# Sullivan's Crossing (TV series)
**Sullivan's Crossing** is a Canadian romantic drama television series based on the novel series of the same name by Robyn Carr, following Boston neurosurgeon Maggie Sullivan as she returns to her small [Nova Scotia](https://www.edgepedia.org/nova-scotia) hometown and the campground run by her estranged father. It premiered on the Canadian network CTV in 2023, was created by Roma Roth, and stars [Morgan Kohan](https://www.edgepedia.org/morgan-kohan), Chad Michael Murray, and [Scott Patterson](https://www.edgepedia.org/scott-patterson).[1](https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/sullivans-crossing-release-date-news?inapp=true)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Origin | Adapted from Robyn Carr's Sullivan's Crossing novels; ordered straight to series by CTV and Crave on August 12, 2021, as a 10-episode, one-hour drama[2](https://www.bellmedia.ca/the-lede/press/ctv-and-crave-announce-straight-to-series-order-for-sullivans-crossing-adaptation/) |
| Premiere | 2023 on CTV in Canada; arrived in the United States on The CW later that year[1](https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/sullivans-crossing-release-date-news?inapp=true) • [3](https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/squid-game-knocked-off-no-1-slot-in-netflix-top-10-by-sullivans-crossing-morgan-kohan-speaks-out) |
| Main cast | Morgan Kohan as Maggie Sullivan, Chad Michael Murray as California "Cal" Jones, Scott Patterson as Harry "Sully" Sullivan, Tom Jackson as Frank Cranebear, Andrea Menard as Edna Cranebear[1](https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/sullivans-crossing-release-date-news?inapp=true) |
| Setting and filming | Set in the fictional town of Timberlake, Nova Scotia; filmed in Halifax, Nova Scotia[1](https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/sullivans-crossing-release-date-news?inapp=true) |
| Production | Reel World Management; Roma Roth is creator, showrunner, and executive producer with Christopher E. Perry; distributed internationally by Fremantle[4](https://www.cwtvpr.com/the-cw/shows/sullivans-crossing/) |
| Seasons | Five seasons ordered; season 4 aired in 2026, and The CW picked up a 10-episode season 5 on July 16, 2026, set to debut in 2027[5](https://www.cwtvpr.com/the-cw/shows/sullivans-crossing/releases/?view=102124-the-cw-network-picks-up-hit-drama-series-sullivans-crossing-for-season-5) |
| Streaming | Seasons 1 through 3 stream on Netflix; the series reached No. 1 on Netflix's U.S. Top 10 in July 2025[1](https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/sullivans-crossing-release-date-news?inapp=true) • [3](https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/squid-game-knocked-off-no-1-slot-in-netflix-top-10-by-sullivans-crossing-morgan-kohan-speaks-out) |
## Premise and characters
Maggie Sullivan (Morgan Kohan) is a rising neurosurgeon in Boston whose life is upended when she is sued for negligence over the fraudulent schemes of her business partner, and separately sued by the mother of a patient who died. She retreats to her hometown of Timberlake, Nova Scotia, where her estranged father Sully (Scott Patterson) runs Sullivan's Crossing, a campground that has been in his family for generations.[6](https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/sullivans-crossing-season-1-ending-explained)
The first season follows Maggie's strained reunion with Sully, a recovering alcoholic whose finances threaten the campground, and her slow-burning friendship with Cal Jones ([Chad Michael Murray](https://www.edgepedia.org/chad-michael-murray)), a lawyer and widower working as Sully's handyman. She is also welcomed by family friends Frank and Edna Cranebear ([Tom Jackson](https://www.edgepedia.org/tom-jackson-actor) and Andrea Menard) and childhood friend Sydney (Lindura).[6](https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/sullivans-crossing-season-1-ending-explained) Season 1 ends with Maggie exonerated in her business partner's case, accepting liability in the patient lawsuit before the plaintiff withdraws it, and discovering she is pregnant; Sully suffers an apparent heart attack as the campground nears foreclosure.[6](https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/sullivans-crossing-season-1-ending-explained)
In season 3, having confessed her love to Cal and saved the campground from auction, Maggie leaves her neurosurgery career behind to help run the Crossing.[4](https://www.cwtvpr.com/the-cw/shows/sullivans-crossing/) Season 4 brings Maggie's husband, Liam ([Marcus Rosner](https://www.edgepedia.org/marcus-rosner)), back into the story.[7](https://www.tomsguide.com/entertainment/streaming/how-to-watch-sullivans-crossing-season)
## Production
CTV and Crave announced a straight-to-series order on August 12, 2021, for a 10-episode, one-hour drama produced by Reel World Management, the team behind the Netflix hit *[Virgin River](https://www.edgepedia.org/virgin-river-tv-series)*, which is also adapted from Carr's novels.[2](https://www.bellmedia.ca/the-lede/press/ctv-and-crave-announce-straight-to-series-order-for-sullivans-crossing-adaptation/) Roma Roth serves as showrunner and executive producer alongside executive producer Christopher E. Perry; season 3 was executive produced by Reel World Management in association with CTV, The CW, and [Fremantle](https://www.edgepedia.org/fremantle), with Fremantle distributing the series internationally.[4](https://www.cwtvpr.com/the-cw/shows/sullivans-crossing/)
**Setting change.** Carr's novels place Sullivan's Crossing in Colorado, at a crossroads where the Colorado Trail and the [Continental Divide Trail](https://www.edgepedia.org/continental-divide-trail) intersect. The series moved the story to Nova Scotia, and Roth explained the change was made so the show would not look too similar to *Virgin River*.[8](https://www.comicbasics.com/sullivans-crossing-books-vs-series-every-major-way-the-show-differs-from-robyn-carrs-books/) Filming takes place in [Halifax, Nova Scotia](https://www.edgepedia.org/halifax-nova-scotia).[1](https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/sullivans-crossing-release-date-news?inapp=true) A case study by MNP LLP for the Canadian Media Producers Association examined the economic impact of the first season's production in Nova Scotia, Ontario, and the rest of Canada.[9](https://cmpa.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Case-Study-Economic-Impacts-of-Sullivans-Crossing.pdf)
## Broadcast and streaming
The series premiered in 2023 on CTV in Canada and began airing on [The CW](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-cw) in the United States in October 2023.[1](https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/sullivans-crossing-release-date-news?inapp=true) • [10](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2023-10-04/sullivans-crossing-cw-review) Netflix added the first two seasons in the United States in early July 2025, followed by season 3 on August 11, 2025.[1](https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/sullivans-crossing-release-date-news?inapp=true) • [11](https://www.tomsguide.com/entertainment/streaming/shows-like-sullivans-crossing) In Australia the series streams on Stan, and in the United Kingdom Netflix carries seasons 1 through 3.[7](https://www.tomsguide.com/entertainment/streaming/how-to-watch-sullivans-crossing-season)
The Netflix release made the show a streaming success: in July 2025 it surpassed the final season of *Squid Game* to reach No. 1 on Netflix's U.S. Top 10.[3](https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/squid-game-knocked-off-no-1-slot-in-netflix-top-10-by-sullivans-crossing-morgan-kohan-speaks-out) The CW renewed it for season 4 in July 2025, airing in 2026, and on July 16, 2026, announced a 10-episode fifth season for 2027, following earlier renewals by CTV, Crave, and Fremantle.[5](https://www.cwtvpr.com/the-cw/shows/sullivans-crossing/releases/?view=102124-the-cw-network-picks-up-hit-drama-series-sullivans-crossing-for-season-5)
## Reception
Critical response to the first season was mixed. On Rotten Tomatoes, season 1 held a 60% critics rating against an 80% audience score, with season 2 scoring 93% from audiences; critics who disliked the first season cited its [Hallmark Channel](https://www.edgepedia.org/hallmark-channel) qualities, while fans compared it favorably to *Virgin River*.[12](https://www.tomsguide.com/entertainment/netflix/netflix-just-added-the-first-two-seasons-of-this-romance-drama-and-its-already-crashed-the-top-10) The Los Angeles Times, reviewing the CW premiere, called it a pleasant import in the mold of *Virgin River*, noting its largely Canadian cast and the casting of Americans Patterson and Murray.[10](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2023-10-04/sullivans-crossing-cw-review) Reviewing season 4, Metacritic's collected criticism judged that the series had found its stride after its first three seasons.[13](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/sullivans-crossing/critic-reviews/)
## References
1. [Sullivan's Crossing: What to Know About the Series, Netflix Tudum](https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/sullivans-crossing-release-date-news?inapp=true)
2. [CTV and Crave Announce Straight-to-Series Order for SULLIVAN'S CROSSING Adaptation, Bell Media](https://www.bellmedia.ca/the-lede/press/ctv-and-crave-announce-straight-to-series-order-for-sullivans-crossing-adaptation/)
3. [What's It Like To Knock Squid Game Off The No. 1 Slot In Netflix's Top 10?, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/squid-game-knocked-off-no-1-slot-in-netflix-top-10-by-sullivans-crossing-morgan-kohan-speaks-out)
4. [Sullivan's Crossing, The CW Press](https://www.cwtvpr.com/the-cw/shows/sullivans-crossing/)
5. [THE CW NETWORK PICKS UP HIT DRAMA SERIES "SULLIVAN'S CROSSING" FOR SEASON 5, The CW Press](https://www.cwtvpr.com/the-cw/shows/sullivans-crossing/releases/?view=102124-the-cw-network-picks-up-hit-drama-series-sullivans-crossing-for-season-5)
6. [Sullivan's Crossing Season 1 Netflix Ending Explained, Netflix Tudum](https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/sullivans-crossing-season-1-ending-explained)
7. [How to watch 'Sullivan's Crossing' season 4 online, Tom's Guide](https://www.tomsguide.com/entertainment/streaming/how-to-watch-sullivans-crossing-season)
8. ['Sullivan's Crossing' Books vs. Series: Every Major Way the Show Differs, Comic Basics](https://www.comicbasics.com/sullivans-crossing-books-vs-series-every-major-way-the-show-differs-from-robyn-carrs-books/)
9. [Case Study: Economic Impacts of Sullivan's Crossing, CMPA](https://cmpa.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Case-Study-Economic-Impacts-of-Sullivans-Crossing.pdf)
10. ['Sullivan's Crossing' review, Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2023-10-04/sullivans-crossing-cw-review)
11. [5 best shows like 'Sullivan's Crossing', Tom's Guide](https://www.tomsguide.com/entertainment/streaming/shows-like-sullivans-crossing)
12. [Netflix's latest No. 1 show is this Canadian romance drama, Tom's Guide](https://www.tomsguide.com/entertainment/netflix/netflix-just-added-the-first-two-seasons-of-this-romance-drama-and-its-already-crashed-the-top-10)
13. [Sullivan's Crossing critic reviews, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/sullivans-crossing/critic-reviews/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Scripted television and comedy series › Adapted and franchise screen series*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 20, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 20, 2026; Oct 11, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license