SUITS LA 1.1

"Clean Up After a Legal Firebomb"

What You Need To Know:

In the first episode of season one of SUITS L.A., Ted Black must face the herculean task of rebuilding his company and image after a deal goes sour, allowing his friend to swindle him out of the law firm he spent 15 years building. Despite coming to the top of the legal world together, Ted is duped by his friend Stewart, leaving him with few associates left in his practice. Nonetheless, Ted vows to restore his company and defeat his friend-turned-nemesis while rewarding those who stay loyal to him.

SUITS L.A. strongly emphasizes the Christian values of human dignity, family and justice. Ted is a lawyer who fights for what is right inside and outside the courtroom. However, he is highly blunt and cocky, causing him to offend many people and make many enemies. At the same time, Ted has a soft spot, particularly for his brother Eddie, who was born with Down Syndrome. The show also features strong foul language, including 16 obscenities and two profanities, while also tolerating drinking and drug abuse. Thus, MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for older teens and adults.

Content:

(BB, Fe, LL, V, AA, MM)

Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements:
Strong biblical worldview as Ted fights for the things that he knows are right and emphasizes family and justice. Ted’s partner Stewart is portrayed as the bad guy when he swindles Ted and steals the majority of his company, while Ted vows to fight for justice both for himself and his clients. Ted is also shown to have a deep care for his younger brother, Eddie, who has Down Syndrome and misses him dearly; a female character is passed up for a promotion in favor of her male coworker. They’re at equal levels in the law firm and have been working there for roughly the same amount of time. She accuses her boss of being sexist and promoting her coworker over her because of their gender even though her boss has said multiple times that although she is skilled, her counterpart is more personable, making him a better fit for that specific role;

Foul Language:
Strong foul language, including 2 instances of the Lord’s name being taken in vain, one instance of potty humor, and 16 obscenities such as 7 a**s, 2 he**s, 1 “b” word, 1 da**, and 3 cr**s ;

Violence:
Mild violence in the opening scene as Ted has a flashback to one of his client’s getting blown up;

Sex:
No sex;

Nudity:
No nudity;

Alcohol Use:
Moderate alcohol use with Ted drinking regularly and one scene where he gets drunk;

Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse:
No drug use shown, however one of Ted’s clients recalls getting high on ecstasy to celebrate; and,

Miscellaneous Immorality:
Moderate immoral elements including blackmail, lying, and manipulation

More Detail:

The first episode of SUITS L.A. on NBC sets up numerous dramatic events to carry the series through its first season. After tirelessly working to establish his law firm, Ted Black gets duped by his friend Stewart, who steals the majority of his company after they sign a merger deal to combine their law firms. While Ted scrambles to save his firm and keep his business afloat now that he has lost most of his employees and clients, he finds who working for him is loyal and no longer has his back.

After fifteen years in L.A., Ted has established his firm as the most outstanding law firm in the city, working to provide his clients with world-class legal representation in the entertainment industry. He and his friend Stewart moved to the city together and supported each other on their way to the top. While Ted has been building his firm, Stewart has been doing the same, working as a defense attorney. Now, they’re seeking to merge their businesses to create a one-stop shop for anyone seeking the best law firm in the city, regardless of the expertise they need.

Unfortunately for Ted, Stewart is not as trustworthy as he thought and, despite their history, has been working to backstab him. As soon as Ted signs the deal, Stewart swipes most of his employees, bringing them into his company while leaving Ted behind. The only people who remain are Ted’s top associates, who are now working with him to save the company. They begin by identifying their most important clients and working to bring them back, so they still have a base to work with.

Stewart, however, isn’t done with his tricks and calls Ted’s remaining associates, asking them to be a mole in the firm for him and, after feeding him information, come to his firm as partners. One of the people offered this deal turns Stewart down, while another—the one Ted liked the most—has no desire to be a mole but leaves Ted’s firm all the same.

All the while, as this professional drama unfolds in a matter of hours, Ted has to deal with his father being put into hospice and being days away from death. Though Ted has an extremely poor relationship with his father, he can’t bring himself to not go and visit one last time before he passes. So, Ted booked a flight to New York City and flew across the country. On the way, he realizes a plan to get back at Stewart involves snatching one of his newer clients – whom Ted recommended to him – who is appearing in court over a murder charge. While Stewart doesn’t believe this man is innocent, Ted does and decides the first way he’ll get revenge on Stewart is by stealing this client.

When Ted lands in New York, he visits one of his old friends and asks him for help on this case before visiting his father in the hospital. The whole time he is there, his dad is unresponsive, and Ted explains why he has been angry with his dad for decades. It boils down to the way his dad treated Ted’s brother, Eddie, who had Down syndrome. In the end, Ted’s father allowed Eddie to die, something Ted hasn’t and won’t forgive him for.

Although the first episode of SUITS L.A. is a whirlwind of action, it lays a solid foundation for the series to follow. Rather than being procedural, as most legal dramas are, the show is set up to be more serialized, following long story arcs and being okay with ending episodes without immediate closure. Though Ted is a flawed protagonist, he’s still easy to root for, both because he is a brilliant lawyer and because he’s fighting for what’s right.

SUITS L.A. strongly emphasizes Christian principles such as human dignity, the importance of family, and justice. Ted is a strong advocate for justice and always fights for what is right inside and outside the courtroom. However, he does have his flaws, such as sometimes being a jerk largely because of his immense pride and ego. Furthermore, the show features moderate foul language, promotes drinking alcohol and does not condemn the use of drugs. Thus, MOVIEGUIDE® advises extreme caution for older teens and adults.


Watch SUITS LA 1.1
Quality: - Content: -2
Watch SUITS LA 1.1
Quality: - Content: -2