‘Suits’ Star Patrick J. Adams Reveals Why Directing Season 6, Episode 11 Felt ‘Strange’

Next week’s Season 6, episode 11 of “Suits” was directed by Patrick J. Adams, and while he had a great time directing the winter premiere, the series actor admitted that his latest turn behind the camera on the USA Network series felt a bit weird.

“The episode itself was a blast to direct,” Adams, who plays Mike Ross on the legal drama, told Entertainment Weekly. He, however, revealed that it was “strange” not having Gina Torres on set.

“She’s been a part of our family for so long,” Adams said of Torres who left the series after Season 6’s summer finale. “While I think it’s good for the show to have something like that — a kick in the pants, something dramatic that affects all of the characters really dramatically — it’s really hard to lose a member of your family like that.”

In the summer finale, Torres’ character, Jessica, realized that she didn’t want to be a corporate lawyer anymore, so she stepped down as a name partner of Pearson Specter Litt and decided to go with her lover Jeff Malone (D.B. Woodside) to Chicago.

The upcoming winter premiere is Adams’ third directorial gig on the series. Although he previously directed episode 14 of Season 4, titled “Derailed,” and episode 14 of Season 5, titled “Self Defense,” this is the first time he has directed a premiere episode.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter last September, Adams explained why he wanted to direct this season’s winter premiere. “This one I wanted to do just because I thought it would be fun to do more of a premiere episode, coming back and reintroducing the characters and starting the world fresh after this whole prison thing,” the newlywed actor said. “That to me seemed really exciting. I wanted that opportunity, and they said it was a go.”

As to what fans can expect from the episode, Adams said: “In general it’s setting us off on this path of what’s next for everybody. Mike is desperately searching for where he’s going to fit next and realizing that even though he’s paid the price and done his time that it’s still something that’s going to get in the way of him accomplishing his dreams now. He can’t really shake the fact that he was sent to prison. It’s a great episode.”

“Suits” Season 6, episode 11, titled “She’s Gone,” airs on Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 10 p.m. EST on USA Network. Check out the synopsis and trailer for the episode below:

“Harvey (Gabriel Macht), Louis (Rick Hoffman) and Donna (Sarah Rafferty) plan for a future without Jessica; Mike adjusts to life as an ex-convict; Rachel (Meghan Markle) considers her options.”