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?

Sullivan’s Crossing Season 1 Episode 3 kicked things into high gear when an annual season opener ceremony took a very grim turn. 

It all started with the disappearance of a camper, Chelsea, who got into a fight with her mother and then ran away. Maggie—who has been trying to navigate her complex relationship with her father and the town she used to call home—felt personally responsible after her brief chat with the young girl. 

But the situation was inevitable, and as Cal told Maggie, she couldn’t have known any of this was going to happen, even if her father suggested that she should have spoken up sooner.

As the town swiftly rallied to find Chelsea—they take missing children very seriously around these parts—the situation brought Maggie and Cal closer together… not that they needed an excuse to continue existing in each other’s orbits. 

Cal and Maggie are simply drawn to each other, though the fact that it’s a small town and he works for her father doesn’t exactly help the situation either. 

Cal is very clearly smitten with Maggie, something Sully definitely took notice of and seemed to subtly give his approval of, especially after his not-so-great run-in with her boyfriend, Andrew. 

As we saw on Sullivan’s Crossing Season 1 Episode 2, Andrew chased Maggie into town, arriving at the end of the episode and getting jealous when he saw his girlfriend getting close to another man after having a few too many drinks. The following morning, as he announces that he’s leaving town already because “surgery calls,” his jealousy once again rears its ugly head, though this time, we get a little insight into where it stems from—a fractured relationship with his cheating ex. It all begins to make sense, though it doesn’t excuse any of his actions, nor does it earn him any sympathy from viewers. We’re all very much rooting for Team Cal—there was never any question about that. 

Maggie promises that nothing is going on, but she’s clearly lying to herself as well. I can’t blame her since her whole life has flipped completely upside down from what she thought she wanted and needed.

The only hope is that Maggie breaks things off with Andrew (it’s the least he deserves) before pursuing her feelings for Cal; it’s inevitable at this point. 

Every interaction throughout the episode found Maggie and Cal trying not to be obvious that they’re attracted to each other—she couldn’t stop smiling as she thanked him for walking her home, they shared a sweet moment as he was about to ask her to dance, which was, unfortunately, interrupted, and then they joined forces to help with Chelsea’s rescue. They’re already inseparable, and it’s only been a few days. 

Cal is completely different than Andrew; he’s a lone wolf who is trying to heal and find his purpose. In a way, it’s everything that Maggie is at the moment.

He’s much simpler, too, as is the Sullivan’s Crossing, and while Andrew explained that it was hard to envision Maggie growing up there or wanting this lifestyle, it’s a sign that she’s changing and he no longer belongs in her life. She’s seeking the “simplistic” lifestyle where there’s no underlying motive aside from enjoying yourself and being with the ones you love.

Of course, before Maggie is able to embrace those simple joys, she has to work through some complex emotions, including her jealousy over Lola, which underscores the deep rift between her and Sully. In Maggie’s eyes, Lola has the relationship with Sully that Maggie wants, so she’s very sensitive in how they interact with each other and how he responds to her versus his own daughter. When Lola needs help, Sully rushes in as the hero, but when Maggie confesses that she may have messed up, he scolds her and questions why she didn’t speak up. 

She views Lola as her replacement, which Lola seems to enjoy, even setting her sights on Cal. Maggie’s insecurities are understandable, but Lola’s response is very strange. 

Sully’s approach to Maggie comes from having his defenses up—just like she does—which prevents them from making any real progress (something Scott Patterson said was going to take some time during his interview with CraveYouTV). There is a change in their dynamic, however, as they’re falling into a rhythm of having each other around, which is honestly the first step. 

Sullivan’s Crossing — “Detours” — Image Number: SUL103_0006r — Pictured (L-R): Chad Michael Murray as Cal Jones and Scott Patterson as Harry Sullivan — Photo: Michael Tompkins/Fremantle — © 2023 Fremantle. All Rights Reserved.

You would think that all would be chipper, cheery and without worry in an idyllic small town, but that’s absolutely not the case (as also evidenced many times by Virgin River). The episode ended with quite a shocking development as Frank, who led the beautiful ceremony dedicated to the tribes that own the land where Sullivan’s Crossing exists, was accidentally shot after locating Chelsea. 

Frank decided to go off on his own and follow a lead without telling anyone or requesting backup, which was his first mistake. There’s a reason why cops have partners in the field because you never know what kind of danger is lurking around the corner, especially when you encounter shady people and alcohol is involved. 

Frank successfully located Chelsea, who made off with two college-aged guys who trespassed in the area to drink and hunt.

They were being pretty reckless with their weapons, and when Frank confronted them, one of the rifles accidentally went off and shot Frank in the abdomen. Chelsea tried to call 9-1-1, but the brother responsible decided that he wasn’t going down for this, so he essentially kidnapped Chelsea instead of sticking around and rendering aid to Frank, who lost consciousness as he bled out. 

It’s clear that they are going to find the duo responsible, so the man’s choice didn’t do him any favors—but it remains to be seen if Frank pulls through, though I hope the fact that Sully went out looking for his friend means that he’ll find him in time. 

Other noteworthy moments in the episode: 

•  Edna and Frank are the sweetest couple in the world and share a love that everyone strives for. I hope he pulls through solely for her sake. 
• Maggie went for a whole run after downing drinks the night before. She has superpowers! 
• Sydney was hesitant to accept Rafe’s dinner invitation as she was determined to keep things casual and without any strings attached. But there are feelings there—it’s clear.
• Sydney was also tasked with helping her brother Rob take care of his son, which caused some friction in the family. For now, as we still get to know the main characters, they very much remain secondary in the storyline. 
• Cal’s backstory is addressed as we find out he’s from New York and his family did a lot of moving growing up, which is why he’s looking to put down roots. I can’t wait till we learn more about the mystery man. 

What did you think of the episode?

Will There Be a Season 2 of ‘Sullivan’s Crossing’?

Is The CW finally giving the people what they want? 

After its overhaul—where the teen-skewing network, which was acquired by Nexstar, canceled most of its scripted dramas and opted for imported shows, golf, and a few sprinkled fan favorites like Superman & Lois—the network seems to be finding its groove. 

For starters, it bought the rights to Sullivan’s Crossing, a Virgin River sister show starring two former WB/The CW heartthrobs—Scott Patterson and Chad Michael Murray—which has been greatly buzzed about. 

And now, it’s adding two new scripted dramas with some familiar faces in the leading roles, namely Riverdale’s Vanessa Morgan and The Vampire Diaries/The Originals‘ Daniel Gillies. 

The two shows are both procedurals, which we’ve found just works within the TV landscape, and like Sullivan’s Crossing, have been acquired from Canadian networks, the CBC and CTV, respectively. 

Wild Cards is “a crime-solving procedural with a comedic twist that follows the unlikely duo of a gruff, sardonic cop and a spirited, clever con woman. Ellis (Grey’s Anatomy’s Giacomo Gianniotti), a demoted detective, has unfortunately spent the last year on the maritime unit, while Max (Morgan) has been living a transient life elaborately scamming everyone she meets. But when Max gets arrested and ends up helping Ellis solve a local crime, the two are offered the opportunity to redeem themselves, with Ellis going back to detective and Max staying out of jail. The catch? They have to work together, with each using their unique skills to solve crimes. For Ellis, that means hard-boiled shoe leather police work; for Max, it means accents, schemes and generally befriending everyone in sight, while driving Ellis absolutely nuts. The two will have to learn what it means to trust another person and maybe actually become partners.”

The CW hailed both shows as “unique” and “binge-worthy,” which head of scripted programming Liz Wise Lyall believes reflects The CW’s “commitment to compelling, top-tier storytelling” that will appease loyal fans and new viewers alike. 

As for when the shows might hit the air, it’s unclear as of now, but it makes sense for them to be held until midseason to fill the schedule as the SAG-AFTRA strike continues on with the union and studios suspending negotiations on Oct. 12 with SAG accusing studios of “bullying tactics” that caused the contract talk to break down.