While Netflix’s seven-season hit Virgin River proved that Carr’s books were ripe for screen adaptation, the CW’s subsequent hit Sullivan’s Crossing has shown that the streaming service’s success was no one-off coincidence. Based on the five-book Sullivan’s Crossing series, the series follows Morgan Kohan’s troubled surgeon Maggie as she relocates to her hometown to get her life in order.
Sullivan’s Crossing Seasons 1 and 2 Are Two Of Netflix’s Biggest Shows Right Now
The Series Occupies The 6th and 7th Most Watched Slots For July 21-27
There, she reconnects with her estranged father, Sully, and strikes up a romance with Chad Michael Murray’s local love interest, Cal. What ensues is three seasons of small-town drama, with Cal and Maggie’s Sullivan’s Crossing love triangles lasting until the explosive revelations of the season 3 finale.
Sullivan’s Crossing season 1 was the seventh most-watched show during the week of July 21-27, while season 2 was the sixth most-watched show during the same week.
| Actor | Sullivan’s Crossing Role |
|---|---|
| Morgan Kohan | Maggie Sullivan |
| Scott Patterson | Harry “Sully” Sullivan |
| Chad Michael Murray | Cal Jones |
| Tom Jackson | Frank Cranebear |
| Andrea Menard | Edna Cranebear |
| Amalia Williamson | Lola Gunderson |
| Lindura | Sydney Shandon |
| Dakota Taylor | Rafe |
| Reid Price | Rob Shandon |
| Steve Lund | Chief Cooper |
| Kate Vernon | Helen Culver |
| Joel Oulette | Jacob Cranebear |
| Torri Higginson | Marissa Jones |
| John Ralston | Jed Jones |
Sullivan’s Crossing has proven a huge hit for Netflix, meaning Virgin River’s success for the streaming service clearly isn’t a question of chance. This is good news for Robyn Carr’s next TV series Thunder Point, adapted from a spinoff book from the Virgin River novel series.
The Show’s Popularity Proves Sullivan’s Crossing Could Still Rival Virgin River
The success that Sullivan’s Crossing has found on Netflix could not have come at a better time for the series. Season 3 of the show struggled to impress fans online, with many complaining that its villains felt cartoonish and its central storyline was not sufficiently compelling.
As Sullivan’s Crossing season 4 approaches, the show will need to win back viewers who are unsure about its current direction. This would be easier with a big boost in viewers from Netflix, as new fans who came to the show in July 2025 will be likely to check out new episodes when the series returns.
Sullivan’s Crossing was renewed for season 4 in early June 2025.
As such, Sullivan’s Crossing season 4’s newfound popularity could bolster the show’s reputation after a shaky third outing. Thus, Sullivan’s Crossing will gain more time to impress viewers, hopefully undoing the questionable storytelling choices that hampered season 3.
