No matter how much a slow-burn romance makes us want to rip our hair out in anticipation, we cannot deny that we are total suckers for it. When two characters finally realize what they mean to each other and get together, it’s like a weight lifts off our chests. Perhaps the best example of this is Gabriel Macht and Sarah Rafferty’s characters in Suits.
Their relationship goes far beyond that of a boss and his assistant. Donna is Harvey’s confidante, his support system, and a trustworthy person in his life. While they eventually get together, things would have been a lot different for the show if it wasn’t for Gabriel Macht standing up for Sarah Rafferty.
How Gabriel Macht Made Harvey and Sarah Possible in Suits
During the last episode of Suits’ season eight, Gabriel Macht’s Harvey is sitting with Samantha (Katherine Heigl) as she talks about losing love. During the conversation, Harvey realizes that everything she’s saying resonates deeply with him and that he is, in fact, deeply and madly in love with Sarah Rafferty’s Donna.
He leaves the conversation midway and shows up at Donna’s door, only to embrace her in a kiss. There was no declaration of love and no heartfelt monologues – only pure feelings in both their eyes. Fans finally sighed with relief as the will-they-won’t-they situation finally came to a good conclusion.
Donna and Harvey are 2 characters that are perfect for each other. Thus, the show needed Donna’s actress to be someone who would do justice to their chemistry and sell the relationship perfectly. While they eventually found her in Rafferty, it was Macht who made it possible.
Talking to Deadline at the ATX Festival, former USA Network president Jeff Wachtel recalled how Macht called him up and vouched for Rafferty. It was only smooth sailing from there.
Gabriel called and said, ‘Look, there’s this unbelievable actress that I know, and I know we’re casting Donna, and she’s not a regular, but it’s the person who’s going to be my assistant. I would love you to read her. They’re talking, and she just is looking from one to the other, and you just feel the glue. Like I just want to hang out with these people. So it’s just wonderful how things can come -9together in unexpected ways.
There you have it. Donna and Harvey’s perfect relationship is all thanks to Macht taking a stand for Rafferty and helping her get the job. Little did he know that the character who he thought was simply going to be Harvey’s assistant would end up being his wife.
Gabriel Macht’s Views on Harvey and Donna
Why Harvey and Donna ‘hit different’ is because they don’t have the usual romance you see in films and TV. Theirs is a beautiful yet slow burn that ultimately pays off. Based on years of trust, respect, and loyalty, their relationship is the ultimate proof that the best relationships take their time to grow. But when they do, they are worth the wait.
However, Macht was initially skeptical about the romance. He once told Harper’s Bazaar,
I think for Harvey, there’s certain things he gets out of the relationship that he feels like if they were to be romantic, she wouldn’t be able to fulfill for him…He’s really unconscious about the relationship, and she is too—she may not be as clear as she thinks she is when it comes to her heart. Because Donna’s awesome, right? Donna’s this, Donna’s that, but there’s something missing [for her], and that might be it.
However, he later sang a different tune while talking to EW. He stated that given their dynamic, he thinks “the character, at this point, are meant to be together.” While they stumbled along the way, they eventually got to where they needed to be.
In the series finale, Donna and Harvey get married and eventually move to Seattle together, thus giving our beloved ‘Darvey’ a happy ending.
Suits is available to watch on Netflix.
