Warning: SPOILERS forSuits LAseason 1, episode 13, “Freedom.“There wasn’t a lot in the finale episode ofSuits LAthat would likely convince the network to reverse their decision to cancel the show, but one detail from the finale does suggest that future seasons would have improved over time. Fans of the original series had a lot of trouble initially accepting theSuits LAcast, finding the new characters just as cutthroat but with fewer redeeming qualities. It didn’t help that the story felt fractured because of the scattershot manner in which characters were introduced, a complaint that largely accounted forSuits LA’s poor ratingswhen it premiered.
But countless TV shows take their time getting their sea legs under them, with even hit series likeThe OfficeandBreaking Badaccruing a fair number of naysayers at the start until gaining almost universal love in their second seasons. When it comes toSuits LA’s character issues, however, the series frequently has characters argue or forgive each other without either character developing much as a result. With more time, however, that could have led to some intriguingly complex relationship dynamics, and theSuits LAseries finaledemonstrates exactly why that would have vastly improved the show.
Ted Teams Up With Samantha And Elizabeth Smith In The Suits LA Series Finale
Both Work Better As Allies Than As Adversaries
While the appearances ofHarvey and Louis inSuits LAwere both highly anticipated treats, the originalSuitscharacters never really teamed up inSuits LAfor an earnest court battle as many viewers might have hoped to see. TheSuits LAseason 1 finale includes its own unique team-up between Ted and Samantha with aid from Elizabeth, however. While it seemed clear early on that Samantha wouldn’t remain a rival forever, Elizabeth’s role was decidedly more unexpected.
Not only do the three make for a great team, but it’s also notable that the three of them are teaming up to stop a abusive producer who once targeted Rosalyn. Even compared to Leah,Rosalyn’s been one of the most underused characters inSuits LAdespite seemingly being invaluable to Ted. While this is the only episode of the series that really explores her backstory, the way her plotline pulls in the other characters involved demonstrates exactly what the series needed more of to survive.
Suits LA Needed More Team Dynamics To Make Its Characters More Interesting
The Series Made Its Characters Feel Too Isolated
Plenty of characters are introduced in terms of their relationships. In theSuits LApremiere, it’s obvious that Rick and Erica have a romantic history. It’s clear that Ted and Stuart have had a long and complicated friendship. It’s clear that Rosalyn is vital to the management of Ted’s firm. But despite establishing all of these relationships,the characters inSuits LAare often too preoccupied with their own goals to be of much service to others. Every favor feels as if it will be repaid begrudgingly or create later drama, such as when Amanda helps Ted with Lester’s case.
But the team-up in theSuits LAseries finale is another story. Under too much scrutiny,Suits LA’s often weak premisenecessitates bringing in other characters to help inflate the story. The finale shows these characters actually growing as a result of their team dynamic. Rosalyn strengthens her backbone, Ted decides to start being honest with Amanda when he bends the rules, andit’s explained that Elizabeth’s own rule-bending stems from the same unyielding passion for justice as Ted’s. It’s a beautiful demonstration of how a good team-up episode can affect the growth of every character participating.
How Team Dynamics Would Have Changed In Suits LA Season 2
The New Firm Opened Up Numerous Possibilities
Of all the things that fans might have looked forward to in season 2, such as the implication inSuits LAepisode 9’sGoodfellasreferencethat ADA Isaac Adani might adopt a villain role at some point,the most promising plot development in theSuits LAseries finale is the final merger between Ted and Samantha’s firms. With all the main characters officially working together, there would have been even more chances for characters such as Ted and Rick or Stuart and Leah to join forces on more difficult cases.
Playing around with these dynamics would have revealed new sides of the characters, making them feel less foreign to fans of the original series who found them too off-putting to embrace readily. HadSuits LAbegun experimenting with that earlier, it might have saved the series. Unfortunately, with the characters each pursuing individual clients while rarely going to court, the first season didn’t provide many team-building opportunities. Ted’s focus on both entertainment and criminal law was a fascinating angle for a legal drama, but the character relationships still needed some fine-tuning for the series to achieve real success.
Suits LA
Cast
Suits LA follows Ted Black, a former federal prosecutor who now represents influential clients in Los Angeles. As his law firm faces a critical juncture, Ted must navigate the challenges of a role he once disdained, balancing moral dilemmas with the demands of high-stakes legal battles.
