In “Twists and Turns,” Sullivan’s Crossing delivered an emotionally intense and narratively layered episode, effortlessly balancing high-stakes peril with tender personal revelations. The hour opens in darkness, both literally and emotionally, as Lola and Jacob find themselves trapped underground in an old mine. The claustrophobic setting quickly becomes a crucible for vulnerability. Lola blames herself for the accident, her panic mounting when she discovers her phone is shattered. Jacob, though clearly growing weak from dangerously low blood sugar, works to calm her, assuring her that help will come. His quiet optimism is a stark contrast to Lola’s fear, and it sets the tone for a relationship that deepens with every passing moment underground.
Jacob’s worsening condition becomes the episode’s ticking clock. His blood sugar drops rapidly, and the two must scramble to find his backpack, where his Glucagon kit is stored. Meanwhile, above ground, life goes on, at least until Maggie, Sully, and the others realize that neither Lola nor Jacob made it home. When Frank gets a call from Lola’s boss confirming she didn’t show up for work, the community mobilizes instantly. This is where the show shines best: the tight-knit web of people who leap into action not because they’re heroes, but because they care. The rescue effort is suspenseful and emotionally charged. Maggie and Cal are the ones who ultimately locate them. When Lola hears them approaching and starts screaming for help, it’s a small moment of triumph that feels monumental.
“Twists and Turns” – SULLIVAN’S CROSSING. Pictured: Scott Patterson as Sully and Amalia Williamson as Lola. Photo: Bell Media ©2025. All Rights Reserved.Maggie’s calm under pressure is matched by Lola’s bravery. With Jacob slipping toward unconsciousness, Maggie talks Lola through administering the Glucagon. It’s a quietly powerful scene, two women, one literally trapped and one figuratively stepping into the role of a guide, holding each other steady. When Jacob finally wakes and jokes about being stuck in a mine with the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen, the relief is palpable. It’s a beautiful payoff to a storyline that could’ve easily relied on cliché but instead gave us real emotional stakes.
Back in the light of day, the rescue doesn’t just save lives, it alters trajectories. Lola, shaken and emotional, opens up to Jacob, and later, when she visits him at Frank and Edna’s, she reveals that her guardedness comes from a life of trauma and isolation. Their slow-burn chemistry peaks when Jacob confesses he feels deeply comfortable with her, despite how little time they’ve known each other. What follows is an intimate and honest romantic scene, one that Sullivan’s Crossing does best. When Lola reveals she’s never been with anyone before, the moment is treated with dignity and tenderness. Jacob’s response, that there’s no rush, that they can wait, carries the kind of gentle respect that feels both earned and necessary. It’s rare for TV to let intimacy breathe like this, and the writer’s of Sullivan’s Crossing deserves credit for it.
Parallel to this, Maggie and Cal are solidifying their own next chapter. Maggie wakes up at Cal’s place, revelling in the the news that she’s moving in with him. It’s romantic and sweet, but also grounded in their mutual understanding of each other’s past scars. Their dynamic, now more emotionally mature, continues to be a highlight of the show. Cal’s decision to return the sports car, admitting it was a symbol of impulsiveness, feels symbolic of his growth. And Maggie, ever the caregiver, tends to him after he’s briefly caught in falling debris at the mine. Their bond deepens, not just through grand gestures, but in small, quiet moments like her fussing over his bandages or teasing him about inviting friends over on their first night living together.
“Twists and Turns” – SULLIVAN’S CROSSING. Pictured: Chad Michael Murray as Cal, Steve Lund as Cooper, Reid Price as Rob and Dakota Taylor as Rafe. Photo: Bell Media ©2025. All Rights Reserved.But not all is smooth sailing. Sully, who has quietly supported Maggie’s independence and move, finds himself alone again. After finally admitting to himself that he has feelings for Helen, and even planning to take a ballroom dancing class with her, he discovers that she’s left town without saying goodbye. Her departure was explained only in a note and a gifted copy of her book and it hit Sully hard. He tries to act as though it doesn’t bother him, but the emotion is visible. There’s a poignant loneliness in how he clutches his binoculars, a small nod to his desire to connect with someone again, and now being forced back into solitude.
A standout scene comes later, when Cal hosts a casual poker night with Rob, Rafe, and Cooper. It starts off light, just a few friends winding down, but quickly transforms into something deeper. After Rafe jokes about rumours at the firehouse, Cooper shares the truth about why he transferred to Timberlake. He didn’t punch a guy at work, as the rumour suggested. It happened at home, after he found his wife in bed with another man. It’s a raw, painful confession that momentarily silences the room. What follows is pure Sullivan’s Crossing, compassion without pity, understanding without overreach. Rob and Cal offer support, and Cooper opens up about the strain his job put on his marriage. It’s a quiet moment of emotional truth that ripples outward, especially for Rafe, who begins to question his own strained relationship with Sydney. The show doesn’t beat the viewer over the head with these themes, it lets them simmer, organically, in shared space between characters.
Elsewhere in the episode, Edna and Frank bring their usual warmth and wisdom, especially in the episode’s quieter scenes. Edna’s spontaneous kiss and reminder not to take each other for granted is a beautiful contrast to Helen’s exit. It reinforces the theme threaded throughout the episode: you never know what life will throw your way, so hold tight to the people who matter.
“Twists and Turns” – SULLIVAN’S CROSSING. Pictured: Sharleen Kalayll as Dr. Rabney and Morgan Kohan as Maggie. Photo: Bell Media ©2025. All Rights Reserved.And just when it seems the emotional intensity has peaked, a simple scene quietly shifts the tone. After the poker night winds down and the guys leave, Cal accidentally knocks over one of Maggie’s books. Tucked inside is a letter she once wrote to an ex-boyfriend named Liam. In it, Maggie lays bare her internal conflict, the tension between pursuing her career and fearing that love might derail her ambitions. She writes that she didn’t want to let Liam keep her from achieving her dreams. The discovery lands like a whisper of doubt in an otherwise harmonious night. It doesn’t diminish the love Cal and Maggie share, but it introduces a subtle question: does Maggie still carry that fear deep down? Is Cal standing in the way of her dreams?
The episode ends with yet another significant turn. Maggie receives a call to consult on a medical case, only to discover the patient is Glenn, the man responsible for putting through her family through so much turmoil. The shock on her face is clear. In that moment, the episode sets the stage for a powerful moral dilemma: will Maggie help the man that almost took away her father’s livelihood, or walk away to preserve family loyalty?
“Twists and Turns” didn’t rely on dramatic flair for its impact. It earned every emotional beat through character growth, quiet resilience, and honest dialogue. It’s an episode where people are pushed to their emotional limits, only to find something, or someone, worth holding onto. A compelling hour that reflects everything this show does well: human connection, emotional honesty, and the unwavering heartbeat of community.
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