Suits: LA Season 1 Episode 10 Review: Slugfest

Stuart’s relationship with Bowie takes a sinister turn on Suits: LA Season 1 Episode 10, “Slugfest.”

After further inspection of the evidence against Bowie, Stuart makes a startling discovery, ending in a solemn encounter with Bowie. Meanwhile, in the present timeline, Ted and Stuart go head-to-head in a mock trial when they were tied for number one in their class.

Suits: LA delivers a solid, intriguing hour of television that takes certain storylines to new lengths and doubles down on the brotherhood between two protagonists.

What’s Best for the Client

Bowie’s newfound murder trial is underway, and to prove his innocence, Stuart must call Erica’s client, Greg Fisher, to the stand. It’s an easy enough request.

However, with the chance for his affair to come to light, which would, in turn, take a hit against Erica’s reputation, she pleads with Rick to convince Stuart to do the right thing. She knows she can’t approach him after using the security footage as blackmail to regain her mother’s statue.

Yet, in true Stuart fashion, he takes another stomp on the relationships he holds with his allies in an attempt to do what’s best for Bowie despite the desperate pleas from Erica and Rick.

Where the issues arise is after the case is dismissed, when Stuart suddenly comes to the sense that he should investigate the footage more thoroughly. Through this, he learns what the audience has known to be true the entire time: Bowie is guilty.

Bowie admits this when Stuart goes to the ADA’s house to reveal his findings. Luckily enough for Stuart, Ted is waiting in the shadows, secretly recording Bowie’s confession for the murder of Janet Fields and subsequent threats to Stuart and his family.

It’s easy to feel sympathy for Stuart because he attempts to make things right and is genuinely regretful. Despite that, it begs the question of why this research wasn’t initiated beforehand.

If there was any hint of doubt that Bowie could still be guilty, Stuart should have thoroughly examined every piece of evidence used to gain his innocence. With him now being forced to keep a closer eye over his shoulder and on the ones he loves, it’ll be interesting to see how he attempts to solve the issue for good.

A Battle of Wits

In the past, 2005 to be exact, Ted and Stuart are forced to go head-to-head in a mock trial after they tie for number one in their class. It’s a thought-provoking, genuine breakdown of the brotherhood the two share.

When presented with the test of having to choose the actors within the mock trial, and each being given one chance to change one fact of the case, the two blur the lines between brothers and enemies.

This specific outing in the past timeline had me not wanting to return to the present because of the conflict and solutions that arose. There are no mincing words, and it’s made clear from the beginning: it’s a war, and only one will come out on top.

That sentiment is taken to the next level when Stuart interjects Ted’s father as a subject in the case. In return, Ted takes it a step further by putting Helen on the stand and then destroying her validity while also exposing that she told him she wanted to marry Stuart.

Neither Ted nor Stuart knows the meaning when it comes to taking the high road. All bets are off after Ted’s father is introduced, leading to Helen’s beratement and Stuart setting his target on Eddie.

Ted: “Stuart, don’t do this.”
Stuart: “It’s too late for that. You went after Helen. I’m going after Eddie.”

Thankfully, it never comes to that. Stuart comes to his senses after getting a bit of convincing from Helen, denying his previous claims to call another witness to the stand. Ted follows suit in the same footsteps of kindness, withdrawing from the case and proclaiming Stuart the victor in the end.

These two are brothers through and through. Families fight, throw hands, exchange words, and get on each other’s nerves, but at the end of the day, they’re the ones who are in your corner and there to help you when it comes time.

Accepting the Challenge

After proposing the idea of either exploring their feelings for one another or Amanda coming to work for Ted and then him immediately going ghost on her, Amanda has accepted the head of Criminal Defense.

It’s evident that Amanda isn’t used to taking orders or direction from others. She has been a pro bono lawyer for a long time, doing her best to help those in need, but with this new position, more is being asked of her.

However, rather than succumb to the new challenges or call Ted out on his stern attitude, she accepts the new task and promptly gets to work. That includes tracking down a teen star wishing to emancipate herself from her controlling father.

Amanda has proven to be one of the series’s most compelling characters and deserves all the extra screen time she can get. We’ve broken the barrier and dove into the background of many characters, but we’ve yet to see Amanda examined to that extent, so I’m looking forward to peeling back those layers.

---

What did you think of this episode of Suits: LA? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to leave your own rating!

Critic Rating:

Audience Rating:

 

Suits: LA airs Sundays at 9/8c on NBC.

Check out our latest TV recommendations, updated weekly!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!