The highly anticipated second season of Sullivan’s Crossing kicks off tonight, ushering in a wave of change after a finale that left us all on the edge of our seats. The premiere didn’t disappoint, revealing that life at Sullivan’s Crossing has been forever changed by the events of last season.
The opening scene is heartbreaking – Maggie rushes into the hospital in a state of panic and heartbreak to find her father recovering from a stroke. She apologizes at his bedside, and while Laura waits at Sully’s bedside, tensions rise when she attacks Maggie for her absence during Sully’s stroke. Meanwhile, Carl arrives and wants a chance to talk, but Maggie dismisses him, still upset that he left without saying goodbye. Carl asks Sully why Maggie snubbed him, and he reveals that Maggie never found his note and assumed he left without saying anything to her.
“Guilt Trip” – Sullivan’s Crossing. Pictured: Scott Patterson as Sully Sullivan. Photo: Bell Media © 2024. all rights reserved.
To further complicate matters, Sally’s doctor expressed concern to Maggie about her father’s worsening symptoms of irritability and memory loss, suspecting that something else might be going on. Maggie grapples with this issue as she battles her own turbulent feelings. She feels guilty about taking the job in Boston and talks to Frank about her feelings. He was always the perfect voice of calm and reason. He told her he was devastated when Maggie’s mother took her away from Sully. Maggie shares how Sally’s anger before her stroke filled her with immense guilt, mirroring Frank’s own regret at leaving Sally and traveling to Alberta, despite knowing Sally was struggling. During a heart-to-heart with Sidney, Maggie revealed that she was pregnant and was considering getting back together with Andrew. She knew firsthand what it was like to grow up without a father, and she didn’t want the same for her own children. Sidney assures Maggie that she is more than capable of raising a child on her own, but Maggie always follows her head rather than her heart, and getting back together with the father of her child is the option that makes the most sense, whether that’s what she really wants or not. Want it or don’t want it.
“Guilt Trip” – Sullivan’s Crossing. Pictured: Morgan Cohan as Maggie Sullivan and Tom Jackson as Frank Cranbell. Photo: Bell Media © 2024. all rights reserved.
On top of the intense pressure Maggie was already facing, her stepfather Walter tried to force her to return to Boston, saying it was important for her to prioritize her career. Carl finally clears up the misunderstanding with Maggie and is about to tell her that he wants to start a future with her, but before he can finish, she interrupts him and tells him that she will be returning to Boston and possibly reuniting with Andrew. While Carl expressed pleasure in her choice, he was clearly hurt and confused by Maggie’s decision. Carl has finally put his past behind him and is ready to find love with Maggie, but unless she can find a way to follow her heart instead of doing what she thinks is right, they have no chance.
In the episode’s final moments, a somber revelation comes when Sully’s doctor tells Maggie she has Alzheimer’s. As if the news wasn’t distressing enough, doctors were called in urgently to assist Sally. Maggie rushes to see what’s going on and is horrified to see her father lying on the hospital floor, bleeding from a head injury. Among the personal challenges facing Sully and Maggie, Sullivan Crossing continues to face foreclosure. Frank and Edna notice two men surveying the property. When asked what they were doing, one of the men revealed that he owned the golf course across the lake and was interested in purchasing Sullivan’s Crossing.
“Guilt Trip” – Sullivan’s Crossing. Pictured: Morgan Cohan as Maggie Sullivan and Chad MacMurray as Carl Jones. Photo: Bell Media © 2024. all rights reserved.
Maggie faces a difficult decision: return to Boston to focus on her career and reunite with Andrew to raise their children, or stay at Sullivan’s Crossing to care for Sully and forget what she thinks is right and move on with Carl. It’s hard to believe that Maggie would abandon Sally in his time of need, especially considering that he could be losing his legacy on top of everything else he’s facing. Maggie is grappling with so many heavy questions and looming choices, complicated by her tendency to make decisions based on other people’s feelings rather than her own. Now, it’s more important than ever for her to prioritize her own happiness. Hopefully she will see this and realize what is most important to her.
Other narratives in tonight’s episode are also compelling. Frank and Edna discuss their trip to Alberta, and Edna reveals that the trip went sour due to Frank’s cold behavior toward his family, effectively ruining the vacation. Edna accuses Frank of being stubborn and refusing to reconcile with his past. He firmly believes that his actions are justified because of what his family put him through. It hasn’t been revealed yet what this is, but hopefully viewers will learn more about Frank’s past and what led him and Edna to a crossroads as the season progresses. Meanwhile, Sydney’s new living arrangement with Rafe is proving to be uncomfortable. Although Rafe promises to keep things platonic, his unresolved feelings for Sydney complicate things. Rob and Sidney’s relationship remains strained, and despite his efforts to make amends, she remains distant and clings to her hurt feelings. The theme of coming to terms with the past runs throughout many narratives, including Sydney’s. Rob and Sydney need each other, and the sooner she comes to terms with what happened in New York, the sooner she can forgive Rob and work on shaping her future. Elsewhere, Jackson and his father are touring universities across Canada, marking a new chapter as the divorce is finalized.
“Guilt Trip” – Sullivan’s Crossing. Pictured: Lindula as Sidney Shanton and Dakota Taylor as Rav Vardas. Photo: Bell Media © 2024. all rights reserved.
Clearly, this is going to be an intense season, filled with heartbreak and life-changing decisions. The author excels at developing character arcs in a way that deeply resonates with and engages the audience. Viewers genuinely care about the show’s characters and sympathize with their experiences. In today’s television landscape, there are few shows that capture the human experience in an authentic and relatable way, and the team behind Sullivan’s Crossing should be commended for doing just that in every episode .
The wait for the next episode can be unbearable, am I right, Sullivan’s Crossing fans? How did you feel about this episode? What do you think Maggie will decide to do? Can Sully accept his diagnosis? Please share your thoughts below and interact with me @middleofcanada.
