Suits LA Plot Thickens as Details About the Past Highlight Even More Betrayal
Suits LA kicked things into high gear showing off just how far gone former partners Ted and Stuart have become.
Suits LA Episode 3 covered a lot of ground both in the present day as well as with its mysterious flashback story all while juggling some incredibly exciting guest stars.
Each week we’re learning more and more about what happened to Ted Black (Stephen Amell) and what made him give up his life as a federal prosecutor in New York for one representing the rich and powerful elite of Los Angeles. While we didn’t exactly get answers in the latest episode, we learned a lot more about the friendship between Black and his former partner-turned-dire-enemy, Stuart Lane (Josh McDermitt).
SPOILER ALERT: The rest of this article will discuss spoilers for Suits LA, Episode 3
What Happened in Suits LA Episode 3?
After a devious trick in Episode 1, Lane continues to hit Black where it hurts, albeit more reluctantly. Ted is currently doing everything he can to represent his client, Lester (Kevin Weisman), who he believes is not guilty of the murder he's accused of. After it came out that Lester’s wife, Val (Kristen Hager), was having an affair with the victim, she turned to Stuart to represent her in the forthcoming divorce. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Ted learns that his now-deceased father asked Stuart to be the executor of his will and carry out his final wishes — including having him buried next to Ted’s brother, Eddie (Carson A. Egan). This is unacceptable to Ted but Stuart takes a hard stance that there’s nothing he can do besides faithfully execute the will.
While he absolutely relished pulling one over on Ted in Episode 1 after he called him a “flea” in an important meeting, the divorce and will proceedings clearly take a toll on Stuart who doesn't seem to enjoy getting this personal with his former friend. These men have history and he’s not happy about cutting Ted so personally deep.
Meanwhile, in Episode 3, thanks to flashbacks of Ted’s time in New York, we see just how deep their ties went before the stunning betrayal in the premiere.
In the past, Stuart came from the West Coast at Ted’s behest to get involved with his high-profile crime takedown. He’d previously tricked the man who killed his star witness into becoming his new witness. However, that now means the murderer needs representation. So, Ted convinced Stuart that he needed someone he could trust.
After a brief argument about Stuart trying to be a good lawyer even to a criminal, they put aside their differences as Stuart offers to do something truly altruistic for Ted.
The new witness revealed that Ted’s father was paid by the big bad crime boss to offer someone a job in the federal prosecutor’s office. That someone was Ted, who didn’t know his dad’s previous offer came with organized crime strings. Luckily, he didn’t take the job. However, if it came out that Ted was even offered a job with dirty money, his career would be over. So, Stuart volunteered to lie to his client and say he was the one offered the job.
That risks him getting fully disbarred and having his reputation ruined. When Ted asks why Stuart would agree to do such a thing, he explains that Ted is the closest thing he has to a brother and that he’d do literally anything for him. How truly far their friendship has fallen since.
Ted isn’t just a taker, though. He faces the problem head-on and tells the witness everything and informs him that he’s welcome to tell the world about the dirty job offer that he didn't take. If he does, Ted will cut him loose from witness protection and he can try his luck without it. It's the classic hardball stance Ted is rapidly becoming known for.
The gambit works and Ted informs Stuart that he’s off the hook and the problem is solved. That’s when their past bond is strengthened even further with Stuart asking Ted to be his best man, which he agrees to.
The episode ends in the present with Ted reluctantly joining Stuart at the burial of Ted’s father next to Eddie. It’s a somber moment but it’s a brief glimpse into the remaining friendship these two have after Stuart’s ultimate betrayal.
One wonders if fences can ever be mended between these two powerhouse attorneys or if too much has happened between the best man moment and now.
Curious fans will just have to tune into the next episodes of Suits LA to find out.
Suits LA airs on Sundays at 9/8c on NBC. Episodes are available to stream the next day on Peacock.
