Sullivan’s Crossing Season 1 Episode 9, which also served as the series’ penultimate episode (Dec 13th marks the season finale), definitely raised heart rates as Maggie jumped into action to use her expertise to save Jackson following a fall while climbing. 

Here’s the thing—I like the show, and I know that I’m signing up for melodramatic storylines, but would I be asking too much for the acting to be just a smidge more believable? I don’t have a problem with the core three—Maggie, Cal or Sully—as they’ve got this down, but Jackson’s fall encroached into bad soap opera territory. It was cringeworthy. And I get that they don’t have the same budget as Virgin River or streaming shows, but it was so brutal that I struggled to get into the storyline, all the while knowing that everything would turn out just fine. 

Jackson’s fall was utilized as more of a tool for Maggie to learn a bit more about herself and her abilities. 

She didn’t hesitate when it came to saving Jackson’s life, though there was a moment of doubt when she heard Mrs. Markiff’s voice in her head blaming her for her son’s death, but it was temporary, and she knew that if she didn’t proceed with drilling the holes in Jackson’s skull to alleviate the pressure, he likely wouldn’t survive. 

It was also helpful that Cal was there to assist as he provided an additional layer of assurance. 

Operating on someone she knows reframed the trial for Maggie as she suddenly put herself in the shoes of the parents, thinking how Connie and Tom’s world would come crashing down if they lost their son. There’s a reason why doctors aren’t allowed to treat people they know as the personal connection can prove to be troubling, however, in this case, I think it gave Maggie some needed perspective. And now that her lawyer called that the trial has been moved up, her experience will likely shape how she proceeds in court.

In a promo for the finale, Maggie’s empathy seems to go against her lawyer’s best judgment, which may actually be helpful in a situation where the judge assigned to the case typically sides against doctors. If they see that Maggie is a human who shows remorse despite doing everything right to save a life, maybe she’ll be able to sway the judge’s mind. 

Sullivan’s Crossing — “Can’t Help Falling” — Image Number: SUL109_0160 — Pictured (L-R): Scott Patterson as Sully Sullivan — Photo: Fremantle — © 2023 Fremantle. All Rights Reserved.

Jackson’s fall may have been a terrible accident, but it also mended a lot of fractured relationships. Not only did his parents put aside their differences and apologize for all the pain they’ve caused each other, but Maggie was also able to have a breakthrough with her father, who saw her in action for the first time and thought she was incredible. It’s the first time Sully ever disclosed that he was proud of her, something Maggie’s been waiting a majority of her life to hear.  I love that she and Sully are finding their footing once again.

My biggest gripe with this scene was that Lola was just standing there, scoffing at Maggie’s reunion with Sully, and no one seemed to notice she was there. How? And why is she so mad about a daughter and a father putting aside their differences after she just hit refresh on her friendship with Maggie? It doesn’t mean that Sully is going to have less space in his life for her as he’s gone out of his way to be there for her and take care of her over the years. The whole dynamic is just so weird, but everything about Lola has been kind of off since the beginning. 

Sully’s money woes might bring him and his daughter even closer as I can imagine Maggie will go above and beyond to help him save Sullivan’s Crossing and pay off his debts, not that she needs another thing to worry about at the current moment. Whatever Sully’s plan is, he has to act fast as the foreclosure notice gave him just over 30 days to set the record straight.

Sully also called Phoebe to thank her for all that she’s done for Maggie’s career and ask Walter to fight like hell to save Maggie’s license because she belongs in Boston helping people. While it was very big of Sully, the truth is that it’s up to Maggie to decide where she belongs—but she’s proven that she can help people wherever she is.

Then there’s the Cal of it all—he’s always there, willing to help, encourage, and lend a shoulder to cry on. He’s the perfect guy, so it’s no surprise that multiple women in Sullivan’s Crossing have a thing for him. Lola is pining over him even though he’s not interested in the slightest.

Maggie adamantly denied any feelings when she mentioned the kiss to Syd, despite not being able to stop thinking about it. And maybe it’s for the best for now because it doesn’t seem like Cal is ready just yet. 

When Maggie finally brought up the elephant in the room, Cal dismissed their kiss as something that occurred due to the emotions of the day, without letting her weigh in. It’s clear that he has feelings for her, but he’s grappling with the idea of moving on following Lynne’s death, as I’m guessing Maggie is the first woman he’s kissed after his wife, and the X’s on the calendar were a countdown to the one-year anniversary of her passing. 

Syd and Rob’s storyline has been one I’ve struggled to get into, even as they find themselves disagreeing about how to run the diner. Syd was right that Rob should spend more “fun” time with his son, who is clearly still dealing with the loss of his mother (and the “goodnight mom” scene to Syd was heartbreaking). He also wasn’t wrong about wanting to hire help so that they could both get some of their lives back, but he should’ve discussed it with her since she’s just as involved in the diner as he is and should get a say in the process. 

What did you think of the episode?

I can’t wait till we move past this case and get to see a version of Maggie that isn’t weighed down by guilt, fear, and anger. When her license is reinstated and she has every opportunity at her feet, what will she choose? Will she go back to Boston or stay in Sullivan’s Crossing?

I think she’s made strides during her time in Sullivan’s Crossing and she won’t be able to shake them, especially her feelings for Cal, which she’ll be able to pursue once she gets some proper closure with Andrew. Will Cal go with her to the trail? And if so, how will Andrew react when he sees him? Will it reaffirm to him that Caliente (I still can’t get over the moment where he drunkenly called him that) is here to stay?

Sullivan’s Crossing Season 1 Episode 8 has finally given the people what they wanted. 

Maggie and Andrew’s breakup was immediately followed by Maggie and Cal’s first (and very passionate) kiss. As far as first kisses go on television, this one was pretty solid. 

And it didn’t feel wrong either or like it was Maggie’s rebound—it felt right. And that’s likely because of the build-up to the moment, which happened not only through their friendship from the first episode when Maggie stepped foot into Sullivan’s Crossing but also throughout the episode as she checked in on him and confided in him.

Maggie and Cal seem to gravitate toward each other without much of an effort; it all comes so easily for them. Part of what Maggie finds attractive also includes Cal’s deep interest in her. He actually listens to what she has to say, which, as she notes, is rare for the men in her life. 

When Cal takes her on a picnic to his favorite spot, it turns out to be her favorite spot town as well, and it’s not lost on audiences that his excitement for this little date makes up for the lack of excitement Andrew displayed when she brought him to the same location. 

Maggie and Cal, who we find out is actually named California Jones in a full moment of trust (fitting since his parents were nomads but also, was that a little shoutout to A Cinderella Story fans? We see you nomad 609!), fit like a glove, and when things just make sense, it’s hard to fight them. When everything is so complicated, it’s hard to fight the thing that is easy. 

Of course, in a tense promo for the upcoming episode, both Maggie and Cal try to brush off what happened saying that it was an emotional day for both of them, but that’s clearly Cal’s attempt at minimizing it because he thinks it’s too soon for Maggie. However, as I mentioned above, Maggie may be confused about a lot of things, but she’s not confused about her feelings for Cal, which she’s been fighting since day one.

She wasn’t able to tell Andrew she loved him because deep down inside, she knew she didn’t and that he wasn’t the one. Everything happens for a reason, and it’s fair to need some time and space to get over a breakup, it’s not always necessary when that relationship was done in your mind for a very long time. 

Andrew picked up on all of this, and so, in a way, we should be thanking him for walking away and giving Maggie the space to figure it out and find the right man for her. Life’s too short to force a relationship with someone you aren’t excited about spending the rest of your life with. 

Cal knows all too well just how short life is having arrived in Sullivan’s Crossing to pick up the pieces following Lynne’s death. While it seems as though the loss is recent, he’s clearly done the work of moving on, acknowledging that while he’ll always love her, he promised her that he’d find someone else worthy of sharing his life with. I don’t think Cal took the kiss lightly at all, though he’s respectable and will give Maggie all the space she needs to figure everything out. 

Maggie is in a weird place as she’s not ready to make any big life decisions, something Andrew should’ve figured when he proposed and tried to buy them a house, while she’s anticipating this career-defining trial. Cal seems to understand that, allowing Maggie to move at her own pace and giving her tools to deal with the stress and anxiety rather than pressuring her to do anything she’s uncomfortable with. 

The trial will have a huge effect on her life, but she’s mostly worried about losing everything she’s worked for, whereas her conversation with Cal begs the question—is that the life she even wants? Cal also went to law school and after Lynne’s death, he realized there are so many better things to be doing than working a job you’re not passionate about. 

From where I’m standing, Maggie can make good use of her medical education by helping the town she grew up in—there’s no shortage of events and issues demanding her attention. We get to see a snippet of it when she assists Jackson, who fell during a climb. Maggie did mention she’s an adrenaline junkie, so working out in the field is not only to give her the needed dose, but she’ll feel rewarded helping the people she cares about. 

A career pivot is often necessary if it makes you happy and reframe your outlook on life. 

Maggie might also stay out of a necessity to help Sully salvage the campground now that she’s been made aware of his financial troubles. It’s so like Sully to shield her from the reality of the situation. 

I like Maggie, but man, she gives him such a hard time and never considers how losing her affected him. She needs to look at things big picture and stop painting Sully as the enemy when he was also a victim of her mother Phoebe’s actions. Maggie went through a ton of trauma and heartache losing her father, but it wasn’t easy on him either, and I hope she realizes that sooner rather than later—and hopefully before her cutting words lead him to pick up the bottle again. 

Sully informed Frank that he was doing alright despite his minor relapse, and let’s hope that’s the case. Frank was too scared to tell his friend about his upcoming trip with Edna because he felt personally responsible for Sully’s wellbeing, however, that’s too much of a burden to place on anyone. They’re positive influences, surely, but the decision to stay sober has to be internal. 

Maggie’s presence, despite their fraught relationship, will be helpful during their absence, but I don’t know how Sully will recover from Jackson’s injury while climbing. 

Other moments in the episode included Sydney and Rafe going on their first date (though the other two blooming couples on the series, Maggie and Cal and Jackson and Kaleb somehow had way more chemistry than these two) to get to know each other a little better, though things took a bit of a downturn when Rafe mentioned her modeling in New York. Something clearly happened during her short-lived modeling career that causes distress whenever it’s mentioned. 

Jackson and Kaleb barely got to set out on their climb when the latter felt dizzy and nauseous and couldn’t get back up. Jackson sought Cal’s help, and thankfully, Maggie was there to assist, immediately recognizing the symptoms as vertigo. The epley maneuver is one to keep in your back pocket, folks, as it’s a lifesaver (when done right) if your crystals ever get displaced, which happens more than you’d imagine. 

What did you think of the episode? Did you enjoy all the momentum surrounding Maggie and Cal’s romance? Will they hit the brakes as she tries to make sense of her life, or will she realize that her life is slowly beginning to make sense because of him?

A lot happened on Sullivan’s Crossing Season 1 Episode 6, with Maggie’s return to Boston following Sully’s assault on Walter swiftly followed up by the beginning of the deposition. It’s a much faster timeline than you’d see on similar streaming shows, but I guess it was necessary to move the storyline along given that it’s a network drama that needs to keep people hooked. 

The gist of it is that the deposition isn’t going to be as meaningless as people have led Maggie to believe; she has every right to feel nervous about it because it is a big deal. 

The victim’s mother is in a world of pain, and she’s convinced that Maggie is solely responsible for the death of her child. Even if Maggie isn’t, it’s something that weighs heavily on her because she’s a good and empathetic human. Not only is her name and career on the line, but she actually feels for the mother and feels personally impacted by the patient’s death. 

Cal gave Maggie solid advice about staying calm and centered, but when the victim’s mother launched a full-scale attack on Maggie, there wasn’t anything she could do to prevent herself from going into a full panic attack. It was intense. 

But so was Maggie’s whole visit to Boston, to be quite honest. It was a lot bumpier than anyone could have imagined, from her former co-worker judging her and submitting a sworn affidavit of her negligence to her old employer Bob approaching her and asking to have coffee so he could tell her something. Why did I feel like Bob was going to implicate Walter and reveal that Maggie’s been surrounded by frauds this whole time who are now allowing her to take the hit? 

Everyone is aware of how much the deposition is affecting Maggie, but no one seems to be taking it as seriously as they should. Maggie’s mother wants to indulge in shopping sprees and mimosas, as Andrew keeps telling Maggie that he wants to be there for her, but then he springs a new job and a move to Boston on her and expects her to celebrate it. Who can even appreciate an expensive dinner when their stomach is in knots?

When her reaction is far from what he was hoping it would be, he decides to up the ante by proposing to her in front of a house that he seemingly is interested in buying when he suggests that they focus on their future.

Again, how can she focus on her future when she can’t even envision it at this moment? Her future is being threatened at this very moment, so honestly, Andrew, read the room.

His actions unearth an even deeper problem, however—his insecurities and a fear of losing Maggie, which he believes he can prevent by putting a ring on her finger. 

This is the same man who mere hours ago broke her trust by reading her text messages from Cal, getting insanely jealous, and deleting them. This isn’t the foundation for a happy relationship, nor is it one that can be salvaged with promises of a happy future together. 

Marriages, like babies, don’t fix the issues–they amplify them. If Andrew is having a hard time trusting Maggie now when she gets a text from a male friend who is checking in on her and suggests that they go fishing together again, during a time when she’s at her lowest, then how could he ever trust her after they are married?

Andrew wants this relationship to work so badly, but it’s clear that Maggie’s hesitations are very valid. Cal isn’t the only reason that she’s having doubts, though he’s definitely a part of it, but Maggie and Andrew are clearly not on the same page and don’t share the same values.

These are things the old Maggie, who had tunnel vision about her life and career, might not have noticed—that Maggie would’ve likely been peachy about the proposal—but this Maggie has been changed by her short stay in Sullivan’s Crossing. Meeting Cal has shown her the power of a true connection; they’ve connected on a level that she has never connected with Andrew

The way she left things in Sullivan’s Crossing is also weighing heavily on her, particularly her disappointment with Sully. She was forced to leave far sooner than she anticipated, but she has unfinished business there.

She also has family there—a place she’s carved out for herself that knows her true heart.

The superficial doesn’t matter there, which is what she realized the moment she came back to Boston and found herself feeling out of place and longing for the peace and comfort that nature offered. 

Andrew’s proposal didn’t go as expected, and when Maggie’s phone rang, she jumped at the opportunity of a distraction. Though the news on the other line wasn’t exactly what she was hoping for, it is going to give her a second chance to go back and make amends as the teaser trailer for the upcoming episode seems to reveal a funeral in Sullivan’s Crossing. It’s unclear who it’s for, but it’s enough to bring Maggie back home and reconnect her with Cal. Andrew tags along and seems to witness the spark between his possible-fianceé and the mystery man in town, and all I have to say is, listen to your gut on this one, Andrew. 

There may not be anything going on physically, but emotionally, things are happening.  

Cal spent most of his time with Roy and Lola during the episode, which has been therapeutic for him as he attempts to come to terms with the loss of his wife. Lola was definitely smitten, but Cal seemed to only have eyes and feelings for Maggie as he immediately reached out to her following the dinner. He then retreated back home to lie in bed with a wooden box filled with what I’m assuming are Lynne’s ashes. The loss of your other half is heartbreaking, but it’s also uplifting to see that amid that pain and grief, happiness can be found again. I’m starting to like Cal’s character more and more. 

He’s also looking out for everyone in town, including Sully. Cal doesn’t know Sully’s backstory like Edna and Frank, but even he picked up on Sully’s odd behavior when he offered to help out with a project to get his mind off of things. 

Sully may be trying to repress what happened after Maggie left, but it’s clear that he’s not doing okay. Maggie’s departure, paired with his money troubles and the fact that they are losing clients left and right brewed up the perfect storm. 

Frank took notice of the changes in Sully as well, including two notable ones that likely confirmed his suspicion that he fell off the wagon: his deeply agitated state and that he was chewing more gum. 

Hopefully, Maggie’s return can help get Sully back on the right track, though he’s taken quite a drastic turn as he decided to paint over the tree in her childhood bedroom while inebriated. It’s tough to watch him spiral into this dark hole once again knowing how hard he’s worked to get to the other side—but it also shows that addiction is a lifelong struggle. 

What did you think of the episode? Will Maggie stick around after learning about Sully’s relapse? Will she find a newfound purpose in Sullivan’s Crossing after the deposition? Will she finally kick Andrew to the curb after realizing that they aren’t meant to be and aren’t traveling on the same paths anymore? Will she give true love a real chance?