NBCThe eagerly anticipated Suits spin-off, Suits LA, has aired its first episode – and it’s pretty bad.
How bad? Well, it’s not quite on the same level as The Idol, but I can’t sugarcoat things – it wasn’t good. The show’s biggest problem was its pacing; there was simply too much going on.
In the space of an hour we got a merger, a huge betrayal, met 50 million new characters, established backstories, and even saw a ghost (read our Suits LA Episode 1 recap for more). It was overwhelming and left us more disorientated than a junior associate on his first day at a new firm.
To make matters worse, I’m not the only one who thinks this. Critics have been excoriating in their prosecution while fans online have been struggling to mount a defense of the show that would hold up in court.
Objection your honor!
NBCAnd yet, I’m here to tell you not to give up on Suits LA. Why? Well, like Mike Ross, I’ve got a big heart, and while I might think this Suits spin-off is guilty of being bad right now, I can see a road to redemption for the show, which will spare it being shanked in the yard of a TV jail.
Now, as I said, I believe Episode 1’s biggest issue wasn’t the characters – who, for the most part, were quite likable – or even the stories being told; it was how much new information was being thrown at us in such a short amount of space.
Honestly, you’d have to have a Mike Ross-level intellect to remember all the characters and plots introduced in that first episode, and it was effectively the televisual equivalent of a rogue attorney burying his opponent in boxes of documents and ring binders.
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Yet despite all that, the show was watchable in the same pulpy way as the latter seasons of Suits. Best of all, the hard work is done now. The show has established its world and the characters that inhabit its sleek offices and tailored outfits. Now we can get to the thing Suits fans really enjoy: snarky banter, arrogant lawyers one-upping each other, and people throwing manila folders at each other while screaming that they won.
The defence rests
I’m aware some may see this defense as a bit weak, and I’ve no doubt the Harvey Specters in the Dexerto audience will be readying a withering rebuttal of my optimistic argument, which basically boils down to “the show will get better if you give it time,” but you know what? I’m right.
The roads of TV history are paved with great series that had stinky pilots but went on to be considered the best TV shows of all time. The Simpsons had a dreadful pilot, which was so bad they reordered the episodes so it aired later in the season once they’d established a fan base. The US Office, meanwhile, has an embarrassingly bad first season, and Star Trek: The Next Generation took two whole seasons before it got anywhere near good.
I know Harvey taught us that “first impressions last,” but New York’s greatest closer wasn’t always right, and neither are TV critics. Suits LA might not have blown us away with its first episode, but I don’t think we should throw the book at a show just because it’s not immediately as good as its predecessor.
After all, as Harvey told us, “Anyone can do my job, but no one can be me,” so with that in mind, why don’t we give Suits LA the time to be itself?
Looking for more hot takes? Well, read our list of the best Netflix thrillers or if you’re a bit confused about who’s who then check out our Suits LA cast guide.