have so far left much to be desired. Yet, for all the stilted exposition and awkward timeline, Ted’s flashbacks expose the damage he caused as a prosecutor.
Suits LA has only left bread crumbs for the big tragedy that drove Ted across the country, but it is inextricably connected to his work as a prosecutor.
Ted didn’t shy away from discussing his high-profile cases in the pilot episode of Suits LA, mentioning how he took on mob bosses, like the criminal he was working to put away in the opening scene of the series. After a bomb detonates, killing his key witness and injuring Ted, he continues drawing more people into his plan, recklessly endangering one of Samantha’s clients in the process. Suits LA has only left bread crumbs for the big tragedy that drove Ted across the country, but it is inextricably connected to his work as a prosecutor.
How Ted Being A Federal Prosecutor Ties Him To Harvey
Their Bond Goes Back To The New York Days
Amidst his complicated journey accepting his role as a defense attorney, Kevin finally acknowledged the elephant in Ted’s office: a striking picture of him and Gabriel Macht’s Harvey Specter, the best character in the original Suits. While it was confirmed before Suits LA even premiered that he was somehow connected to Harvey, Ted keeping a picture of them in his office shows that they still have a good relationship, or he at least has fond memories of their old friendship. Given Harvey’s past at the District Attorney’s office, the two lawyers inevitably overlapped professionally.
Actor | Suits LA Character |
|---|---|
Stephen Amell | Ted Black |
Josh McDermitt | Stuart Lane |
Lex Scott Davis | Erica Rollins |
Bryan Greenberg | Rick Dodsen |
Alice Lee | Amanda Stevens |
Maggie Grace | Leah Power |
Troy Winbush | Kevin |
It’s no coincidence that Kevin set up Harvey Specter’s return in Suits LA at the same time Ted is having a crisis over Lester’s case. Although Suits primarily focused on Harvey’s success in corporate law, he spent years as a prosecutor, which enables him to both empathize with Ted and give him the reality check he needs. If he wants any chance at a winning verdict for Lester, he can’t just face his past; Ted needs to embrace his prosecuting skills in order to be the best defense attorney he can be in Suits LA.
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Suits LA continues Sunday on NBC.
Suits LA
4/10
- Release Date
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February 23, 2025
- Writers
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Aaron Korsh
Cast
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josh mcdermitt
Stuart Lane
