Suits LA lasted only one season before being canceled, and its failure offers important lessons on what makes a spinoff work — lessons that The Good Fight, the spinoff of The Good Wife, successfully learned and applied.
Starring Arrow‘s Stephen Amell as entertainment lawyer Ted Black, Suits LA followed his journey through high-stakes celebrity legal cases. But despite occasional cameos by Suits fan favorites like Gabriel Macht (Harvey Specter) and Rick Hoffman (Louis Litt), the show struggled to find its audience and was swiftly canceled.
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Why Suits LA Failed
The most glaring issue with Suits LA was its lack of meaningful connection to its parent series. While Suits thrived on the electric dynamic between Harvey and Mike, the spinoff failed to replicate this chemistry or even establish an identity rooted in the Suits universe. It introduced new characters in a completely different setting without a strong emotional or narrative bridge to the original.
Additionally, the storytelling in Suits LA felt generic, lacking the sharp dialogue and morally complex conflicts that made Suits stand out in the legal drama genre.
The Good Fight Got It Right From the Start
In contrast, The Good Fight succeeded because it smartly chose to center a fan-favorite character: Diane Lockhart. Portrayed by Christine Baranski, Diane was a compelling figure in The Good Wife, known for her strength, legal intellect, and moral complexity. Her presence gave The Good Fight an immediate narrative and emotional connection to the original series.
Moreover, the spinoff didn’t just copy its predecessor. While The Good Wife balanced personal drama with legal storylines — often focusing on Alicia Florrick’s love life — The Good Fight pivoted to emphasize sociopolitical commentary and institutional critique, tapping into timely real-world issues. This gave the show a new, refreshing voice.
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Spinoff Success: The Good Wife vs. Suits
The difference in success isn’t just about writing or casting — it’s about relevance and continuity. The Good Wife universe continues to thrive with another successful spinoff: Elsbeth (2024), a police procedural led by quirky attorney Elsbeth Tascioni. The show’s smart pivot to a crime-solving format and character-driven charm has already earned it a third season.
Meanwhile, Suits — despite a recent resurgence in popularity thanks to Netflix — has failed to extend its universe meaningfully. The previous spinoff Pearson, centered on Jessica Pearson, also struggled and was canceled after one season. While Jessica was a strong character, she was never as central or emotionally resonant as Harvey or Mike.
The Way Forward: A Better Suits Spinoff
If there’s another attempt at expanding the Suits universe, it must do what The Good Fight did: bring back beloved core characters and build off established relationships. A series that continues the story of Harvey Specter and Mike Ross — especially given their fan-favorite chemistry — would have a far stronger chance of success.
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Final Thoughts
Spinoffs are always a gamble, but as The Good Fight proved, success lies in character continuity, audience connection, and narrative evolution. Suits LA missed that mark. If Suits hopes to build a universe of its own, it should take notes from the Good Wife playbook and reconnect with what made the original special.
