AlthoughSuitscame to a close in 2019, Patrick J. Adams’ Mike Ross remains one of the most iconic protagonists of the 2010s, and for those looking for an alternative, ABC’s hit new show is the perfect replacement. Hailing from the blue sky era of network television,Suitsfollowed a group of stylish and smart lawyers who leveled dramatic conflicts with a breezy attitude and acerbic wit. Following theending ofSuits, creator Aaron Korsh began conceptualizing a new show in California withSuits LA. However, the West-Coast spinoff had an uphill battle from the start.
In place of Gabriel Macht’s Harvey Specter, Stephen Amell led theSuits LAcast of charactersas Ted Black. Along with Josh McDermitt’s Stuart Lane, Ted ran a law firm specializing in entertainment and criminal law until the series premiere, when Stuart ousted Ted from their merger deal. In the wake of the betrayal, Ted built his firm back up and went head-to-head with Stuart on multiple occasions. Yet, even after the two former business partners reconciled, their relationship was nowhere near as riveting as Harvey and Mike or even Harvey and Louis (Rick Hoffman).
Suits LA Fails To Replicate Suits' Success & Bring Back Mike Ross
The West-Coast Spinoff Was A One-Season Wonder
Sadly,Suits LA’s protagonist problems only scratched the surface of the overarching issue:the spinoff lacked the charm and personality that popularizedSuitsinitially. From the shallow characterization to the lackluster conflicts,Suits LAfailed to lay a proper foundation and suffered in the long run. News ofSuits LA’s cancelationwas an inevitable development shortly before the season 1 finale, but the poor ratings and negative critical response forced NBC’s hand.Suits LAepisode 1 garnered an overwhelmingly negative reputation, which proved to be too difficult for the spinoff to recover from.
Not even bringing back beloved original characters was enough to saveSuits LA.Harvey appeared for a short arc as Ted’s old friend and associate, Louis and Stuart bonded at an anger management retreat, and even Daniel Hardman (David Costabile) returned in a flashback court case. While Gabriel Macht and Rick Hoffman reprising their most memorable roles was a treat, seeing two of the original series’ most important characters hurt more than it helped. Nevertheless, excluding Mike Ross (or an LA equivalent) was the most obvious mistake that may very well have preventedSuits LAseason 2.
Why Mike Ross Is Such An Integral Part Of Suits' Success
In The Early Days, He Was Arguably More Important Than Harvey
Although Ted Black was billed as the LA version of New York’s best closer,Suits LAdidn’t need a new Harvey— rather, the key toSuits’ early success was always Mike. As the catalyst for the conflict that drove the show’s entire premise,Mike Ross was pivotal to developingSuits’ identity. Through Mike’s eidetic memory, complex personality, and banter with Harvey, the illegally-practicing lawyer helped cement Suits as one of the best legal dramas of all time. Harvey may be remembered for his suave and cocksure approach to life, but Mike’s awkward sarcasm was what madeSuitsunique.
All episodes ofSuitsandSuits LAare streaming on Peacock.
In comparison,Suits LAlacked an instant hook like Mike’s big secret. Ted’s dark past in New York was gratuitously explored through gritty flashback sequences, but there was little mystery and even less intrigue. At times, it felt as though the spinoff attempted to emulate the original characters (with Ted as Harvey, Stuart as Louis, etc.), but nobody ever came close to Mike’s idiosyncratic allure. Despite leaving the series early, Mike is still largely regarded as one of thebest characters inSuits, and that’s thanks to his endearing role as the reluctant genius.
Both Are Quirky Geniuses Who Have To Prove Themselves
Where Ted Black (andSuits LAas a whole) failed, however, ABC’sHigh Potentialsucceeds with flying colors. Led by Kaitlin Olson as Morgan Gillory, the procedural follows a mother of three who is classified as the titular High Potential Intellectual.Similar to Mike Ross, Morgan’s memory is perfect, her personality flippant, and her style totally singular. Banding together with the LAPD and Detective Karadec (Daniel Sunjata) instead of Harvey Specter, Morgan fights crime more directly by solving the unique murdercases inHigh Potential. Just like Mike, Morgan offers a new perspective that often acts as the missing link.
What most obviously connects Mike and Morgan is their shared attitude towards their intellectual prowess.
Additionally, though Morgan isn’t hiding a massive part of her identity, both she and Mike have to prove themselves to people with preconceived notions. Prior to the events of the series, Morgan worked as a cleaner for the LAPD and was overlooked by many, with certain characters even referring to her as“the cleaning lady”after a dozen cases solved. What most obviously connects Mike and Morgan is their shared attitude towards their intellectual prowess.Mike and Morgan were both geniuses who failed to live up to other people’s expectationsbut begrudgingly became crucial members of a team.
What To Expect From Morgan In High Potential Season 2
Morgan Has Plenty Of Mystery Left
Thankfully, Morgan can fill the void left by Mike Ross and Suits while still maintaining her unique personality. Plus, unlike the failure ofSuits LA,High Potentialhas already been renewed by ABC for a second, slightly extended season based on the glowing response to the procedural’s pilot showing. Instead of being a carbon copy or lesser imitation of Mike Ross, Morgan has her own motivations, flaws, and relationship dynamics that set her apart. Fortunately, as evidenced by theending ofHigh Potential,Morgan’s personal conflicts and career journey are far from over.
The anonymous serial kidnapper, known only by the pseudonym David (David Giuntoli), is still at large following his crime spree in theHigh Potentialseason 1 finale, and he made it abundantly clear that Morgan would be seeing him again.David’s plan inHigh Potentialseason 2 is still unclear, but he could jeopardize the lives of everyone Morgan holds dear. Similarly, a breakthrough inthe unsolved disappearance of Morgan’s ex-husband, Roman, could be life-changing. Finally finding outwhat happened to Roman inHigh Potentialwill be exciting, but Morgan has to deal with the unforeseen consequences of her investigation.
High Potentialseason 1 and its French predecessor,HPI, are streaming on Hulu.
On a broader scale, Morgan’s potential slow-burn romance with her partner could satisfy fans of a workplace romance, similar to Mike Ross and Rachel Zane (Meghan, Duchess of Sussex). Morgan’s family— Ava (Amirah J), Elliot (Matthew Lamb), baby Chloe, and co-parent Ludo (Taran Killam)— offers heartwarming moments on a more personal level. Of course, the crime and puzzle solving ofHigh Potentialalone is exhilarating. Yet, just like the sexy world ofSuitsand Mike Ross,High Potential’s captivating protagonist is the real selling point.
