Suits LA’s First Episode Teases a Different True Protagonist – Is Ted Black Just a Decoy?

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Suits LA season 1, episode 1, “Seven Days a Week and Twice on Sunday”

Stephen Amell leads the cast of Suits LA as Ted Black, but a different character might be the show’s true protagonist. Given how Suits was defined by the unique dynamic between Harvey and Mike, I expected Suits LA to try something different instead of having another main duo. While it might be too soon to say which Suits LA characters will become the heart and soul of the show, the spinoff series has already introduced four major players – Ted, Erica, Rick, and Stuart. Following Stuart’s betrayal and Rick’s surprising decision, these four characters are now split into two teams.

Suits had lots of fun and compelling characters, but the relationship between Mike and Harvey is what set the tone of the show for seven seasons. Replicating that dynamic with two new characters would have been a risky choice, so I wasn’t surprised that Suits LA tried something different by having Stephen Amell play what seemed to be the sole protagonist of the spinoff. However, after all the twists in Suits LA episode 1, I realized that Ted Black might not be the true main character of the show in the long run.

Suits LA Episode 1’s Title Suggests Erica Rollins Is Its True Protagonist

“Seven Days A Week And Twice On Sunday” Was All About Erica

While a lot happens in Suits LA’s pilot – from Ted Black’s past in New York to Stuart Lane betraying his partner – “Seven Days a Week and Twice on Sunday” was at its core an origin story for Lex Scott Davis’ Erica Rollins. In fact, the title of the episode was about her. “Seven days a week and twice on Sunday” is what Ted told Stuart when they were discussing whether Ted was going to back up Erica when she started at the firm. Erica heard their conversation back then and knew that Ted trusted her potential.

Among the conflicts set up in Suits LA’s first episode, one of the most important ones involved the head of entertainment position. Even after Stuart betrayed Ted, the question of who was going to become head of entertainment remained essential to understanding the war that was about to be fought. Erica is given the chance to betray Ted and get her dream job title at Stuart’s firm, a moral dilemma that puts her character at the center of the pilot. By choosing Ted over Stuart, Erica proved she was ready to fight for the person who believed in her.

What Does Suits LA Episode 1’s Title Mean

Ted Trusts Erica Every Day Of The Week And Then Some

Suits LA’s pilot is titled “Seven Days a Week and Twice on Sunday” because that is what Erica heard Ted saying about whether he would bet on her when she first joined the firm. Stuart wanted to give Erica just the “diverse clients,” but Ted argued that he would not have hired her if he didn’t think she could deal with all their clients. From this moment on, Erica knew that, while Rick was Ted’s protégé, her boss at least knew how good she was and would have her back “seven days a week and twice on Sunday.”

This is why, when offered to be a spy for Stuart Lane and then get a promotion on his firm, Erica chose Ted. Of course, Erica would not just blindly trust Ted Black during such a delicate moment. First, she tried to test him by having Leah “leak” that Erica was secretly working for Stuart to see how Ted would react. While Ted Black made it clear that Rick was his first choice, the fact is that he and Erica are now in this war together and will have to trust each other “seven days a week.”

Why Erica Is A More Compelling Lead Than Any Of Suits LA’s Other Main Characters

Erica Is The Most Interesting Part Of Suits LA So Far

A smart and ambitious lawyer who knows what she wants and what she must to do achieve it, Erica is currently the most promising Suits LA character. Ted seems like a fully fledged protagonist from whom we already know what to expect, but Erica is still carving her path and making decisions that will define what kind of lawyer she wants to be. Erica has made her goals clear and is not afraid to play the long game, going as far as asking Ted if she would rather have Rick on his side.

Suits LA could have gone the easy route of having Erica be a mole for Stuart because Ted was always going to pick Rick over her. The fact that Rick did not want to be like Ted at the end of the day while Erica was in for the ride and even looked up to Amell’s character creates a very interesting dynamic that could become Suits LA’s biggest selling point if handled correctly. I’m curious to see what is next for Erica now that she is not only head of entertainment but also a partner.