Sullivan’s Crossingseason 3 may have found its way to twist Harry “Sully” Sullivan’s (Scott Patterson) story in a different light than expected, but by doing sothe series addressed a long-standing issue that many may not have realized was there. ThroughoutSullivan’s Crossing’srun, Sully has been one of the main characters on screen, but his plots have been intermingled.
While Sully’s daughter Maggie Sullivan (Morgan Kohan) and California “Cal” Jones (Chad Michael Murray) have been entangled in a romance plot since the beginning of the series, Sully himself has spent a lot of his time on the show focused on others.Whether it’s his relationship with Maggie going from deeply fractured to healed, or his issues with others, Sully’s rarely focused on himself.
Though it’s clearSully’s had a lot going on in the first seasons ofSullivan’s Crossing, the intensity of his emotions surrounding others was a lot to get a handle on, while the issues he faced within himself were more minimal. Moving intoSullivan’s Crossingseason 3, it wasn’t clear what the show was going to do with Sully’s story.
Thankfully, things changed quickly for the owner of the Crossing as he was able to find a story that finally suited him individually. Rather than putting all of his emotional intensity into the other characters surrounding him,Sully was able to ground himself as a part of the narrative. Fixing an issue many may not have noticed, Sully became far more palatable.
Sullivan’s Crossing Season 3 Introduced Helen Culver
A Novelist Who Pushed Sully’s Buttons Arrived At The Crossing
Sullivan’s Crossingseason 3 welcomed Helen Culver (Kate Vernon), a novelist who’s at the Crossing for an idyllic writing experience. WhileHelen and Sully initially clash because he bungles her booking after a technological snafu, they quickly make amends and seem to be flirtatious with one another quickly. Sully, still reeling over Edna Cranebear (Andrea Menard) changing things up, doesn’t recognize his interest at first.
WhenSully realizes just how much he likes Helen, he’s quick to pursue getting to know her. From taking her birdwatching to an outing to the Halifax boardwalk, Sully and Helen take their time getting to know one another and building a friendship ahead of their romance. When they finally do get together, it feels like the timing is right.
Even though Helen’s not from Nova Scotia and has a life back home that matters to her,she seems to be interested in spending time with Sully at the Crossing for as long as she can. Being present and in the moment with one another, they both appear to be more interested in each other than expected after some time together.
Though Helen sadly leavesSullivan’s Crossingtoward the end of the season, her presence is still felt throughout the final episodes, especially when she calls Sully to invite him to come to Ireland with her. Sully, usually staunch in his opinions to stick by the Crossing,quickly and impulsively decides to tag along, making it clear Helen’s opened his heart to new experiences.
Sully’s Story Finally Became Less About Maggie & More About Him
His Narrative Has Centered Around Maggie Since The Beginning
Throughout the first seasons ofSullivan’s Crossing,Sully’s focus was split between Maggieand the Crossing itself. While he had some health issues to attend to and got back into sobriety after a relapse,Sully’s major plots revolved around his relationship with his daughter and how his life since she left changed, as well as outside drama surrounding his family business.
The majority of Sully’s time spent on screen was either adding to a Maggie plot, or rounding out drama that would ripple through the entire cast. Rather than things simply being about Sully or his life moving forward, his stories weren’t just for him. Bringing in Helen andleaning into a romantic plot allowed Sully’s story to shift significantlyin his direction.
Sullivan’s Crossing Has Kept Sully Stuck In A Loop For Seasons
He’s Never Been Able To Have Stories Outside Of Maggie
By keeping Sully insulated by plot lines about Maggie and his business, it’spushed his character into a hyper-specific box that’s changed the way he interacts with others. While Sully is still someone that the other townspeople of Timberlake turn to when they need help, sidelining himwith plots that center on Maggiehasn’t built his character up for viewers.
While we’ve been able to see him engage with people like Frank & Edna, Sully’s been isolated to mostly Maggie-centric plots outside of his health scare and his financial issues. Seeing him able to move more freely throughoutSullivan’s Crossingseason 3 hasallowed him to become a more three-dimensional character, which has allowed viewers to enjoy him more than ever.
Sully’s Expanded Story Allowed Other Narratives To Move More Freely
Without Sully Intervening, All The Narratives Flowed More Naturally
With romance in Sully’s story, it’s clear that there’s a lot more to theSullivan’s Crossingowner than meets the eye. Bringing him to a place where he’s able to talk through his feelings and emotions, invest in someone outside of his immediate circle, and ultimately find himself happier is a huge shift.Giving Sully a richer life has paid off.
WhileSullivan’s Crossingseason 4could backtrack on Sully’s romance with Helen in lieu of some different stories about the business,it’s likely that he’ll continue to be more of a romantic lead on the show. With Sully getting the chance to show a new side of himself,Sullivan’s Crossingcan move into new territory, continuing to deepen his character.
