Why Suits LA Failed: The Impact Of Mike And Harvey

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The Suits spinoff, Suits LA, lasted only one season, and its failure was largely due to the absence of its original stars, Mike and Harvey – a predictable outcome, really. NBC officially canceled the show because it didn’t get the same viewership numbers as the original Suits.

It’s understandable why NBC canceled the show after comparing the viewership numbers. While the original Suits consistently drew millions of viewers, Suits LA started strong with 2.61 million for its first episode, but the ratings quickly declined after that.

The show’s low scores on Rotten Tomatoes – 36% from critics and 54% from audiences – likely contributed to its failure. However, these numbers don’t explain why it didn’t succeed. The real reason Suits LA failed is closely tied to the original Suits, and particularly to its two popular main actors.

Suits LA Was Another Reminder That Suits Needs Harvey And Mike Together

Both audiences and critics have shared many reasons why Suits LA didn’t succeed like the original Suits. Common complaints included a lack of the same energy and appeal, and a storyline that felt disjointed and unfocused throughout the season.

Look, I really wanted Suits LA to work, and I was excited to see Harvey and Louis show up, hoping for that familiar Suits magic. But honestly, it just didn’t click. Seeing Harvey especially really drove home what the problem was: Suits was amazing because of the connection between Harvey and Mike. That’s what made the show special, and without that dynamic, Suits LA just didn’t feel right.

What truly made the original Suits special was the fantastic chemistry and playful back-and-forth between its lead actors, along with a strong supporting cast. The new Suits LA series just didn’t capture that same magic. This latest installment really highlighted how much the success of Suits – and any continuation of the series – depended on those two actors working together.

Suits Season 8 Should Have Made It Clear That A Spinoff Wouldn’t Work

The team behind Suits LA likely hoped their new show would avoid the problems the original Suits faced after Mike and Rachel left at the end of season 7. However, the signs were clear after Suits season 8, which is widely considered to be one of its weakest seasons.

As a big Suits fan, I really think NBC should have seen the writing on the wall with Suits LA. Season 8 already showed us what happened when Mike, Rachel, and Jessica were gone. It wasn’t a terrible season, but honestly, the show just didn’t feel the same without them – and not in a good way. It was clear then that trying to spin off without those core characters was a risky move.

The strong bond between Mike and Harvey was lost, and from that point on, Suits felt like a completely different show – it just didn’t have the same spark as before. The series originally captivated audiences with the story of Mike and Harvey‘s scheme to pretend Mike had a Harvard law degree.

The reveal of that lie happened before Mike left the series, but the story’s continuation – even after he was caught and went to jail – was still compelling and fit the show’s original style. After Mike’s departure, the show lost its unique appeal and became just another standard legal drama, similar to Suits LA, and simply didn’t work as well.

Suits Is Not A Franchise — It’s A Show About Two Best Friends

Ultimately, the core problem with continuing Suits is that it can’t become a successful franchise. The show always centered on the relationship between Mike and Ross, and once that dynamic changed – whether through Mike leaving or the attempt to create Suits LA – the show lost what made it work.

It’s disappointing, but understandable, that people would like to see the show return. However, a continuation of Suits would only be successful if it was a true revival with most of the original actors.

Bringing Meghan Markle, who played Rachel, back would be difficult, likely ruling out a full reboot of the show. While Suits managed to address Rachel’s absence after season 7 with some clever writing, that approach wouldn’t be sustainable for an entirely new series.

Killing off the character is an option, but it would be a surprisingly dark direction for the show and fundamentally change Mike, potentially causing more problems than it solves. Fortunately, the way Suits ended – with Harvey and Donna relocating near Mike and Rachel – does leave the possibility of a future return open.

It’s unclear if future shows can overcome this challenge, but the reality is that both Suits and Suits LA suffered after losing the central dynamic between Mike and Harvey. This suggests similar spin-offs may face difficulties.

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2025-11-23 17:49