Despite numerous issues preventing its success,Suits LAcould have resolved one of its most glaring issues by adopting a single feature from one of its star’s most notable past projects. As the second oftwo canceledSuitsspinoffs, it might seem as if luck was never on its side, but it certainly wasn’t beyond saving with the right changes.
It’s noteworthy thatSuits LAwasn’t intended as a spinoffin the first place. Franchise creatorAaron Korsh originally wrote the show as a comedy with noSuitsconnections whatsoever. But, despite NBC’s revisions, the spinoff could have arguably become one of thebest legal series on TVhad it not established one major issue in the very first episode.
Suits LA’s Flashback Sequences Were The Most Disappointing Feature Of The Spinoff
Pacing issues quickly became one of the most prevalent criticisms ofSuits LA, with many viewers complaining thatthe series premiere asks fans to care about characters and storylines whose introductions had little room to breathe. The general consensus was that it felt like trying to catch up on a show halfway into its run with no opening recap segment.
This issue extended beyond the flashback sequences alone, but they certainly didn’t help.Ted’s obsession with Pellegrini and apparent disregard for his colleagues are already pre-existing in his first flashback, and his personality in the present is similar enough that the flashbacks provide no context for who he used to be or why Pellegrini’s important to who he’s become now.
Even later, when we peer further back into the past (such as inHarvey Specter’s disappointingSuits LAintroduction),the flashbacks don’t thoroughly establish why this one case is worth Ted sacrificing his personal lifeif that would’ve been previously uncharacteristic. It’s perplexing, since answering that question seems to be the main point of having flashbacks in the first place.
Suitsalso utilized flashbacks, but they typically drove the primary narrative of their episode. And perhapsa single dedicated flashback episode might have more cleanly provided the answersSuits LAneeded. However, if the goal was to include flashbacks on an ongoing basis, Stephen Amell’s biggest starring role should have been the model for how to do it better.
Stephen Amell’s Arrow Illustrates Everything Suits LA’s Flashbacks Did Wrong
BeforeSuits LA,Amell starred in a similarly flashback-heavy series when he played Oliver Queen in The CW’sArrow. But the flashback sequences in Amell’s vigilante superhero series were considered much more effective thanSuits LA’s, to the point that many fans considered them to rank at the top amongArrow’s best story arcs.
Although not necessarily in the majority, some users in the online fan community even argued that the series could have done without its present-day storyline altogether. As flashbacks, however,fans largely appreciated these sequences because they provided a clear sense of Oliver’s character growthover the course of five years. They drove interest in how his journey had changed him.
That’s not to say the flashbacks were universally beloved. If not for an appearance by John Constantine, many fans would rather pretend that season 4’s flashbacks never even happened. Nonetheless,the flashbacks as a whole tell a comprehensive story taking Queen firmly from Point A to Point B, contrasting the somewhat meandering nature of the flashbacks inSuits LA.
Even when plot points from the flashbacks initially seem irrelevant to the present-day storyline,Arrowpresents these story beats with confidence that fans will understand their importance later, which is impressive considering Amell’s past claims that many of them were written on the fly. But even failing this,Suits LAonly needed to mimicArrow’s flashbacks in one specific way.
Suits LA Could Have Improved The Entire Series With One Major Flashback Change
Despite the lack of advanced planning early in the series,Arrow’s flashbacks still feel consistent because they follow a straightforward chronology that raises the question of how Oliver’s experiences shaped who he became.TheSuits LApremiere characterizes Ted as exhibiting the exact same flaws in both past and present, giving viewers less reason to invest themselves in his journey.
Viewers felt like they’d been dropped into the middle of a season, but there’s no reason the present-day storyline couldn’t pick up where it did if the flashbacks were improved. For instance,episode 11’s flashbacks to Ted and Stuart’s friendship highlight why their falling out in the premiere is so significant. That context would have been much more useful earlier.
Instead, viewers only briefly see Ted and Stuart getting along before learning how horribly Ted’s treated him.This makes Ted appear two-faced by nature rather than having changed over time, making it unclear why the average viewer should have faith in his redemption.Suits LAseason 2 could have been betterhad the series not squandered its goodwill so quickly.
Ultimately, while the series had plenty of other pacing and character issues to address, improving Ted’s character introduction by rearranging the flashbacks might have sparked slightly more interest in givingSuits LAa chance to better find its legs. The series’ failure to polish such a core component of its storytelling structure sadly made its cancelation all too predictable.
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.
