The CW’s New Series ‘Sullivan’s Crossing’ Is a Must-Watch for ‘Virgin River’ Fans

The first few minutes of the episode are reminiscent of Grey's Anatomy, featuring a hectic moment in the ER with neurosurgeon Maggie Sullivan (Morgan Kohan) analyzing a patient. After her chaotic shift, she attends an award ceremony to accept the Rising Neurosurgeon Award.

Everything seems to be going well for her...until it isn’t. During her speech, the police storm into the building to arrest Maggie and her boss, Dr. Bob Hollis (Bob Mann).

We’re not entirely sure why Maggie is arrested (at least not yet), but it seems that Dr. Hollis was doing something illegal behind her back. Although the charges are dropped, her career is in shambles.

To escape scrutiny and determine her next move, she returns to her hometown to stay with her estranged father, Harry “Sully” Sullivan (Scott Patterson), who lives on a picturesque campground called “Sullivan’s Crossing” in Nova Scotia. This is where the real story begins.

The premiere episode teases just enough information to leave us wanting more. Plus, it gives us all the same feels as Virgin River. Just like with Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge) in VR, the show hints that there’s far more to Maggie’s past than meets the eye. For example, both Sydney (Lindura) and Edna (Andrea Menard) seem somewhat bothered that Maggie is suddenly returning after abandoning her friends and family years ago.

These aren’t the only strained relationships in Maggie’s life. First, there’s her dad, who she calls Sully. We mean, who calls their dad by his nickname? There’s also her boyfriend, Andrew Mathews (Allan Hawco), who’s newly divorced. Although he recently moved to Boston to be with her, he lost his job offer as a result of Maggie’s arrest. And she’s not in any hurry to return to him. So, what gives?

Virgin River similarities aside, Sullivan’s Crossing also features a recognizable cast including Kohan (When Hope Calls), Patterson (Gilmore Girls), Lindura (Ghosts) Chad Michael Murray (One Tree Hill), Reid Price (The Sinner), Tom Jackson (Cold Pursuit), Andrea Menard (Blackstone), Amalia Williamson (Northern Rescue) and Dakota Taylor (Zero Chill).

Oh, and did we mention it also stars Lauren Hammersley and Lynda Boyd, who play Charmaine and Lilly, respectively, in Virgin River? (We promise that’s the last comparison.)