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’?