How Suits LA's Harvey Specter introduction could have been better - here's what we think

Suits LA Episode 4 ended a six-year-long wait of Suits fans as Harvey Specter returned to the screens. Gabriel Macht reprised his role as the fan-favorite attorney, making an entry into the spin-off show.

However, the appearance felt lackluster. Firstly, Harvey appeared in flashback sequences interacting with Ted Black, which did not reveal what he had been up to since the conclusion of Suits.

Secondly, the sequence failed to establish how Harvey and Ted initially connected. It picked up at a point where they were already close friends, without depicting how and when they first met.

Disclaimer: This article contains the writer's opinion. Readers’ discretion is advised.

---

Harvey Specter deserved a better introduction in Suits LA

Harvey’s introduction in Suits LA was a long-awaited moment for ardent fans of the original series. Ever since the spin-off was announced, audiences were excited to find out if any one of the original cast members would be appearing in it.

The excitement only increased when it was confirmed that Gabriel Macht would be playing a guest role in the first season. Harvey then entered the story in Suits LA Episode 4; however, he did not become a part of the core storyline.

Instead, he appeared in flashback sequences, catching up with his friend, Ted Black, in New York City in 2010. In the scenes, Harvey and Ted played baseball together, while the latter was preoccupied with the thoughts of his brother and girlfriend.

Harvey then motivated Ted to play better and later joined him at a bar where he offered some insight into the case Ted had been working on. This established that the two had been friends for a long time, which was already revealed in Suits LA Episode 2 with a photograph of Harvey in Ted’s office.

It would have been better if Harvey had been introduced in the present timeline, which would have tied him to the main narrative of the spin-off series. At the same time, it would have also given the audience answers to what happened to Harvey after the Suits series finale in 2019.

Even if the creators wanted to introduce him in the flashback storyline, the scenes should have at least given a background of how Harvey and Ted became friends. There has been no explanation of their connection so far.

Suits LA has already made the mistake of not establishing characters properly and diving straight into the conflicts, which was evident in the pilot when Stuart Lane betrayed Ted right in the middle of the episode. The audience didn't even get enough time to absorb their friendship, making their conflict look forced.

The same mistake now seems to have been repeated with Harvey and Ted. Throughout the original series, Harvey never mentioned any friend named Ted. This makes sense since the spin-off and its characters were conceived much later. However, Harvey’s introduction scene in Suits LA should have explained why Ted was absent from Suits, which could have further linked the spin-off with the original series.

There may be an explanation for it in future episodes; however, Gabriel Macht is confirmed to appear in only three episodes of the show, out of which one has been utilized for flashback scenes. When Harvey finally becomes a part of the core narrative, it might feel too little too late for the original show's fans.

---

Suits LA airs new episodes on NBC on Sundays and is available to stream on Peacock.