'Suits L.A.' Season 1 Episode 9 “Bat Signal” Review

Suits L.A., NBC Universal’s latest offering from the world of legal dramas, attempts to blend the high-stakes excitement of entertainment law with the uber popularity of its NYC counterpart and predecessor of similar name. However, the show's ambition has far exceeded its execution, leading to a deeply uneven viewing experience that is still leaving much to be desired, despite the show reaching the penultimate episode in its 10-epsiode debut season.

Let's deep dive into Suits L.A. Bat Signal.

At the heart of Suits L.A. remains Ted Black, played by Stephen Amell, a former federal prosecutor turned entertainment lawyer, whose haunted past with a notorious mob case that has served as the central narrative thread since Day 1. 

Through a series of often overly dramatic flashbacks, we learn this week that Ted had to throw a Hail Mary, using some suspect means, with the help of NYC lawyer friend Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht), to add racketeering to mob boss Pelligrini’s growing list of charges, after a key prosecution witness lied on the stands. 

When the tables are turned by the defense citing the use of ill-gotten, privileged information, the mob boss succeeds in getting less jail time. Fast forward to the present, Harvey is back, as we saw in the close of episode 8, to tell Ted the mob boss is about to be released, having served his full reduced sentence — the two lawyers must return to New York to see that does not happen.

From there, the episode spends most of its production hours in the Big Apple, volleying back-and-forth between the past and present, giving us much-needed insight into Ted’s dog-with-a-bone attitude towards this particular case and the circumstances surrounding his brother Eddie’s untimely death.

While these backstories have aimed to flesh out Ted’s character throughout the series and provide a compelling emotional arc, the show falters in its attempt to balance Ted’s past with the present, outside of this one case. 

Moreover, the pacing of Suits L.A. suffers significantly due to this imbalance. The show spends far too long dwelling on Ted’s past while skimming over the present-day cases that could provide much-needed intrigue and tension. As a result, the flow of the series continues to feel uneven, leaving viewers, like me, restless and yearning for more cohesive storytelling.

The narrative often feels disjointed, as well, as the time spent in flashbacks detracts from the main storylines involving the supporting cast, overshadowing any present-day plots and the other characters in the series.

Most notably, attorney Stuart Lane and his case representing the non-musical David Bowie, a studio hired-gun we first meet in episode 7, charged with harassment and intimidation of a whistleblower. Through a series of unfortunate conversations, Stuart, portrayed by Josh McDermitt, fears he may have had an inadvertent hand in helping his client commit a crime. Yet, we have not spent enough quality time on this storyline to fully care. 

The law firm where Ted works is also staffed with a diverse group of characters, each with the potential for interesting storylines, too. And, yet again, these subplots often feel like superficial fillers—clumsy attempts to engage the audience while the show eagerly returns to Ted’s bygone glory as a prosecutor. The supporting characters, who could be rich and engaging on their own, are relegated to the sidelines, propping up Ted, trapped in lackluster arcs that add little to the main narrative. 

Viewers may find themselves eagerly anticipating anything that pulls them away from Ted’s repetitive flashbacks, only to be disappointed by storylines, falling short, plagued by lack of substance.

While the flashbacks have showcased Amell’s more compelling performances in the series, for this particular episode, they also shine an unexpected spotlight on how much the showrunners truly designed Ted Black, the character, to be the west coast mirror image to Macht’s Harvey Spector -  in speech, mannerisms, and presence on screen. The character step-and-repeat is most evident in the actors’ shared screentime in New York, plotting and planning a mob sting operation with their other bromance bestie, Kevin, played by Troy Winbush. Kevin, the Roy Kent of characters, mind you  — he’s here, he’s there, he’s everywhere.

SUITS LA -- "Bat Signals" Episode 109 -- Pictured: (l-r) Stephen Amell as Ted Black, Troy Winbush as Kevin, Gabriel Macht as Harvey Specter -- (Photo by: Nicole Weingart/NBC)

While Suits L.A. remains fixated on Ted Black’s troubled history while neglecting the vibrant ensemble that surrounds him, this week’s episode did offer glimpses of something else with its hint at a potential rekindling of the off-screen romance of former colleagues Erica Rollins (Lex Scott Davis) and Rick Dodsen (Bryan Greenberg). 

Let’s hope the series will give this particular plot point, that has been alluded to more than once this season in passing, to bring about a more holistic narrative that honors all of its characters. 

For fans of the law genre, Suits L.A. may still be worth wrestling through the monotony for the moments that shine, but those seeking a more well-rounded legal drama may find their patience stretched thin. 

There is still one episode left to close out Suits L.A.’s season 1 to give the series a fighting chance for a follow up. So, if you have come this far with the show, you might as well see how they close it out.

What did you think?

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