Warning: SPOILERS for Suits LA Episode 12.Suits LA cast of characters as Ted Black, former business partner and best friend of Stuart Lane (Josh McDermitt). Alongside Erica Rollins (Lex Scott Davis) and Rick Dodsen (Bryan Greenberg), the core four form two rival law firms.

Unfortunately, ’s poor ratings, the spinoff’s jarring tone left the door open for past cast — like Hoffman's Louis Litt— to steal the spotlight.

Louis Litt’s Return In Suits LA Episode 12 Is Mostly Comedic

Rick Hoffman Plays Off Josh McDermitt Well

Louis Litt’s role in Suits LA episode 12 was subtle, but he was still the most entertaining character by far. Louis and Stuart meet at an anger management retreat, bonding over their traumas and past betrayals at the hands of work frenemies (Gabriel Macht’s Harvey Spencer unsurprisingly acting as Ted Black’s counterpart once again). From the first moment they meet— and cause a scene while fighting over a bell cart— there’s an almost feral energy to Louis that thankfully breaks through Suits LA’s demure tone.

Though his delivery remains deadpan, Louis injects humor into nearly every line, ranging from jabs at the other anger-management attendees to a recurring gag of him calling his fist “Little Louis.” Suits LA episode 12 manages to balance the comedy with serious beats, like Stuart opening up to Louis about him fearing for his family’s safety. Yet, the moment is only as effective as it is because of the humorous vehicle Suits LA used to deliver the heartfelt message. The air of levity Louis cultivated helped prime Suits LA episode 12 for Stuart's vulnerability.

Suits LA Lacks The Humor & Wit That Made The Original So Enjoyable To Watch

Leaning Intro Drama Was The Spinoff's First Misstep

The success of Louis Litt’s appearance sadly only further reveals how different Suits LA feels compared to the original series. While Suits is still fondly ed as sexy, witty, and overall one of the best legal dramas of all time, the West Coast spinoff diverged from the formula and prioritized plot twists over laying a strong foundation. While Suits was charming off the bat, Suits LA’s pilot was all about betrayal— a captivating theme, but one that requires a pre-existing attachment to the characters to properly land.

Rather than set the scene of entertainment law and its California setting, Suits LA immediately dove into the deep-end of mob bosses and haunted pasts.

Whereas Suits understood the power of a slow-burn, Suits LA seemed to play fast and loose, comparatively. Rather than set the scene of entertainment law and its California setting, Suits LA immediately dove into the deep-end of mob bosses and haunted pasts. The multiple twists in Suits LA episode 1 felt unearned and inconsequential, but the fallout was pivotal to the rest of the season. The spinoff attempted to pivot to comedic moments sporadically, but the looming presence of Ted’s dead brother or Stuart’s murderous client set an overbearingly heavy tone that limited any remaining humorous elements in Suits LA.

Sadly, Suits LA No Longer Has Time Left To Fix Its Mistakes

NBC Won't Be Renewing The Spinoff For A Second Season

Suits LA episode 12 is leaps and bounds from its disastrous pilot, but the spinoff sadly won’t be able to learn from its mistakes. NBC has officially canceled Suits LA, meaning episode 13 will act as both the season 1 finale and the overall series finale. It’s possible the West-Coast spinoff could have honed its identity with a second season, using its most successful episodes as a guide. Unfortunately, the unyielding drama of Ted Black’s secret past put off many viewers early on, and Suits LA failed to regain the lost viewership.

Suits LA is the second Suits spinoff to be canceled after a single season, following Gina Torres' 2019 drama, Pearson.

While its overly-dramatic tone was undoubtedly a contributing factor, Suits LA's cancellation was somewhat inevitable. The original Suits is a series that is so widely-known and beloved that any successor must immediately work twice as hard to fit the franchise’s distinct energy. In trying to assert its originality, the spinoff felt too disconnected from its predecessor. In trying to mimic the original’s unique vibe, the spinoff felt like a cheap imitation. Suits LA had a thin line to walk, but it could never truly find its footing without help from original cast .

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