I Had Doubts, But Suits LA Brilliantly Explains How Suits' Original Villain Is Connected To Ted Black
Warning: SPOILERS for Suits LA episode 8.Suits LA has had a difficult time balancing its flashback sequences with its present-day narratives, but the New York storyline just set up a compelling connection to the original series' first villain. The West-Coast spinoff set up by the ending of Suits was highly anticipated as soon as it was announced, but the pilot season has had its ups and downs. The first episode garnered harsh criticism, but each subsequent entry has improved exponentially. Even the 2010 New York scenes, though still interrupting the overall flow of the episode, at least feel more earned in Suits LA episode 8.
It doesn’t hurt that the spinoff has the best Suits character bridging the past and the present: Gabriel Macht’s Harvey Specter. Despite ending Suits in Seattle, Harvey enters as an old friend of the Suits LA cast of characters headliner, Stephen Amell’s Ted Black. Initially, it was hard to believe that they were close confidants, even ifSuits LA sold Ted as the West Coast version of Harvey. Now that another big name from the original series has entered the conversation, however, it’s easy to understand how the mob boss case from Ted’s past spiraled out of control.
Suits LA Episode 8 Reveals How Daniel Hardman Ties To The Pellegrini Case
Ted Hones In On The RICO Charges
The crux of Ted Black’s dark past in Suits LA lies in his final case as a prosecutor, where he went after an infamous mob boss named Pellegrini (Anthony Azizi). Pellegrini has proven himself to be a dangerous enemy time and time again, with a hit ordered by him setting the tone for the first scene in the series. The crime lord has employed various intimidation tactics, ranging from killing a comedian Ted used to trick a mafioso to extorting Ted’s corrupt father (Matt Letscher). Yet, Suits LA episode 8 reveals a familiar face is the key to the case.
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Suits LA episode 8 finally brings its Harvey Specter cameos to the present, but it also reveals that the spinoff's marketing lied about his true role.
Ted’s past as a prosecutor in Suits LA has already linked him to New York's former best closer, but Harvey brought another Suits character into the fold this episode— his longtime enemy, Daniel Hardman (David Costabile). After Ted’s star witness perjured himself and put the murder charges against Pellegrini in jeopardy, Ted decided to focus on Pellegrini’s RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) transgressions. Hardman represents one of the companies tied to Pellegrini, and Suits LA episode 8 implied that there may be evidence of money laundering that could be used as leverage with some coerced corroboration.
Harvey's Reveal Sets Up Daniel Hardman's Confirmed Suits LA Appearance
David Costabile Is The Third Confirmed OG Cast Member
While mentioning Daniel Hardman’s name alone is enough to connect the series, David Costabile will be reprising his role in an upcoming episode of Suits LA. The exact episode is undisclosed, but Daniel Hardman will appear. Sadly, it’s unclear if he will cross paths with his Suits nemesis. Though the extent of the scorned former partner's involvement at first seemed to be nothing more than a name on a document, Harvey gives Ted and Kevin the idea to rope Daniel Hardman into the investigation directly. Harvey’s role in Suits LA began as ornamental, but he now seems incredibly consequential.
Suits LA Episode 7's Sneaky Title Perfectly Caps Off Its Fitting Tribute To John Amos (But Does He Have A Walk Of Fame Star?)
Out of all the celebrity cameos on Suits LA thus far, John Amos' appearance in the pilot episode has proven to be the most meaningful after episode 7.
Costabile is the third Suits alum to have a confirmed appearance in the LA spinoff, following Macht and Rick Hoffman, who played Louis Litt in the original series. Not much is known about Hoffman’s cameo, but it has no connection to the Pellegrini case (thus far). Macht’s three-episode run on Suits LA will wrap up in episode 9, but Costabile’s guest role isn’t guaranteed to overlap, despite Harvey setting up Daniel Hardman’s return. However, even if Suits LA hasn’t confirmed when Hardman will appear, episode 8 practically spelled out what his role will be.
What To Expect From Daniel Hardman's Appearance In Suits LA
He'll Likely Stay (Mostly) In The Past
After Harvey gives Ted the financial records for Pellegrini’s company, Kevin is hesitant to pursue the RICO charges, especially considering lawyers can’t testify against their own clients. As Harvey points out before leaving, there’s a loophole: attorney-client privilege isn’t always binding, as long as the lawyer doesn’t know who they’re testifying against. Given that Suits LA episode 8 confirmed Hardman represents one of Pellegrini’s companies, it’s probable that Hardman will be subpoenaed to testify against Pellegrini’s racketeering without his knowledge. The ending of the episode, however, implies that something went awry.
New episodes of Suits LA can be streamed on Peacock the day after they air on NBC.
Pellegrini is the only major conflict in Suits LA that remains after Ted’s criminal defense trial ended in episode 6, and the past is beginning to do more than haunt him. Harvey appears in the present timeline for the first time in Suits LA episode 8 to warn Ted that Pellegrini is getting out of jail, setting up the dyad’s obvious mission to prevent his release. Ted makes a vague reference to “what [Harvey] did” in the original trial, but it remains unclear whether it involved Hardman’s testimony. Regardless, Daniel Hardman’s return in Suits LA is bound to be eventful.
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Suits LA continues Sunday on NBC.
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