Sullivan’s Crossing returns to broadcast TV — Season 4 premieres April 20 on The CW
The Canadian drama Sullivan’s Crossing is heading back to broadcast television. The CW will begin airing Season 4 on April 20 at 8 p.m. EDT. The new season runs ten episodes and kicks off with a 30-second promo that teases a pointed personal crisis for protagonist Maggie Sullivan.
What the trailer shows
The quick teaser pivots the show’s stakes away from procedure and toward private conflict. In under a minute the clip reintroduces a figure from Maggie’s past and drops a single, loaded line — “Is that any way to greet your husband?” — that reframes relationships viewers thought were settled. The emphasis is emotional fallout: loyalties, secrets and consequences, rather than a high-concept plot twist.
How Netflix reshaped momentum
Sullivan’s Crossing earned a major visibility boost after landing on Netflix. In early February 2026 the series climbed to No. 3 on Netflix’s global streaming charts, a surge that clearly widened its audience and likely influenced The CW’s decision to slot the show in prime time. Streaming exposure pushed referral traffic, search demand and social conversation upward, creating a cross-platform halo effect heading into the broadcast premiere.
Why the broadcast move matters
The CW’s April 20 slot leverages that streaming momentum to reach linear viewers who may not see the series online. This is a textbook cross-platform play: use bite-sized, emotionally charged promos to spark discovery on social platforms and then convert that curiosity into appointment viewing on network TV. Early metrics to watch include clip views, completion rates and social engagement — indicators that will shape follow-up creatives and targeting.
Storylines and where the characters stand
Maggie Sullivan (Morgan Kohan) returns to her Nova Scotia roots at the start of Season 4, seeking stability with family and community. Season 3 closed on the surprising reappearance of her estranged husband Liam — and the trailer positions his return as the season’s central catalyst. That choice puts Maggie at a crossroads: confront a legally and emotionally fraught past or commit to the relationship she’s been building with Cal (Chad Michael Murray).
Writers seem to be leaning into character-driven tension rather than spectacle. Expect episode-by-episode choices that foreground emotional consequence. Meanwhile, secondary arcs — including Rafe and Sydney’s consideration of marriage — will provide quieter, domestic counterpoints that reinforce the series’ small-town feel.
Cast and creative team
- – Morgan Kohan as Maggie Sullivan – Chad Michael Murray as Cal Jones – Supporting cast: Tom Jackson, Andrea Menard, Scott Patterson
Season 4 episodes are directed in part by Chris Grismer and April Mullen. The show was created by Roma Roth; Robyn Carr (whose novels inspired the series) remains on board as an executive producer alongside Hilary Martin, Michela DiMondo and Christopher E. Perry, among others.
Adaptation roots and tone
Adapted from Robyn Carr’s bestselling novels, Sullivan’s Crossing keeps the books’ emphasis on character and community while expanding arcs for serial television. Carr’s involvement helps maintain the novels’ emotional voice even as the writers reshape plot points for a televised rhythm.
What viewers should do next
Tune in to The CW on April 20 at 8 p.m. EDT for the Season 4 premiere. If the trailer’s focus is any indication, expect a season built around messy loyalties and difficult choices — the kind of emotional drama that travels well across streaming clips, social chatter and appointment TV.
The Canadian drama Sullivan’s Crossing is heading back to broadcast television. The CW will begin airing Season 4 on April 20 at 8 p.m. EDT. The new season runs ten episodes and kicks off with a 30-second promo that teases a pointed personal crisis for protagonist Maggie Sullivan.0