Patrick J. Adams bid farewell to his iconic role as Mike Ross on Suits, departing alongside his on-screen wife, Meghan Markle’s Rachel Zane, in the Season 7 finale.
From the outset, Mike Ross stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the legendary Harvey Specter as one of Suits’ central figures. His character’s arc took viewers on a rollercoaster ride from a struggling pothead to a cunning yet unqualified lawyer, and eventually to a married man poised to spearhead a legitimate legal clinic.
Why Did Mike Ross Leave Suits After Season 7
In November 2017, The Hollywood Reporter dropped a bombshell during the halfway point of Suits Season 7: both Patrick J. Adams and Meghan Markle were eyeing exits ahead of Season 8. While Adams was looking to explore new creative avenues, Markle was preparing for her marriage to Prince Harry of the British royal family (you can read more about Meghan Markle’s departure from Suits here).
Adams candidly discussed his decision to leave the show with The Hollywood Reporter, revealing that he came to the realization during the mid-season break that Season 7 would be his final chapter as Mike Ross. He explained how the process of renegotiating contracts for future seasons prompted him to reflect deeply on the character’s journey and what more could be explored:
“As we were starting to talk about renegotiating contracts [for season eight and beyond], I took a moment. Everybody was going full steam ahead and I stopped and said, ‘We need to think about this because this is more of my time and more of my life — and what’s the story left to tell?'”
Reflecting on Mike’s evolution from a “brilliant burnout pothead” to a bona fide lawyer, Adams acknowledged the substantial growth of his character and the narrative arcs that had been fulfilled:
“When I looked at the work I was doing, Mike would become a full-fledged, certified, legal on paper lawyer. That’s a long way from when we met him and he was this brilliant burnout pothead with no real prospects. I thought we’d come so far and now Mike is going to work to be a lawyer and he’s engaged to the woman of his dreams and he’s got the means and opportunity to do whatever he can imagine.”
Adams further elaborated on his reluctance to extend Mike’s storyline indefinitely, fearing that it might dilute the character’s essence:
“I had this voice in my head that said that we’ve told his story and if he hangs out longer, Mike is just going to be another lawyer on television. That didn’t feel right for him. It didn’t feel right for where I was at in my life, either.”
The decision to depart was ultimately made in consultation with show creator Aaron Korsh, aligning with both their creative visions and personal aspirations:
“I started having conversations with Aaron and we both decided [Adams leaving] made sense, as sad and scary as it was. It just felt like it was the way to go.”
Acknowledging the emotional weight of leaving a role that had defined a significant part of his career, Adams expressed a mix of apprehension and determination to honor the character’s journey:
“There’s always this fear that you’ve somehow let down or will let down the millions of fans over the world when, really, your reason for doing it is to honor the work that you’ve done over the past seven years.”
With their final outing in the Season 7 finale, both Mike Ross and Rachel Zane bid farewell as mainstays of Suits, having been integral to the series since its inception. After Mike’s transformation from fraud to legitimate lawyer and his marriage to Rachel, Season 7 saw the couple preparing to start afresh in Seattle, where they planned to run a legal clinic and take on corporate giants.
This departure marked the end of an era for Adams and Markle, leaving behind a legacy of compelling storytelling and character development in the legal drama series.
Why Did Mike Ross Return in Suits Season 9?
After bidding farewell to his character Mike Ross in the Season 7 finale of Suits following his wedding to Rachel Zane, Patrick J. Adams made a surprising return in Season 9. His guest appearance saw him back in the courtroom, facing off against old colleagues like Harvey Specter, before joining forces to reclaim the firm from the grip of Faye Richardson, representing the New York Bar Association.
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight from the set of Season 9 in June 2019, Adams shared his sentiments about returning to Suits, describing it as a chance to reunite with the cast and crew for the series’ final moments:
“Ultimately, it was about coming back. It was about, ‘We’d love to get the band back together,’ basically. Do one last trip around the world. It was as simple as that. For me, it was just an excuse to come and see everybody and really be here for the final moment.”
Reflecting on his return compared to his initial departure, Adams expressed his appreciation for being present to witness the conclusion of the series alongside his former colleagues:
“When I left the first time, it was just me. I was saying goodbye and I knew this thing would continue after me. Now I know that every time we’d shoot a last scene in the bullpen or in Harvey’s office or in Donna’s office or wherever, I’ll get to be there for that. Then, when we say ‘cut’ for the final time and ‘Suits’ is over and that’s it and it’s in the past. I know I’ll get to be there with everybody when it happens. For me, that’s a huge gift.”
Adams’ return to Suits allowed him to revisit his character’s journey and participate in the show’s concluding chapters, bringing closure to his time on the iconic legal drama series.
