This 16-Episode Suits Remake Proves How Difficult It Will Be For Suits L.A. To Match The Original

Despite the recent hype stirred up by Suits returning to Netflix, its highly anticipated spinoff, Suits L.A., may not be as successful as some might think, especially after the mediocre performance of another Suits installment. Although Suits first premiered in 2011, the show saw newfound success in 2023 after being added to Netflix’s roster. Not only did the legal drama see praise that it didn’t get when it was airing, but it even surpassed Netflix’s most popular series in terms of streams. Miraculously, Wednesday and Stranger Things didn’t stand a chance against this older legal drama.

After receiving so much attention, it wasn’t long before Suits creator Aaron Korsh announced a new installment in what is now the Suits franchise. Confirmed back in October 2023, Suits L.A. will be a new legal drama taking place in the Suits universe but based in Los Angeles with an entirely new cast of Suits characters. Arrow’s Stephen Amell and The Walking Dead’s Josh McDermitt will take up the show’s mantel, alongside Lex Scott Davis. However, as much as Suits L.A. is anticipated, a recent Suits flop means the spinoff could be in danger of failing as well.

Suits K-Drama Remake Couldn’t Live Up To The Original Show

In 2018, a year before Suits ended, a k-drama version of the series came out. Bearing the same name and the same plot (a slick lawyer recruits a man with photographic memory to his law firm, despite his lack of a law degree), the k-drama did not soar the way that Suits did. A few factors could have played into this. First and foremost, the Suits k-drama only had 16 episodes, as opposed to Suits’ nine total seasons. With so little time, the Suits k-drama had a slimmer chance of building the rapport and history that made Suits so riveting.

Furthermore, the Suits k-drama simply could not live up to what Suits had already done. Part of this could have been that the original Suits wasn’t over yet when the Suits k-drama premiered. In this way, there was no demand for Suits as there was in 2023. Additionally, the fact that it was a k-drama meant that it was geared towards a different audience. While Suits was nominated for various awards in Korea, it went mostly unnoticed in the United States. Therefore, it didn’t see the same success as the original Suits did on Netflix.

What Made The Original Suits So Successful

The Suits k-drama’s arguable failure leads to another big question: why is Suits so popular anyway? The most basic answer is that it is a fun and easy watch. Though Suits is a legal drama, it has a levity to it that is hard to find in other, newer television series. The show is able to mix serious, lawyerly drama with a more upbeat and casual ambiance.

Furthermore, it is a show that aims to be smart. Its protagonists are unique, motivated individuals, which makes them easy to root for.

On top of that, Suits is very bingeable. While newer shows on Netflix typically only have one season with only six to ten episodes, a viewer could binge this in as little as a single day. It may be an exciting watch, but many may not be satisfied. Shows like Suits fix that. With nine seasons and 134 episodes, Suits keeps audiences in their seats for a long time. In this way, a relationship forms, and enjoyment only increases. It is an ideal show to put on in the background or when a viewer simply wants to relax.

Suits L.A. Has A Tough Job Ahead Of It To Match Suits’ Success

Because the Suits k-drama didn’t shine like the original series, that means that Suits L.A. will also have to go up against Suits’ sterling reputation. Because it has a new cast, setting, and story, Suits L.A. must be able to convince audiences that it is as good as, or at least close enough to, the original Suits. As seen by the k-drama’s performance, this may not be a simple job either. In order to stay true to its source material, Suits L.A. must maintain the lighthearted drama that 2011’s Suits offered for nine seasons.

Luckily, Suits L.A. has a bit of an upper hand over the Suits k-drama. With Suits creator Aaron Korsh at the helm, there is a better chance of Suits L.A. having the magic of the original Suits. Furthermore, the spinoff is coming soon after the Suits hype began, whereas the k-drama came too early. Finally, Suits L.A. is already on audiences’ radars, which means for better or worse, the Suits spinoff will be seen when it is finally released.

• 

  Suits

  Comedy

  Drama

  Cast

  Patrick J. Adams
  , Sarah Rafferty
  , Gabriel Macht
  , Meghan Markle
  , Rick Hoffman
  , Gina Torres
  , Amanda Schull
  , Dule Hill
  , Katherine Heigl

  Seasons

  9

  Network

  USA

  Writers

  Aaron Korsh

• 

  Suits L.A.

  Drama

  Cast

  Stephen Amell

  Seasons

  1

  Network

  NBC

  Writers

  Aaron Korsh