"Bromance, Busts, and Bold Statements: The Suits LA Saga" (2025)

Former federal prosecutor from New York, Ted Black reinvents himself as a lawyer for LA's powerful. His firm's crisis compels an ethical compromise to stay afloat.

https://youtu.be/G0KMvx4y2-o

I’m sitting here in my London, Ontario basement—surrounded by my prized collection of pop figures that make any collector’s heart skip a beat—downing a frosty sports drink (because coffee and tea aren’t my thing) and pondering the resurrection of a legal drama that promised to be as slick as a well-tailored suit and as sharply cut as a freshly ironed tie. Enter “Suits LA,” the new series where former federal prosecutor Ted Black (not your average downtrodden lawyer but a reformed legal shark from New York) reinvents himself in the glitzy, cutthroat world of LA’s power players. And boy, do these legal eagles flap their wings with all the bravado of a peacock at a pride parade.

Let’s talk about the stars who are meant to make you forget you’re watching TV and instead feel like you’ve just crashed a high-stakes cocktail party at a swanky Hollywood lounge. Stephen Amell is back in the saddle, sporting that trademark rugged charm that makes you wonder if he’s actually saving the world between his bike rides and adrenaline junkie stunts. Then there’s Lex Scott Davis, who, with every scene, reminds us that sometimes the true hero isn’t the one in the flashy suit but the one who can outwit the men in them—especially when those men are busy trying to prove their alpha status. Add in the ever-entertaining Josh McDermitt and Bryan Greenberg, Troy Winbush’s gravitas, the enigmatic Rachelle Goulding, and the effortlessly cool Maggie Grace, and you have a cast that’s as diverse as a bag of mixed nuts, albeit with a few too many salty ones.

The plot, if you can call it that without rolling your eyes too hard, centers on our protagonist Ted Black’s ethical juggling act. Imagine being so desperate to keep your firm afloat that you’re forced to compromise on the very principles that got you there in the first place. It’s a narrative twist that makes you wonder if the legal system is just one big reality TV show where morals are as negotiable as a parking space on Sunset Boulevard. And while it may seem like a familiar setup—a reformed prosecutor battling the good fight in a city that worships money and image—the series infuses the old formula with a dash of LA’s signature brand of self-importance.

Now, I’m all for a little alpha male energy—heck, it’s a comfort to see them strutting about like they own the damn world. But “Suits LA” quickly reminds us that in this brave new world of legal battles, the men get a run for their money when the women step in and throw down the gauntlet. And not in that “are you serious, Carol?” way. These strong women aren’t just here to look pretty on the side of the courtroom; they’re toppling the traditional power structures with a mix of sass, smarts, and a hefty dose of “I’m better than you.” It’s a narrative twist we will see in the long run if they can hold this battle of the sexes and not fall into a woke free fall—if only they’d let the guys have one last hurrah before the women steal the spotlight.

Speaking of dynamics, the series seems to borrow from its predecessor’s playbook, yet replaces the heartwarming bromances with a more antagonistic vibe. There’s no sentimental pat on the back here; it’s all about outsmarting, outmaneuvering, and occasionally outright insulting your colleagues in a way that would make Harvey Specter proud. Yes, we’re promised appearances from some of the old guard, starting with Harvey’s character—a move that’s sure to send nostalgic shivers down the spines of loyal fans. It’s like watching your high school reunion where the cool kids from back in the day show up to remind you why you peaked in your twenties, only now they’re armed with legal briefs instead of cheesy pickup lines.

But, dear reader, not all that glitters in the City of Angels is gold. Let’s address the elephant in the courtroom: diversity. The show checks every box in the “diversity and inclusion” ledger, which, on paper, sounds like a progressive win. Yet, it feels like Hollywood is so busy ticking off checkboxes that sometimes the substance gets lost in the pursuit of political correctness. Instead of letting the characters’ nuanced backgrounds enrich the narrative, the series often resorts to preachy speeches that are about as subtle as a billboard on the freeway. It’s as if every heartfelt moment is hijacked by a sudden outburst of wokeness, leaving you wondering if the show’s real goal is to educate you on social justice rather than entertain you with clever legal maneuvering. Will this cast grow on me? Time will tell.

Speaking of character arcs, Hollywood’s obsession with flawed male heroes in need of redemption is as predictable as the London, Ontario winter. Normally, you’d expect such emotional depth to take a few seasons to develop, but here it seems like the writers decided to shortcut the process. Our leading man, Ted Black, is forced to confront his demons and atone for his past in ways that feel both contrived and rushed. It’s almost as if Hollywood believes that every alpha male needs a redemption arc to make them palatable for modern audiences—because nothing says “evolved” like making the tough guy wept with remorse within the first few episodes.

Worse still, the attempt to make the female characters mimic the traditionally “tough” traits of their male counterparts ends up feeling like a clumsy homage rather than a genuine character study. Instead of celebrating the inherent differences in how men and women approach conflict, the show seems hell-bent on making everyone walk the same rigid, testosterone-fueled path. It’s like watching a remake of a classic film where every nuance of the original is lost in the quest for a one-size-fits-all version of toughness.

In my opinion, “Suits LA” is a cocktail of high stakes, high drama, and high irony. It’s a series that knows it’s living in the shadow of its predecessor yet dares to try something new—if by “new” you mean swapping bromances for battlegrounds and subtle character growth for loud, shouted monologues about equality. And while I can appreciate the effort to bring a more modern sensibility to a genre that often glorifies hyper-masculine bravado, the execution leaves something to be desired.

The series manages to capture the glitz and the grit of LA, and for a brief moment, it has me wondering if the ethical compromises and the power struggles are just a metaphor for life in the City of Angels. But then reality sinks in: it’s another legal drama trying too hard to be edgy while losing sight of the charm that made the original “Suits” a hit. Still, I can’t help but give credit where it’s due—the ensemble cast is solid, the dialogue is peppered with witty one-liners, and the overall aesthetic is as stylish as a designer suit. It’s just a shame that beneath all the shiny veneer, the narrative sometimes feels like it’s been overworked by a team of politically correct copy editors.

In conclusion, after a night of binge-watching and pondering the intricacies of legal ethics and social justice in the glossy underbelly of Los Angeles, I’m left with a mixed bag of impressions. The series delivers the style and star power, but its narrative is hampered by forced inclusivity and rushed character arcs. The clash between traditional alpha male bravado and the rising tide of strong, uncompromising women is both its most entertaining and its most problematic aspect. And while I appreciate the show’s attempt to balance modern values with classic drama, it ultimately falls a little short of reinventing the wheel.

Ranking: 7.0/10

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