How ‘Suits LA’ Connects to the Original Series

NBC’s new spring show Suits LA follows an entertainment lawyer named Ted Black (played by Arrow star Stephen Amell) as he’s pulled into a criminal case to save his firm. The series has weekly celebrity guests as well as overarching plot lines revolving around fictional celebrities.

Suits LA is connected to its namesake, Suits, and while they sometimes feel similar, it’s often hard to imagine a direct connection. Suits LA has all-new characters pursuing a different world of law than the one seen in the original series. However, there are explanations for how the two series connect as well as why they feel so different.

Suits LA

2
/5

Release Date

February 23, 2025

Network

NBC

Writers

Aaron Korsh

Harvey Specter Is Appearing in ‘Suits LA’

Suits LA goes all the way across the country from the New York setting of Suits, but the characters aren’t stuck in Los Angeles either. One of the main aspects of the show is finding out Ted Black’s backstory through flashbacks, which take place in New York. Although the flashbacks aren’t focused on the Pearson Hardman law firm, one character from the original series is set to meet with Ted Black.

Based on trailers for the show as well as confirmation from the series creator and the original actor, Harvey Specter will appear later in the first season of Suits LA. A framed image of Ted and Harvey can already be spotted in the first episode of the series, hinting that the two have a history together. With Ted being in New York in his flashbacks, it’s likely that viewers will see Harvey in a flashback. A flashback of the two meeting could also tie in to an episode where Harvey comes to LA to help Ted with his big criminal law case.

So far, Gabriel Macht is the only character from Suits confirmed to return in Suits LA. The series’ stars and creators may just be keeping secrets on who shows up, so viewers will have to wait and see. If Suits LA gets good viewership as well, a second season renewal could increase the chances for fans to see more of their favorite characters from Suits.

The ‘Suits LA’ and ‘Suits’ Characters Seem Similar

Although none of the main characters from Suits come back as main characters in Suits LA, they live on in the show in spirit, as Suits LA‘s characters often feel like parallels to the original series’ cast. Ted Black’s Suits counterpart is the most obvious: Harvey Specter. Both are top, hard-working lawyers trying to thrive in their respective cities at large law firms. They are well-spoken, ambitious, and intelligent.

It’s easy to match Stuart Lane from Suits LA with Louis Litt from Suits because both are the most obvious choices for series antagonists. Stuart and Louis are jealous, vengeful, and bitter people who think they deserve more. Stuart leaves Ted’s firm and poaches his clients and workers, while Louis tries to get Harvey Specter’s associate Mike Ross fired.

Related

‘Suits LA’ Could Be Great, but One Thing Worries Me After the First Episode

For many fans, there was something irreplaceable about the original ‘Suits,’ and it was all down to one person.

As for Mike Ross, Rick Dodsen seems like his counterpart. Both characters are young and loyal go-getters who want to work their way up in the world of law. The main differences between the two are that Mike is not actually a lawyer, and that Rick leaves Ted’s law firm when he thinks Ted is betraying his morals. Even though Erica Rollins works under Ted Black in Suits LA while Jessica Pearson works above Harvey Specter in Suits, the two characters match with similar manipulative personalities.

Not every character in Suits LA is similar to a character in Suits. The first episode of the series introduces some smaller lawyer characters who will be important throughout the season. There’s Ted’s ex, Samantha, who works for Stuart; Ted’s old New York colleague, Kevin, who helps him with his big case; Amanda, a pro bono lawyer working in Ted’s office; and Leah, a young and prideful lawyer working under Erica.

Why Does ‘Suits LA’ Have a Much Different Focus Than ‘Suits’?

Between none of the Suits main characters returning as main characters in Suits LA and Suits LA choosing to focus on entertainment law, it doesn’t seem right to call the new series a Suits spinoff. What’s interesting is that Suits LA wasn’t even pitched as a spinoff, nor was it so focused on law.

Related

‘Suits LA’ Review: This Suit Doesn’t Fit

Stephen Amell is good and leads a confident cast in a spinoff that mostly fails them.

According to Variety, Suits creator Aaron Korsh had pitched a series to NBC about actors’ agents living in Los Angeles. The series was not tied to Suits, and NBC passed on it. Then, in 2023, Netflix acquired the streaming rights to Suits, and the series exploded in popularity, becoming 2023’s most-watched show. NBC wanted to capitalize on the show’s success, and they asked Korsh to reimagine his original pitch as a successor to Suits.

Aside from the law setting and Harvey Specter’s appearance in the show, Korsh’s unique vision for Suits LA as a show not in the same universe as Suits shines through. The Hollywood theming feels fresh in the current landscape of law TV shows and allows for some exciting guest stars like Patton Oswalt. New episodes air Sunday nights on NBC at 9 p.m. and can be streamed on Peacock the next day.