Suits LAbombed with audiences and lasted only one season on NBC, but one true legacy character could have saved it:Jessica Pearson (Gina Torres). Jessica’s return could have won over the fanbase, new viewers, and saved the failing program from being canceled.
Suits LAseason 1 did bring in a few of the originalSuitscharacters for guest appearances. Corporate attorney Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht) had a connection to Ted Black’s (Stephen Amell) past in New York. During the penultimate episode, Louis Litt (Rick Hoffman) appeared to be a rival of Stuart Lane (Josh McDermitt) before becoming best buddies in a mud bath together.
Sure, it was nice to hearHarvey mention thathe has a son with his wife, Donna Paulsen (Sarah Rafferty). This meant Harvey has since moved on and grown since theSuitsseries finale aired in 2019. However, his guest appearance did not advance the plot of the legal drama.
This is why the nonappearance of Jessica duringSuits LAfelt like a wasted opportunity, as if the show was bound to be canceled right from the start.
Gina Torres' Jessica Pearson Could Have Saved Suits LA
In the originalSuitsseries, Jessica was one of the founding partners of the law firm known as Pearson Hardman.
Because her law firm was headquartered in New York,Jessica could have had ties with Ted, and their connection wouldn’t have felt forced like Harvey’s. InSuits LA, Ted knew Harvey because they played baseball together back in the Big Apple, which doesn’t move the needle much.
Before reinventing himself as an entertainment lawyer in Los Angeles, Ted was a former federal prosecutor who worked on cases involving organized crime back in New York. During the sixth season, Jessica saved an innocent man, Leonard Bailey (Glenn Plummer), from death row in the episode “PSL.”
This means she would have crossed paths with Ted on a previous criminal case. Not only would her reappearance have brought in viewership, Jessica would have been integral to the main plot and the protagonist. Sadly,Suits LA is done with just one season.
Jessica Pearson Was A Fan-Favorite Suits Character
Compared to Harvey and Louis,Jessica was much more savvy. With her keen fashion sense and feisty attitude, Jessica dominated in the courtroom and the office floor of her law firm. Although she held a strong front with her co-workers, Jessica shared her vulnerable side with a few people, including Harvey and her ex-boyfriend, Jeff Malone (D.B. Woodside).
It’s easy to see how Jessica became a fan-favoriteSuitscharacter. She also showed off her sharp wit with her iconic lines, such as “You woke the dragon, Charles. How do you like me now?” This type of witty dialogue was clearly missed onNBC’sSuits LAand could only be delivered by the formerFireflyactress.
Suits LA Could Have Answered The Burning Question Of What Happened To Jessica Pearson After Suits
Torres leftSuitsafter six seasons and reprised her role as Jessica in the spinoff,Pearson. During the first and only season ofPearson,Jessica moved on from the law and became a political fixer, the right-hand woman of the corrupt Chicago mayor, Bobby Novak (Morgan Spector).
Pearson season 1 ended with a cliffhanger as Jessica became disillusioned with politics after she figured out the mayor had committed murder. The unresolved ending left viewers with questions, including whether her venture to the Midwest was successful. These questions could have been answered inSuits LA,but now viewers will never know.
IfSuits LAhad brought back Jessica Pearson (Gina Torres) into the fold, not only would the show have fared better, but the ratings would have possibly skyrocketed. There would have been more material to cover than having her character relegated to just a gimmicky cameo. Unfortunately, fans will only wonder what could have been with his missed opportunity.
