Sullivan’s Crossing Season 4 Episode 1 threw some curveballs at Cal and Maggie, just like the episode title indicated.
It wasn’t enough that her ex-husband returned to the Crossing, causing plenty of friction simply by existing in the same space and competing with Cal any time the opportunity presented itself (though I’m admittedly not mad about the wood chopping competition), but then the other foot dropped as Maggie learned that the annulment was filed incorrectly and they were still technically married.
We all saw the twist coming from a mile away, but it doesn’t make it any less juicy.
Talk about a buzzkill just when things are starting to look up for your new relationship.
Cal was incredibly composed, given the situation, and given that he was forced to spend a whole day with Liam against his wishes, while everyone was bragging about how “unbelievable” he was. That’s just what any man wants to hear about the man swooping into town to reclaim his wife.
Sullivan’s Crossing — “Curveballs” — Image Number: SUL401_JR-158_f — Pictured: Lola introduces Liam (MARCUS ROSNER) and Cal (CHAD MICHAEL MURRAY) to the teens. — Photo: Jessie Redmond/Fremantle — © 2026 Fremantle. All Rights Reserved.
But the worst part about all of it is that Maggie isn’t being honest—not with Cal or herself.
She told everyone that Liam was a “summer fling,” but you don’t get married on a whim to someone you consider a fling, especially as a person who doesn’t have a compulsive bone in her body.
Her connection with Liam ran much deeper, and it seems that he ghosted her, never giving her the proper closure, so she was forced to compartmentalize her feelings and move on, without ever facing the gravity of her feelings or the pain that it caused her.
That’s why she’s so rattled by Liam’s return. She never fully got over him; she just pushed her feelings away and pretended they didn’t exist out of necessity.
And Liam claims he’s sought her out in Sullivan’s Crossing because they need the annulment certificate so they can give him a visa, but it’s clear that he also has some things he wants to get off his chest about how things ended between them.
Sooner or later, Cal is going to put it altogether, despite Maggie’s insistence that this changes nothing between them.
Not only did Maggie have a whole sex dream about Liam mere moments after he walked back into her life, but there’s very clearly intense chemistry and unfinished business between them when she comes to his aid after his foot is caught in the trap.
As someone who is very much team Cal, I’m a little biased in my judgment of Liam. And frankly, quite harsh, but I expected him to handle getting caught in a trap a little better after boasting about being a war correspondent who’s been caught up in many dangerous situations.
Either way, the path forward for everyone is honesty and confronting the truth.
It’s easy for Maggie to fall into what-ifs right now, but they are the most dangerous thing because the grass is always greener, and we always see things through rose-colored glasses.
But the truth is, everything happens for a reason.
And her curiousity on what may have been if Liam didn’t ghost her or disappear from her life or whatever may have happened that led to their breakup might ruin the great life and relationship she’s built up for herself at the Crossing.
On the other hand, one might argue that she’s been settling this whole time because of the lost love, so really, Maggie needs to be honest with herself about what it is that she wants and what this second chance could mean.
Is Liam’s return another shot at a romance, or will he prioritize something else just like last time? If I had to guess, he was pulled away on a job and simply couldn’t tell Maggie about it, which led to the end of the short-lived bliss they found in Spain. It’s easy to fall into a relationship when you’re living in paradise and not confronting real-world situations.
However, Cal is the real deal. He’s done the work on himself following the loss of his wife, which has made him a better partner for Maggie. And he’s broken through plenty of walls that Maggie has put up around herself. He never got the carefree girl that Liam encountered in Spain, which, in my opinion, makes their connection much more powerful.
Aside from the love triangle that’s pulling Maggie in two directions, and forcing Cal to be super understanding when he could just let his insecurities run rogue, Sullivan’s Crossing dealt with another shake-up with Sully’s exit.
It doesn’t feel permanent just yet because Sully is still just on a trip in Ireland with Helen, with the expectation that he’s coming back. No one actually assumes he’ll be gone for good, and when that reality hits, it will have a much greater impact on the characters.
Right now, the series barely skipped a beat in Sully’s absence as everyone is on board to make sure that the Crossing is running as smoothly as ever.
Though Sully didn’t exactly make things easy for everyone who is chipping in to keep the place running, since they don’t even know where the keys to the storage unit are.
However, it’s nothing they can’t handle, as the Crossing is essentially being transferred over to the next generation, who will hopefully infuse it with new life and bring it into the modern age while keeping the nostalgia aspect that’s always been the draw.
I imagine it’ll be a much tougher conversation when Sully is gone for good, and everyone has to give up something to make it work. Maggie is opening up a general practice, so she doesn’t exactly have time to run a campsite, while Edna and Frank are getting older. They can oversee things from time to time, but they deserve to make the most of their free time together. I know they don’t actually want to leave it behind, but sometimes, a little push is necessary to start living. People tend to forget how to do that.
Sullivan’s Crossing — “Curveballs” — Image Number: SUL401_JR-2_f — Pictured: Chad Michael Murray as Cal. — Photo: Jessie Redmond/Fremantle — © 2026 Fremantle. All Rights Reserved.
Realistically, Cal is the only one who has the capacity to take this on. At this rate, he’s already hiring help at the Crossing, so he may just take over the ownership.
Rob’s kitchen is a great addition to the Crossing, making it a destination for the culinary experience and attracting a new clientele that maybe loves themselves a good brunch, though that man cannot catch a break.
He’s once again backed into a corner, trying to juggle being a single dad with chasing his dreams.
Just as Shandon’s was making a name for itself, his son was offered a scholarship that would force him to relocate out of town. It doesn’t seem like an option if he wants to establish the restaurant as a destination, but prioritizing his son’s future is equally important.
Sydney suggested hiring someone, but that wasn’t exactly a solution that Rob took to well.
As for her character, she constantly seems so out of place for me. It’s almost like the writers just don’t know what to do with her and try to inject her into every scene without it ever feeling organic.
The worst was her dead-end relationship with Rafe. They kept pushing this storyline with Rafe, but the build-up never really went anywhere, with Rafe simply dodging any discussions and making the decision to request a transfer to a different fire station, blindsiding Sydney. While I definitely feel bad for her for being excluded from any decision-making regarding her future, the truth is that the storyline dragged on way longer than it needed to. There was literally not a flicker of chemistry between her and Rafe, so there wasn’t much to salvage. Half the time, they barely acted like they liked each other if I’m being honest, so pulling the plug on this was probably the smartest thing the series did.
If we’re shaking up romances and the cast, let’s please shake up Sydney’s storyline and give her literally anything to work with.
What did you think of the premiere? Let us know in the comments!