Abhiroop Das
The second season of ‘Sullivan’s Crossing‘ ends with a shocking cliffhanger. Sully’s night of celebration turns into a tragedy as a fire erupts in Shannon’s Diner. Upon learning that Finn is trapped inside, Sully, along with Cal, rushes in. However, in the end, only Cal comes out with the child, and Maggie’s father is nowhere to be found. All hope seems lost when the Diner blows up, and we are left to fear the worst. His attempts at redemption and self-forgiveness mark Sully’s character arc, the path to which comes from owning up to his flaws and making amends by doing good. Eventually, his past catches up to him, with the auction of his beloved Sullivan’s Crossing becoming the final test, which he passes. With death seemingly at his doorstep, his fate hangs in the air. SPOILERS AHEAD FOR SEASON 3.
Sully Embarks on a New Journey in the Third Season of Sullivan’s Crossing
Although it appears that Sully didn’t make it out of the fire at the end of season 2, the first episode of season 3 brings relief. Sully is confirmed to be alive, although exactly how he escaped the fire is not addressed. This marks the second time the character has cheated death, with the first occurrence having a similar role as the cliffhanger ending of season 1. There, Sully survived a stroke but was admitted to the hospital, where tests revealed there was a more severe neurological disease at play. Likewise, Sully’s reappearance can open the grounds to a new arc for the character. The second season ends with a series of successes for him, as he reclaims the Crossing and becomes a co-owner with Frank and Edna Cranebear. The following seasons are likely to explore the intricacies of their changed power dynamics.
Another major part of Sully’s character is his dynamic with his daughter, Maggie. At the end of season 2, she declares her wish to stay at the Crossing for good and be with her father. That idea is immediately put to the test with the fire incident. As such, the complications of their dynamic are likely to strike again and become a hot point of conversation. Furthermore, it appears that she has been hit with personal tragedy herself, and Sully has to play his role as the guiding figure to help her in her times of distress. A death scare can serve to bring the family together, although it can also have adverse effects. We are also yet to see his full reaction to Maggie and Call getting together, and his reaction can be game-changing. Ultimately, it depends on how the Sullivans handle their newfound circumstances.
Last but certainly not least, there is his personal trauma regarding his past decisions. Although his dynamic with Lola has seemingly come together since his confession to his crimes, ‘Sullivan’s Crossing’ has shown that it’s not that easy to navigate relationships between people. As such, the two characters have a lot of ground to cover, with the truth and Sully’s sense of responsibility always hanging around in the corner. Over the course of the narrative, he has developed into a father figure for Lola, and thus his personal recovery, both on a physical and mental level, is crucial for her growth as well. Sully’s next chapter can be about him tackling his alcohol addiction for good, as it is the source of most of his flaws. We have already seen his progress to that end, but the final stages might be the most important.
Scott Patterson’s Role as Sully is Not Over
Sully’s survival also confirms that actor Scott Patterson does return to reprise his role as the complicated patriarch of the Sullivan family. His return is not out of the blue, as in the lead-up to the third season, multiple clues were left behind. Firstly, the official trailer for the third season already features Scott Patterson as Sully, thus directly revealing his return. Even before that, Patterson’s name was a part of the official announcement of the third season. The actor himself shared the posts on Facebook, adding in the caption that fans should prepare themselves for season 3. These details all compound to his eventual return to the story, which, according to the trailer, has him tackling another attempt on his territories by his arch-nemesis, Glenn Perry.
Scott Patterson has been part of the show since its very first episode, and his performance as Sully is indispensable to bringing the story to life. His ability to perfectly bounce off the rest of the cast is depicted in both his character’s larger dynamic with Maggie and the dense side arcs, such as Sully’s brief but heartbreaking interactions with Duncan, his friend at the hospital who passes away. Furthermore, Patterson also bears a deep love for the show, and states in an interview with Today, “When they watch the show, (viewers are) gonna have some feelings. They’re gonna have some strong feelings. I think that’s what the best television does. It makes people think. It makes people feel.” These words clearly display his commitment to the craft, which shines once more in the third season of the show.
Read More: Sullivan’s Crossing Season 2 Episode 10 Recap and Ending Explained
