Why Kevin Hates Harvey Specter In Suits LA Explained By Star Troy Winbush
Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Suits LA season 1, episode 8.
Making its debut on February 23, 2025, Suits LA is a spinoff of NBC’s Gabriel-Macht-led series. The official synopsis reads: “Ted Black, a former federal prosecutor from New York, has reinvented himself representing the most powerful clients in Los Angeles. His firm is at a crisis point, and in order to survive, he must embrace a role he held in contempt his entire career.” Suits LA stars Stephen Amell as Ted, Lex Scott Davis as Erica, Josh McDermitt as Stuart, and Bryan Greenberg as Rick.
Also among the cast is Troy Winbush, who plays Kevin, Ted’s old friend and ex-partner. The character is a former FBI agent who now works as a private investigator. Season 1, episode 8, “Acapulco,” sees him share the screen with Suits protagonist, Harvey Specter, although Kevin is said to hate the attorney. Winbush has appeared in series across primetime television and is most well-known for projects such as 9-1-1, Grey’s Anatomy, Chicago Fire, and The Goldbergs.
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ScreenRant interviews Troy Winbush about his love for the original series, Kevin’s dynamic with Harvey, and the major cliffhanger at the end of Suits season 1, episode 8.
Winbush Binge-Watched Suits (2011) In Three Days
“I really didn’t know what the show was all about, but the first episode got me. I was hooked.”
ScreenRant: To start off, I obviously need to know if you were a fan of the original Suits series.
Troy Winbush: Yes, I was. When it was on, I really didn’t know what the show was all about, but the first episode got me. I was hooked. When it played on Netflix, I binged-watched it for three days, so I got through all nine seasons. It was a very hectic time in my household raising a five-year-old and being attentive to the wife and trying to keep my eyes open with toothpicks watching the rest of the series. So it was a great experience to watch.
With two different timelines, how has it been to play in those flashbacks?
Troy Winbush: Every time I get in a chair, I always flashback to, I think it’s 2010. And back in 2010, I was the man. So every time they cover the little grays here and there, I flashback to my golden days and just looking in the mirror and just rocking out. But then they have to take it off at five o’clock so I’m back to reality, I’m this old dude. It’s been cool.
We really dive into specifics in those flashbacks, so it’s kind of in and out. Other than putting on the clothes and the makeup to cover all these little gray hairs, it’s been cool. It gives a sense of the backstory, obviously, and it explains a lot and hopefully we’ll look forward to seeing more of it and keeping it moving from there.
Kevin and Ted had a pre-existing relationship in the show. What do you enjoy most about that dynamic and acting alongside Stephen Amell?
Troy Winbush: We did the pilot in Canada. When we first met, Stephen is, at first, a reserved dude. It wasn’t hard to fall in love with this guy because, at the same time, he’s very observant of the text. He’s very observant of the atmosphere. When I got a chance to play with him, I had to step up my game because he came prepared.
And I love that about an artist who takes his craft seriously because, at the end of the day, we all want to be better as artists and as people. And especially sitting, talking with him outside of the scenes and joking with him, that camaraderie that we have shows on film, and I love that. He’s just a great person to work with. It’s really not blowing smoke.
I’ve been doing this for a long time. For the most part, everyone on set has been cool and very giving and very warm. And again, I’m not just blowing smoke, I’m not just saying that. It’s a pleasure coming to set every day and working with these guys, especially ones I’m in the scene with, and that’s mostly with Stephen.
Winbush Asked The Suits Creator Why Kevin Hates Harvey
“It’s cool to play that in a sense because it gives out comedy, it gives a bit of relief between us, and it’s nothing that I think we’ve done to each other.”
What’s funny is that fans obviously love Harvey Specter. Everyone was super excited to have Harvey in the show, but your character is said to hate him.
Troy Winbush: You know what? It’s weird. And I asked Aaron. He was like, “He’s just cocky. He’s just an arrogant asshole at times.” But it’s cool to play that in a sense because it gives out comedy, it gives a bit of relief between us, and it’s nothing that I think we’ve done to each other. We just have this small dislike of each other, which is playful. So it’s fun to go back and forth and rib each other a little bit.
And it’s fun to have had these scenes with him knowing that he is one of the OGs of the original show. It was such a pleasure to work with him. He was just inviting and very welcoming and he was just funny. These guys are funny and its no two ways about it. And I love comedy, so when I got a chance to kind of be off book and set to the side and we’re all shooting in video village, we’re in tears. It’s fun.
Aside from Harvey, there are so many characters that could make cameos. Since you were a fan of the original show, is there someone you’re hoping comes back and you would like to interact with?
Troy Winbush: Listen, at the end of the day, every one of those characters from the OG shows are welcome through the threshold at any given point. And that’s going to be an Aaron question because he keeps a lot of the information close to hip, and we won’t even find out until maybe the day of, so it’s such a secret.
Everyone from the OG show I’ve read in the post and in their Instagrams—they’re just very sweet and very giving to this new extension of the show, and I love it. Who knows? Maybe one day they’ll all just step through, but as of right now, I have no idea who it may be.
You’ve played similar types of characters before on network television. What makes Kevin stand out to you?
Troy Winbush: His vulnerability. Kevin is very vulnerable, and he’s very blunt. He has so much to give professionally, emotionally, and to show that through what the writers put forth on paper, and for me to play has been challenging, and it also has been rewarding. And I love the direction that they’re taking Kevin in.
The sky is the limit to what they’re capable of writing for me, and I just love the possibilities of him being a multifaceted character that the audience can relate to. And so far so good. I can’t complain about the direction that they’re taking me. I love it. So I’m just excited to explore it and see what’s next.
We’ve got to talk about that cliffhanger at the end of Episode 8 because LA is going to New York.
Troy Winbush: Listen, I had to rewind it a few times because it got me! I had chill bumps. I was like, “Ooh, okay.” Episode 9 is coming up, and I think the audience is going to be very pleasantly surprised and excited. Get the popcorn and the spritz ready. It’s going to be a hell of a ride when you watch.
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About Suits LA Season 1 On NBC
Created And Executive Produced By Aaron Korsh
Ted Black, a former federal prosecutor from New York, has reinvented himself representing the most powerful clients in Los Angeles. His firm is at a crisis point, and in order to survive, he must embrace a role he held in contempt his entire career. Ted is surrounded by a stellar group of characters who test their loyalties to both Ted and each other while they can’t help but mix their personal and professional lives. All of this is going on while we slowly unravel the events that years ago led Ted to leave behind everything and everyone he loved.
Check out our other Suits LA interviews:
Suits LA airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.
