Suits LA is racing towards its season finale, and episode 8 appears to lay the final pieces in place for what may prove to be an explosive ending. The drama has subsided between the competing law firms, but what sent Ted Black to LA in the first place appears to be following him from New York. Fortunately, Ted is not facing the demons of his past alone.

After a tragic death defined the previous episode, episode 8 opens up with more tragedies. The team at Black & Associates is ready to face down whatever comes their way — together. This episode is also heavy on flashbacks, with sweet moments between Ted and his brother, and a former close friend from New York. However, the episode is primarily laying the groundwork for the final two episodes of season 1.

Suits LA Is Racing Towards A Powerful Finale

Suits LA has had some ups and downs throughout its freshman season; it struggled to find its footing, establish its own identity, and properly captivate audiences. However, as the show barrels towards its season 1 finale, it appears to finally be formulating a plan. With Ted's firm back on solid ground, and the flashbacks coming into focus, Suits LA seems to be in its strongest position since the start of the season.

Episode 8 feels like one of the more consequential episodes in the season, but it also reframes previous entries as being filler episodes.

But the fact that it has taken so long to actually start digging into the central narrative is an issue. Up to this point, the show has occupied itself with following alternative plots, though the side plot has taken up most of the season. Meanwhile, the flashbacks have been building towards the most important parts of the finale. Episode 8 feels like one of the more consequential episodes, but it also reframes previous entries as being filler episodes.

In addition, the tease that Gabriel Macht would be appearing in multiple episodes is finally coming to fruition. All in all, Suits LA has put itself in a strong postion to have its best episodes yet, but whether this is happening too late in the season, and the show has already lost its audience with inconsequential episodes, remains to be seen.

Suits LA Is Running Out Of Time To Make Its Mark

While the series is clearly forging a new path, it has proven a challenge to shed the reputation of the incredibly successful Suits series. Actors like Stephen Amell are constantly compared to Macht, while the ing cast are being closely assessed to see who they are meant to be in this new version of the same old story. Unfortunately, Suits LA hasn't done a lot to properly avoid these comparisons.

If Suits LA really wants to establish itself as a new chapter for the franchise, it needs to stand out and lean into the differences.

Ted seems like a cheap knock-off of Harvey Specter. Stuart Lane appears to be a less fun version of Louis Litt. And Ted's assistant Roslyn appears to be an attempt at crafting a character as witty, decisive, and inspired as Donna Paulsen, though she falls short. If Suits LA really wants to establish itself as a new chapter in the franchise, it needs to stand out and lean into its differences.

So far, we've been offered brief glimpses of new relationships, such as that between Ted and Amanda Stevens, Rick Dodson and Erica Rollins, and Leah Powers and Roslyn, but these need to take priority over creating comparisons to the original show. Suits LA has potential. It's moving in the right direction with episode 8, and the finale will either make or break the spin-off series, securing its future and status.

New episodes of Suits LA air each Sunday at 9pm ET on NBC.