Bryan Greenberg Talks Fan Comparisons Between Suits LA & OG Suits: "They're All Fair"
Rick Dodsen often serves as Suits LA's heart. Here's what the actor behind Dodsen has to say about his character arc so far.
Just four episodes into Suits LA, there’s a lot to be said for the new spinoff series. Even for actor Bryan Greenberg, whose character is so far only tangential to the main storyline of the season, a lot of ground has been covered and the actor couldn’t be having more fun with the role.
From high fashion to snappy dialogue, Greenberg’s character made a splash as early as the first episode thanks to his close relationship with Ted Black (Stephen Amell) and his [SPOILER ALERT] eventual betrayal by the end of the episode. Speaking in a recent interview with NBC Insider, the actor opened up about why he took the role, where his character’s storyline is headed, and what he thinks about the comparisons people are making between Suits LA and its predecessor.
Why Bryan Greenberg took the role of Rick Dodson
Greenberg, like many who joined the Suits LA cast, admitted he didn’t watch a lot of the original show once he was cast in the spinoff so as not to poison his ability to craft something new. In fact, creating something new with the character Rick Dodson was what appealed to him most about joining the show.
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“He’s got a really good moral compass but he’s also funny and quick-witted. I can see my sensibilities working with this character,” he explained. “I think I’m a lot of things. I can be dramatic, sometimes I’m a clown, and sometimes I fall in love. All those things I can relate to.”
One thing Dodson has been grappling with in the first episodes is being an effective lawyer without embodying the more negative qualities that make Black even more effective. Playing an attorney on the side of the angels in the City of Angels excited Greenberg.
“He does have a very strong moral compass and a sense of right and wrong and that is often challenged in the world of Hollywood, where people don’t play by those rules and they have a lot of shady practices," he said. "Lawyers are known to be a little bit gray in their ethics sometimes. Really the energy and the tone of the show, I felt like was a really great fit for me.”
Rick Dodsen’s relationship with Erica Rollins
In the first episode, a professional rivalry between Rick and Erica (Lex Scott Davis) was put at the forefront of the story. Over time, it was revealed that they had a romantic relationship that ended amicably. While the duo are professionally competitive, there are signs that they’ve still got an affection for each other and it’s not uncommon for them to offer friendly advice during late-night calls.
Playing with that character dynamic is one of Greenberg’s favorite elements from working on the show.
“That’s probably one of my favorite storylines to play because it’s so complicated and there’s definitely a romantic history there but we’re also sworn enemies,” he said. “That love/hate relationship is so good. We’re both ambitious people who want to achieve the same goals but they have completely different ways to go about it.”
He added: “But, with lawyers, everything is a negotiation. They’re always trying to leverage each other, even romantically. It’s very fun to play.”
Bryan Greenberg on comparing Suits LA to Suits
Given its positioning as a spinoff series to the original Suits, Greenberg understands that comparing the new show to the beloved original is inevitable for fans and critics alike. However, he believes people are starting to understand what it is they’re trying to build with Suits LA.
“It’s difficult to be part of something that you’re trying to create something new but you can’t help but have the comparisons,” he explained. “They’re all fair, it’s called Suits LA, it’s Suits. I get it. There’s a huge connective tissue. Aaron [Korsh] being the same creator, a lot of the same writers have come back. Same directors. So the DNA is there. Even the theme song, even the wardrobe — a lot of the same people are involved!”
He continued: “This is why I didn’t watch it because I wanted to create our own world and I do think the audience… They are starting to adjust and understand that we’re doing something different even though we have a lot of the same DNA as the first show.”
Even though the show is trying to build something new, it’s not afraid of the past. Episode 4 saw the return of Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht), who will be back for a multi-episode arc. Meanwhile, it’s been confirmed that Louis Litt (Rick Hoffman) will also reprise his role in a later episode of Suits LA, but we don’t know how or why he’ll return. Fans will simply have to continue to tune into what the new show is building to find out.
Catch new episodes of Suits LA Sundays at 9 p.m. on NBC. Episodes stream the next day on Peacock.
