Tonight’s episode of Sullivan’s Crossing picks up where the last episode left off, with the frustrating news that the Crossing is about to be auctioned off, a fact that Sully has forgotten despite numerous notices from the bank. As Maggie and Sully prepare to meet with the bank, Sully, filled with regret, expresses to Maggie his desire to one day leave Crossroads, a sentiment that resonates strongly with Maggie.
The episode deftly balances personal dilemmas with the overarching threat of foreclosure at a crossroads. It has a profound impact on individuals. Edna expresses her disappointment at Sully’s failure to disclose financial matters and emphasizes that families should not keep secrets from each other, which resonates with Frank, who still has not revealed to Edna what really happened with his family in Alberta.
Maggie and Sally try to negotiate a foreclosure with the bank, but fail, leaving Sally with just two weeks to pay off the debt. Despite Maggie’s encouragement not to give up, Sully is disheartened. He confided in Frank the shame of exposing his financial woes in front of his daughter, and his fear of living up to his father’s legacy. Sally worries that losing Crossroads might mean losing Maggie again. Frank assured him of the community’s support and accompanied him to AA meetings. During the meeting, Sally emotionally admits that Maggie’s return has brought old wounds to the surface, acknowledging his previous state of denial and the need to face his emotions in order to truly heal.
“Secret” – Sullivan’s Crossing. Pictured: Scott Patterson as Sully Sullivan and Tom Jackson as Frank Cranbell. Photo: Bell Media © 2024. all rights reserved.
Meanwhile, as Carl recalls dancing and kissing Maggie at the diner, Lola comes to his cabin to ask for his help in saving Crossroads. They found a nearby foreclosure attorney, who advised them they could file an emergency appeal with the bank if they could prove they had enough funds to repay the debt. During the meeting, the attorney speculated that Carr had a legal background. Carr admitted he no longer practices law and said he felt he wasn’t really helping people. The lawyer countered that while small-town law might not be very profitable, it could have a huge impact, which turned Carr on. Maybe he doesn’t need to give up his legal profession after all.
Back at the Outpost, Edna and Maggie have a heartfelt exchange, with Edna admitting that losing Crossroads was like losing part of her identity. Just then, Lola and Carl come in and update them on the emergency appeal, but Maggie dashes everyone’s hopes when she says they lack the necessary funds to repay the debt.
While trying to save the intersection, Sidney accompanies Maggie to her first ultrasound. Maggie was delighted when she heard her baby’s heartbeat for the first time. Sidney asks Maggie about Carl, but in true Maggie fashion, she’s decided to close the book on Carl since he’s made it clear he doesn’t want to be a father. Maggie was always quick to put up a wall and walk away without any communication or clarity. Sidney warns her that going back to Andrew might be a mistake because people rarely change. Maggie, again thinking with her head instead of her heart, thinks it would be wise to reunite with Andrew because he is interested in starting a family and trying to change. However, it’s clear that Maggie is having a hard time convincing herself that this is indeed the right move.
However, Maggie did make a great decision. She turned down the job in Boston, telling Sully that the Crossroads was her legacy and she was committed to saving it. She proposed asking her mother and stepfather for financial help, which angered Sully. He refuses to accept money from the people who have kept Maggie away from him all these years. He shares his feelings with Frank and Edna, who are disappointed that his pride could jeopardize the salvation of Crossroads. The next morning, Maggie found a note from Sully that read, “I’ll fix this.” Sully met with Glenn at the golf course across the street and proposed that he become a minority owner, who in turn , who will help promote the golf course. Glenn considered the offer and agreed to think it through.
“Secret” – Sullivan’s Crossing. Pictured: Morgan Cohan as Maggie Sullivan. Photo: Bell Media © 2024. all rights reserved.
In the moment viewers have been waiting for since Season 1, Carl finally confesses his feelings to Maggie and admits that he hasn’t felt like this in a long time. Typical Maggie immediately puts up a wall, insisting that a relationship between them is impossible. Despite Carl’s pleas for further discussion rather than pushing him away, Maggie remains adamant about ending their potential relationship and breaks down in tears as he leaves. When she shared her disappointment with Edna that her life was not going as planned, Edna told her to abandon her plans, take a deep breath, and see what life would bring. This is advice that Maggie should consider. Life rarely goes according to plan. People must embrace everything they encounter and let it lead them to the path they are destined for. Carl is exactly what Maggie needs. She needs to stop ignoring her heart’s desires and start following them. Only in this way can she be truly happy.
The episode ends on a tense note, with Sully sharing details of his meeting with Glenn to Edna, Maggie, and Frank, who express their discomfort with him. Tensions rise when Phoebe arrives at the outpost and reveals to Sully that Maggie is contacting her behind her back – a major betrayal in his mind.
“Secret” – Sullivan’s Crossing. Pictured: Scott Patterson as Sully Sullivan, Morgan Cohan as Maggie Sullivan, Andrea Maynard as Edna Cranebear, and Tom Jackson as Frank Cranebear. Photo: Bell Media © 2024. all rights reserved.
Elsewhere in the episode, Sydney hasn’t told Rafe about her new modeling contract, but she did tell Rob and Maggie that she’s returning to New York and purchased her plane tickets. When she finally broke the news to Rafe, he was understandably upset. Mainly because Sydney had been guiding him for so long, but also because he was the last one to find out she was leaving. Sidney admitted that she had a hard time telling him and suggested that he should be better than her. After packing her bags, she returned to Rob’s place. Later, Rafe discusses with Rob his confusion about Sydney’s decision to return to New York, despite her previous negative experiences there. Rob is the voice of wisdom who says that when you truly care about someone, sometimes you have to let them go. Sydney is a lost soul trying to find her place in life. Maybe she needed to see a second chance at modeling to finally discover that it wasn’t really what she wanted.
