When I sat down to watch Sullivan’s Crossing Season 4 Episode 1, I knew this was going to be a problem.
Scott Patterson’s absence isn’t a small loss — it’s the loss. Sully is the show.
So I went into the premiere wondering how they were even going to handle that.
(The CW/Screenshot)
Turns out… not well.
When Maggie tells Cal her dad has “just left” for Ireland, I genuinely didn’t buy it for a second. Not even a little bit.
This is Sully. He doesn’t just disappear on a random holiday with no real goodbye. That’s not who this character is, and the show knows that.
And that’s what makes it worse.
(The CW/Screenshot)
It feels like the writers needed something to explain his absence and just went with the easiest option, hoping no one would question it too much.
I did.
Sullivan’s Crossing Fans Deserve Better
Because the episode doesn’t even try to sell it. There’s no real emotional fallout, no sense that this is a huge deal — and it should be.
I kept waiting for it to hit. It never did.
(Fremantle/ The CW)
Knowing everything that’s been said behind the scenes about Scott Patterson’s exit doesn’t help either. It’s hard not to look at this and think there’s more going on here than what’s making it onto the screen.
And honestly, The CW doesn’t exactly have the best track record when it comes to messy exits. We’ve seen it before with Katie Cassidy on Arrow and Ruby Rose on Batwoman.
So this whole thing feels… familiar. And not in a good way.
Maybe a bigger twist is coming. Maybe this “vacation” story is setting up something more meaningful down the line.
(The CW/Screenshot)
But right now, it just feels like a weak way to write out the most important character on the show.
And that’s frustrating, because they had options. They could have made this emotional. They could have made it matter.
Instead, it feels like the show is trying to move on as quickly as possible, hoping the audience goes along.
I’m not there yet.
(The CW/Screenshot)
A recast was never going to work, and honestly, I don’t think anyone really wanted one anyway. A lot of people showed up for Scott Patterson, especially after Gilmore Girls.
The show might still be doing well, especially with the Netflix bump, but losing Sully like this? That’s not nothing.
There’s always been a lot to unpack with Maggie and Sully, and I do like that the show at least acknowledges their complicated relationship.
But after all of this, I’m still stuck on the same thing:
We waited all that time, and the explanation is… he’s on holiday?
(The CW/Screenshot)
Sure, that was already revealed beforehand, perhaps to soften the blow of the stupidity of it all.
But it’s a real shame that this once-promising drama is already showing signs that the wheels are falling off.
I don’t doubt that Maggie can continue as Sullivan’s Crossing’s main attraction, but the series needs to decide quickly on Sully’s character, because the holiday excuse will only last for another handful of episodes.
Sullivan’s Crossing Season 4 promises high drama, but the show’s continued success quite literally hinges on whether something good can come of Sully’s exit.
(The CW/Screenshot)
Hey, maybe the stars will align, and Scott will agree to The CW hit return in some capacity. Stranger things have happened!
What are your thoughts on how the premiere handled Sully’s storyline? Do you think it was a temporary band-aid, or do you believe something more will happen?
We know it’s not cool to ask for help, but here we are.
A comment lets us know someone’s out there, and a share helps more than you’d think. Either way, thanks for sticking with us.
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