In a twist of fate that has fans of small-town romance and sweeping emotional drama buzzing, Sullivan’s Crossing — hailed as Virgin River’s spiritual successor —
is taking over Netflix by storm. While longtime viewers eagerly await the return of Virgin River for its much-anticipated seventh season, its worthy replacement
has quietly surged in popularity, seizing not one, but two coveted slots on the streamer’s global Top 10 list for the week of July 21–27, 2025. This remarkable rise proves
that lightning has struck twice for author Robyn Carr, whose body of work continues to fuel must-watch television. Carr, a prolific romance novelist, originally captivated readers with her 22-book Virgin River saga, which was seamlessly adapted into a television juggernaut. But Carr didn’t stop there — she also penned the beloved Sullivan’s Crossing series, comprising five books that explore healing, heartbreak, and the complexities of returning home. Now, Sullivan’s Crossing has achieved what few thought possible: stepping confidently into the shadow of Virgin River and emerging as a major streaming success.
A New Beginning in Sullivan’s Crossing
Sullivan’s Crossing centers around Dr. Maggie Sullivan (portrayed with vulnerability and strength by Morgan Kohan), a gifted but emotionally battered neurosurgeon who finds herself at a crossroads after a career crisis and personal betrayal. She returns to her sleepy, mountainous hometown of Sullivan’s Crossing to regroup, reconnect, and rediscover herself.
What she doesn’t expect is to come face-to-face with her estranged father, Sully, played by Scott Patterson (of Gilmore Girls fame). Their emotionally fraught relationship is one of the show’s key emotional backbones. But it’s Maggie’s developing connection with Cal Jones, the mysterious and kind-hearted local played by fan-favorite Chad Michael Murray, that truly drives the romantic tension.
As sparks fly between Maggie and Cal, viewers are pulled into a slow-burn romance filled with soul-searching, painful pasts, and dramatic love triangles — all unfolding beneath the idyllic backdrop of a rugged Canadian town.
Chart-Topping Performance on Netflix
Sullivan’s Crossing season 1 rocketed to the seventh-most-watched title on Netflix globally during the week of July 21–27, while season 2 climbed even higher, landing the sixth position. This dual charting is not only impressive but extremely rare, particularly for a show that originated outside of the Netflix production umbrella — it initially aired on Canada’s CTV and The CW in the U.S. before finding its streaming home.
The success of Sullivan’s Crossing is especially noteworthy considering season 3 received mixed reviews from longtime fans. Many criticized its inconsistent tone and flat antagonists, calling the season’s villains “cartoonish” and its central conflict underwhelming. Despite that, the show’s arrival on Netflix has reignited interest, introducing millions of new viewers to the story and potentially redeeming the series from its third-season slump.
This surge in streaming popularity may be the exact lifeline the series needs as it heads into its already greenlit season 4, expected to premiere in early 2026.
Love, Family, and Secrets — What Makes the Show Click
One of Sullivan’s Crossing’s greatest strengths lies in its exploration of layered relationships and personal growth. Maggie’s emotional journey resonates with viewers who see themselves in her struggles with identity, forgiveness, and the search for peace. Her father-daughter dynamic with Sully adds a powerful, generational tension to the show’s emotional tapestry.
The romance between Maggie and Cal, meanwhile, offers the kind of slow-burning intensity and emotional payoff that has made Virgin River such a powerhouse. Yet unlike Virgin River, which often leans into soapier cliffhangers, Sullivan’s Crossing treads a more grounded path — focusing on internal transformation, the quiet beauty of second chances, and the ties that bind a fractured community.
