Suits LA First Impressions

“This Isn’t NY”
Introduction
I won’t deny it—I watch a lot of TikTok. As someone who suffers from actual insomnia, if I’m not gaming, working, or unsuccessfully trying to sleep, I have TikTok open. Among the random videos, one series consistently showed up in my feed—Suits. After seeing enough clips, I finally watched the show and immediately fell in love.
When Suits ended, I was sad, but the announcement of a spin-off, Suits LA, gave me hope. Now that three episodes have aired, I have some thoughts. Is Suits LA a worthy successor, or should these LA lawyers be looking for a new job? Here’s my first impressions of Suits LA, available on Peacock.
Why You’ll Like This

Fans of the original Suits might be disappointed that we don’t return to Litt Wheeler Williams Bennett. Instead, we head to a brand-new firm in Los Angeles—Black Lane Law, led by Ted Black (Stephen Amell) and Stuart Lane (Josh McDermitt). So far, none of the previous cast members have appeared, though trailers hint at at least one familiar face showing up.
The core premise of Suits LA mirrors the original—high-stakes firm drama, power struggles, and betrayals. Unlike Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams) faking his way through law school, we see Ted Black grappling with a past case tied to his father, his special needs brother, and a mafia entanglement. His backstory adds intrigue, but it doesn’t quite match the impact of Mike and Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht)’s unconventional partnership.
Suits LA will likely satisfy those craving more legal drama, but so far, that seems to be the only major draw.
Is It Worth Three Episodes?

This might contradict my earlier thoughts, but bear with me—I’m not sold on Suits LA. That doesn’t mean the show is bad, but after three episodes, I have some concerns.
The characters don’t feel as compelling as Mike, Louis Litt (Rick Hoffman), or Harvey. SPOILER—Ted getting backstabbed by Stuart and losing most of his firm—SPOILER END didn’t evoke much emotion from me. Maybe non-Suits fans will engage with it more since they don’t have direct comparisons to the original, but for longtime viewers, it’s tough not to see the similarities.
The writing might be the biggest issue. Series creator Aaron Korsh seems to have played it safe, sticking too closely to Suits’ formula. Some characters feel like direct replacements for their NY counterparts, which makes the show feel predictable.
Maybe I’m being too critical, or maybe I just wanted something fresher from Suits LA. Whatever the case, the three-episode test isn’t doing enough to hook me yet.
Conclusion
Suits LA isn’t wowing me as a spin-off—which, ironically, isn’t the first time Aaron Korsh missed the mark (looking at you, Pearson).
That said, Suits LA has potential. If the show introduces stronger plotlines and well-placed cameos, it might improve. However, I doubt it will ever match the excellence of Suits. I’ll keep watching, but I wouldn’t be surprised if many viewers drop it after a few episodes.
For fans who feel the same way I do—try to separate the two shows in your mind. You might enjoy Suits LA more if you stop comparing it to its predecessor. If not, you’ll likely land on the same verdict as me.
—Aaron