Warning! SPOILERS aboutSuits LAepisode 8 ahead.
Suits LAteasedGabriel Macht’s return as Harvey Spectereven before the spinoff started, but one detail of Harvey’s appearance in both timelines of theSuitsspinoff is particularly irritating, and noticing it couldn’t have been possible without Harvey’s arrival inSuits LAepisode 8’s ending. Since its first episode,Suits LAhas been edging toward telling a specific story over two timelines, despite those not seeming obviously linked, except for the way both crises negatively affected Ted in similar ways in the present through Lester’s trial and in the past via Ted’s relentless pursuit of Pellegrini after Billy’s death.
Harvey’s arc inSuits LAseason 1 was always supposed to develop over three episodes, to usher in the new band of lawyers on the West Coast intoSuits’ world by directly connecting them through Ted and Harvey’s shared past. However,Harvey’s first cameo inSuits LAepisode 4only vaguely established his and Ted’s connection, showing through flashbacks a bond that seemed strong only within the confines of their weekly prosecutors’ league baseball matches.Harvey’s return inSuits LAepisode 8 finally explained the reason for his present-day appearance, but it also highlighted an annoying aspect of his cameo.
Harvey Specter Finally Appears In The Present Time In Suits LA Episode 8
Harvey Gets To Ted In LA In Suits LA Episode 8’s Ending
Harvey Specter’s arrival in LA might not have been a surprise for audiences, given that it was teased bySuits LAepisode 8’s trailer, but the reason for it was as, up to that point,Suits LAhadheavily implied his return would have had to do with helping Ted. Indeed,Suits LA’s flashbacks perfectly set up an almost mentor-like relationship between Ted and Harvey through Ted’s requests for help or support, personal and professional,to Harvey in the past timelineand Kevin’s mentions of not liking Harvey because he was the only other person he knew cockier than Ted.
Suits LAepisode 8’s ending subverted such expectations by having Harvey ask Ted to go with him back to New York to help him keep Pellegrini locked up, as he was about to be released from prison. The real reason behind Harvey’s return makes sense in light of whatSuits LAepisode 8’s flashbacks revealed, too, as a key to Ted possibly getting Pellegrini on the RICO charges was his company’s financial accounts, which Harvey gave to Ted and Kevin because of who brought Pellegrini’s company to be represented by Pearson Hardman: Daniel Pearson, whom Harvey never liked nor respected.
Daniel Hardman being behind Harvey’s firm’s connection to Pellegrini ended up motivating Harvey against Pellegrini almost as much as Ted.
The final piece of the puzzle of Harvey’s cameo simultaneously gave a good reason for Ted and Harvey working together and strengthenedSuits LAandSuits’ connection.Suits LAseason 1’s flashbacks solidly established why Ted wanted to get Pellegrini, as he killed Billy Esposito and cost Ted so much personally. Daniel Hardman being behind Harvey’s firm’s connection to Pellegrini ended up motivating Harvey against Pellegrini almost as much as Ted.Harvey and Ted’s story can thus have major repercussions inSuitsandSuits LA’s connection and Ted’s present, as returning to New York can help him process his past.
Gabriel Macht Looks The Same As Harvey In The Current Timeline & Flashbacks In Suits LA Episode 8
Harvey’s Appearance Looks Exactly The Same, No Matter The Time In Suits LA
Suits LAepisode 8 was the first time Harvey appeared in theSuitsspinoff in both timelines.This made it possible to highlight an irksome detail that could have easily gone unnoticedhadn’t that happened, as it can only be observed by either seeing Harvey appear in the two timelines or rewatchingSuitsseason 1.
With the events ofSuitsseason 1 happening in 2011 andSuits LA’s flashbacks being dated to 2010, it doesn’t make sense for Harvey’s appearance to have changed in so little time.
Harvey looked exactly the same inSuits LAepisode 8’s flashback and present timeline, with only his outfit changing because he met Ted at his home and not in a professional setting. Indeed, Harvey had the same haircut, with slightly longer hair even compared toSuitsseason 1. While Harvey’s appearance changed through the years inSuits, his hair was noticeably darker and always slicked back in season 1. With Harvey helping Ted in the past around five years after leaving the DA office, his different appearance betweenSuits LAandSuitsseason 1 doesn’t make sense, creating unnecessary dissonance.
Suits LA Characters Maintaining The Same Appearance Make The Flashbacks Less Effective
The Flashbacks Are Less Believable Because There’s No Distinction Between The Timelines
Suits LA’s flashbacks established a key storyline that majorly impacted Ted while he was pursuing Pellegrini and also in his life in LA, as he still couldn’t discuss his time in New York. The purpose of the flashbacks is very specific in the way they highlight how Ted’s life effectively changed overnight after dealing with Pellegrini. With the time and life being entirely different,Suits LA’sflashbacks should mirror the massive change in Ted and Harvey’s appearance, which was supposed to be different. Harvey and Ted looking the same thus hurt the effectiveness ofSuits LA’s flashbacks at last.
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TBA
July 07, 2025
Suits LAnew episodes air every Sunday at 9pm ET on NBC.
