Warning: This interview contains spoilers for the “God’s Green Earth” episode of Suits.



This week on USA’s Suits, AUSA Anita Gibbs put Rachel in the crosshairs, first offering to get Mike into Columbia if she’d turn on Harvey and Jessica and warning Rachel that she may not be admitted to the bar if she doesn’t — then having a friend, the dean of the law school, threaten to expel Rachel. But Gibbs wasn’t the only one who gave Rachel something to think about. Here, Meghan Markle breaks it down.

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The writers are finding ways to squeeze the characters that we don’t see coming but make total sense. Let’s start with the dean insinuating that Mike took the LSATs for Rachel.

I didn’t see that coming at all. And I actually really appreciate it, because often times we get so caught up in the Mike Ross fraud storyline — which, of course, is the common thread of what the entire show is about — but because that becomes what Mike and Rachel talk about in their home and what they talk about at work, you forget that Rachel also has this aspiration of becoming a lawyer and that she’s in law school. So it was a great reminder of everything else she’s been juggling and trying to work towards. It was hard to play as well, because she’s trying so hard to keep it together, and you can sort of see the stronger version of Rachel starting to emerge, that has a little bit more attitude and is just really understanding the gravity of what’s happening in a different way.



We’ve talked about what’s at stake for Rachel, and it’s nice to know that she and Donna are committed to being friends no matter what after their fight last week.

And I love that they put that female support of each other in there for us. … Even the scene with Rachel and Scotty, which we’ve never had before — [Abigail Spencer] and I were thrilled to be able to work together, finally — you get to see these women really supporting and encouraging each other, which is something that I think Suits has been really good about having. And also to go, “Sure, it’s human, people are going to bicker. They’re going to have issues.” But I love that the Donna/Rachel friendship is able to circle back to what it’s really about, and that’s them being there for each other.



Rachel apologizes to Scotty, knowing what it’s like to get caught up in this mess you did nothing to help create. But then there’s the surprise of Scotty telling Rachel that Mike may resent her in the future if he has to watch her live her dream of being a lawyer while he can’t. Rachel says Mike’s not like that. Do you think Rachel fully believes that, or is it something she’s trying to tell herself?

I think she’s trying to convince herself in that moment. I don’t think that had ever occurred to her either. But seeing how Mike Ross was when he wasn’t at the firm and he was at the other beautiful office building with all the glass, he wasn’t the same version of himself, right? So now he’s come back. He loves being able to work in tandem with Harvey. And I think seeing more of his personality come out in a different way, with his anger and whatever else when he’s under high stress — I don’t think Rachel’s considering the possibility that he could be a very different person if, as Scotty said, Rachel’s living out the dream that he wanted and he’s not able to.



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You mentioned that female support. Fans love those scenes where Jessica acts as a mentor to Rachel. Is there any time for that in these last episodes of the season?

Yeah, definitely, because I think they’re all so interconnected, and they’re all fighting towards the same common goal at this point. I’m really happy that there is more stuff coming up with Rachel and Jessica. With all of it, Rachel’s seeking this guidance from mentors, like Jessica or even her father, as angry as he is. Whatever Rachel’s doing, her reputation has always been of ultimate importance to her. The idea that someone is questioning if her fiancé took the LSATs for her… I mean, come on, you can see how disparaging that is for her. And keep in mind, in all of this, there’s still the possibility of a wedding. [Laughs] As though brides don’t have a lot of stress on their mind as they’re planning their wedding, add this little log to the fire.