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It has been almost six years since we’ve seen anything related to the series, initially known as Suits. In those six years, and even during the show’s original run, there was speculation that there would be a sequel or spin-off series. We did get that in the form of Pearson, which only ran for one season.
NBC is leaping three thousand miles across the US and has given us Suits LA, starring Stephen Amell as the main character, Ted Black. After his named partner rips the firm in half, he must rebuild the firm and brand while coming to terms with his own personal struggles.
Being a massive fan of the original series, I was skeptical. Going into this new series, I had just finished a rewatch of the original series. That said, this series is not trying to be a rehash of the original series. You will not find any facsimile of one-to-one characters between the shows.
One thing that was understood is that many of the visual aspects from the original series remain: wide shots, glass offices, and the slow-mo walk while a catchy tune plays. But it tried to be too many things all at once.
Upon Cross Examination
Quite frankly, the pilot episode was a mishmash of trying to understand Ted/Teddy’s motivations while establishing characters and what will drive the show.
We understand that Teddy is a very complex character with extreme Daddy issues. Also, a hugely significant aspect of him involving his older brother will come so far out of left field that while you are scratching your head one moment, the gut punch payoff at the end of the episode seemed empty and contrite.
Don’t get me wrong. I’ve been a fan of Stephen Amell and would love to see how he brings this character out. But as it stands right now, all he’s doing is wearing a suit and making up for his daddy issues with charm and swagger. The only difference is that this time, the suit isn’t green.
With NBC’s deep pockets, seeing what star power they can bring to this series will be interesting. Yes, the pilot had the late acting legend John Amos. But who’s next? The trailer does have some interesting spoilers, but will that hold up in court?
Also, knowing how NBC has dropped multiple series after one season, I hope they figure out where this story will go and make a quick turn around in episode 4 or 5 to make this an ongoing series. I’ll stick around for it, but we’ll see what happens. Right now, the jury is out.
Suits LA gets a 6 out of 10
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