Sullivan’s Crossingmay be on its way to another season, but after three years watching the series,the show’s missing something strange that I can’t keep ignoring. ThoughSullivan’s Crossing, based onthe book series by Robyn Carr, was quick to capture the attention of viewers after it premiered in 2023, there’s been something off about the show’s small-town Nova Scotia setting.
The series, which follows Maggie Sullivan (Morgan Kohan) as she returns to the town where her father Harry “Sully” Sullivan (Scott Patterson) owns a campsite, has been a comfort show for many viewers. Those who enjoy a quiet,non-consequential drama likeVirgin Riverhave flocked to the show, whichhas stepped away from the quaint, quiet dramait began with in its first season.
While there are consistent set pieces toSullivan’s Crossingthat make sense for the show, like the camp shop run by Sully’s friends, Edna (Andrea Menard) and Frank Cranebear (Tom Jackson), there are other elements to the series that don’t fit the modern setting. Though Maggie, Cal Jones (Chad Michael Murray), and otheryoung cast members are relatively modern, elders are stuck in the past.
Several Sullivan’s Crossing Characters Go Without Cell Phones
Mainly, The Older Cast Members Are Less Mobile
Although the majority of the younger cast have been shown usingtheir cell phones onSullivan’s Crossing,the older cast members have been shown to have disdain for cell phones or ignoring that they exist. While there are some explanations for this within the world of the show, like the area having poor reception, not having cell phones is a strange choice.
Though some people don’t want cell phones generally, Sully, Edna, and Frank particularly not having cell phones is a confusing choice that often makesthe small town energy the show exudesmore obvious.Edna has been clear that Frank doesn’t like or trust cell phones, but the couple have found themselves in danger and needing a phone more than once.
Sully, who has been shown using a phone in the past, has traditionally been someone seen on a landline when he makes calls and tends to be grumpy about technology overall. While choosing to have the older characters be out of touch with technology makes some sense,isolating them is a confusing decision for a show set in the present.
While The Nostalgic Choice Amps Up Drama, It Doesn’t Make Much Sense
The Decision Doesn’t Seem Realistic In Their Area
Although the elder group of cast members being more rooted in the technology they use is something that hasamplified the drama onSullivan’s Crossingover the years, it’s not always the most interesting or unique choice the series could make.Complicating plots further by removing modern technologycan make it tough to connect to the emotions of the moment.
When Frank was shotduringSullivan’s Crossingseason 1, for example, part of the drama came from the fact that he couldn’t reach out for help. Rather than making it a point that Frank was too weak to get to his phone or that he had no reception, they removed the element entirely, whichshifted the tone of the scene in a way.
Most viewers would, at this point in time,anticipate characters on modern shows having access to modern technology. If one character had an aversion to cell phones, it would make sense to bake that into their personality and build on it. Unfortunately forSullivan’s Crossing, it appears that it’s a generational issue that the show doesn’t plan on tackling.
