This week’s episode lives up to its title. “Misunderstandings” delivers a quiet storm of mixed signals, missed timing, and emotional disconnects that ripple across relationships — romantic, familial, and everything in between. After the gut punch of last episode’s confrontation with Glenn, Episode 5 slows things down to explore the fallout… and stir up some new complications.
Cal and Maggie open the episode waking up in the glow of fresh intimacy, but things quickly start to feel off. Cal’s high after reconnecting with his dad has left him riding an emotional wave, buying a flashy sports car and suggesting Maggie move in with him, a bold move she gently declines. Her reasoning? Timing. She’s worried about leaving Sully while he’s vulnerable, but Cal suspects there’s something deeper Maggie isn’t admitting. And he’s probably right. The two are clearly on different wavelengths — Maggie is still rooted in duty and grief, while Cal is determined to live fully, perhaps even impulsively, in the face of mortality. It’s not a breakup, but it’s definitely a crack in the foundation.
| “Misunderstandings” – SULLIVAN’S CROSSING. Pictured: Chad Michael Murray as Cal Jones. Photo: Bell Media ©2025. All Rights Reserved. |
Meanwhile, Rafe and Sydney are in a much more fragile place. Their intimacy has all but vanished, and Rafe’s emotional shutdown pushes Sydney to the edge. It isn’t until she starts packing to leave that he finally opens up about the pressure he’s under at the fire station, fearing he’s not living up to expectations after Connie left. It’s a raw, honest moment, the kind Rafe desperately needed to have. Their reconciliation feels earned, but also tentative. This isn’t a problem solved, it’s a pause button hit.
The most awkward moment of the episode, and arguably the season so far, comes when Maggie finds an empty wine bottle at home and panics, thinking Sully has relapsed. When she barges in and finds Helen disheveled in his bedroom, it’s pure secondhand embarrassment. Her assumption hits hard and fast, and it’s only afterward that she learns Helen brought the wine unknowingly and that she interrupted what was, yes, a romantic afternoon.
But while Maggie’s misjudgment makes her squirm, it also opens a more important door. Helen later speaks to Sully about his sobriety, concerned that she might be a distraction or worse, a danger. Sully’s response is deeply grounded. For the first time in a long time, he expresses not just stability, but hope. He doesn’t want to overpromise, but he’s ready to live. And that, more than anything, shows just how far Sully has come.
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| “Misunderstandings” – SULLIVAN’S CROSSING. Pictured: Scott Patterson as Sully and Kate Vernon as Helen. Photo: Bell Media ©2025. All Rights Reserved. |
Of course, this new leaf comes with its own fresh challenge. An anonymous complaint brings a surprise health inspector to Rob’s soon-to-open restaurant space, who uncovers some serious issues. Sully’s sure it’s Glenn behind it, pulling strings from the shadows, and the timing definitely lines up. But as always in Sullivan’s Crossing, even when you think you know the enemy, the real struggle is what’s going on inside.
There’s a beautiful rhythm to the episode’s quieter scenes. Frank trying to keep Sully engaged. Maggie and Sydney supporting each other through love-life turbulence. Rob nervously reconnecting with Jane, with just enough vulnerability to make you root for him. And Lola and Jacob? They’re the sweet, slow-burn couple we didn’t know we needed. Their shared stories about grief, trauma, and growing up with invisible wounds bring a genuine emotional depth, and their ice run turns into the kind of heart-on-the-sleeve moment Sullivan’s Crossing does best.
And then there’s Edna. The ever-grounded matriarch isn’t feeling quite herself- headaches, forgetfulness, subtle signs that have Frank and Maggie both concerned. It’s a whisper of a new storyline, but one that’s sure to grow louder as the season continues.
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| “Misunderstandings” – SULLIVAN’S CROSSING. Pictured: Reid Price as Rob and Chad Michael Murray as Cal. Photo: Bell Media ©2025. All Rights Reserved. |
“Misunderstandings” isn’t a dramatic high point, it’s a character-driven, emotionally intelligent episode that lets tension simmer instead of boil. The stakes aren’t life-and-death this week, but the cracks are spreading, and the characters are making choices that will stick. Between delayed romances, unspoken fears, and the slow build of what’s clearly becoming a fight against Glenn’s growing influence, Season 3 is shaping up to be a meditation on timing, trust, and emotional honesty. And in true Sullivan’s Crossing fashion, it’s never about just one moment, it’s about what’s left unsaid between them.
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