Cue courtroom drama, California style. Suits: LA was the highly-anticipated spin – off of the original Suits, promising sharp suits, wit, and high-stakes legal drama in an all-new city.
Rather than hit the ground running, it seems to have stumbled out of the blocks. Where the original had a 91% critical score on Rotten Tomatoes, this new show weighs in with a meager 36%, showing that verdicts from critics have been less than favorable.
But beyond the reviews, here is the real story: a question of whether Suits LA can carve out its own identity or if it’s doomed to live in the shadow of its predecessor. Let’s break down how this spin-off can still turn the tide and why its slow start might not be the final word.
The Legacy of Suits: A High Bar to Clear
Having first aired in 2011, Suits quickly took off by mixing the legal drama with rapid-fire humor and tough characters. It balanced high-profile cases with personal drama, led by Gabriel Macht as Harvey Specter and Patrick J. Adams as Mike Ross. It had built up a quite big fan base throughout the full nine seasons the show was on. The end came with a 91% critical score on Rotten Tomatoes and good scores on Metacritic.
Suits wasn’t an accident of success. Fast-paced storytelling combined with sharp-witted dialog and complex morality in its characters set a new mark for legal dramas. The question was never whether a spin-off would happen; it was whether or not it had the charm and intensity of the original series.
Suits LA: A New City, A New Challenge
Set against the glamour of Los Angeles, Suits LA follows former New York federal prosecutor Ted Black as he takes on high-profile cases while trying to make a go of the complex West Coast legal scene. The premise is great, but a number of critics have pointed out several missteps in the debut of this series.
- Lack of Originality: Matt Roush of the TV Insider termed it “threadbare and second-hand,” which means Suits LA lacks original storylines.
- Identity Crisis: Lyvie Scott of TV Guide noticed that the show “can’t reconcile the new, lowered expectations of the TV medium with the show it wants to be.”
- Comparisons to Other Spin-Offs: But it’s different from other spin-offs, Horton says, drawing comparisons to recent examples such as Frasier, How I Met Your Father and Gossip Girl 2.0-all of which have inevitably fallen short of the magic of their originals.
Both critiques speak to the greater issue with spin-offs: how to balance nostalgia and innovation. Audiences want those elements they loved about the original series, but simultaneously they are looking for something fresh and relevant.
Why Suits LA Still Has a Fighting Chance
But despite those inauspicious beginnings, Suits LA isn’t a lost cause. Television history is riddled with examples of shows that got off to poor beginnings and later found their feet. The original Suits certainly took its time developing its characters and growing its fanbase.
So, what can Suits LA do to turn things around? Well-rounded characters:
- Develop Distinct Characters: Suits made it big because of the chemistry between Harvey and Mike. Suits LA needs to focus on building compelling character relationships and making sure those relationships feel organic and not derivative.
- Lean into the LA setting: Los Angeles has all of the glitz, and serves as a different backdrop, which may help make this new show quite dissimilar to its predecessor. Embracing West Coast cultural and legal differences could create new storylines and conflicts.
- Raise the Stakes: In high-profile cases, there needs to feel like real high stakes. Audiences need to feel the pressure, risk, and consequences inside and outside of the courtroom.
- Find Its Voice: While callbacks to Suits are bound to happen, Suits LA needs to find a voice of its own. Be it by leaning into grittier storytelling, sharper humor, or more character-driven drama, it needs the ability to stand on its merits.
What Do the Numbers Really Mean?
A 36% in Rotten Tomatoes and 51 in Metacritic might sound dire, but those scores are simply based on early reviews. Many shows, in particular their spin-offs, grow in ratings with time as their characters get more fleshed out and find a rhythm with their narratives. Audience scores often run opposite to those coming from critic reviews. If Suits LA resonates with viewers, it can yet turn out to be a long-term success.
The Road Ahead: Can Suits LA Appeal to a New Generation?
Much has changed in the world of television since Suits first hit the airwaves back in 2011. In the streaming era, this is a world of short attention spans, meaning there’s a great deal more competition out there for eyeballs. Of course, in another way, that’s an opportunity: Suits LA can attempt edgier storytelling and meatier character arcs than ever before.
Thanks to the resurgence in popularity of legal dramas-partially because of the international success of Suits on Netflix-there’s a built-in audience ready for Suits LA to dole out even more courtroom twists and intrigue. The key will be how to channel that nostalgia without falling into pale imitation.
Final Verdict: The Case Is Still Open
While Suits LA may have stumbled in its opening arguments, it’s far too early to deliver a final verdict. In time, this series should be able to find its own identity with stronger character development and a more confident narrative voice to please critics and audiences alike.
It’s not how you start in the world of television; it’s how you finish. For Suits LA, the case is far from closed.
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