Timing, because the title suggests, is the invisible hand stirring rigidity all through this emotionally layered and quietly explosive episode of Sullivan’s Crossing. “Unhealthy Timing” is much less about catastrophic occasions, till the very finish after all, and extra concerning the delicate methods by which folks miss one another, misinterpret indicators, or maintain again when it issues most.
From the soar, Maggie is able to discuss. After days of silence and awkward distance, she lastly desires to have the dialog Cal’s been ready for, the one about why she turned down his provide to maneuver in. However in a pointy function reversal, it’s Cal who’s not within the temper to speak. He retains it well mannered, however his emotional partitions are up, and his focus is squarely on Rob’s restaurant renovation. Maggie’s makes an attempt to breach the topic get deflected many times. That sluggish emotional unraveling is masterfully performed by Morgan Kohan and Chad Michael Murray. It’s not about shouting or grand gestures, however a rising, wordless discomfort between two individuals who clearly love one another, however can’t appear to satisfy within the center.
That theme, emotional timing, ripples throughout the episode. Rob’s mission is in critical jeopardy after Jacob discovers moist rot. Regardless of everybody’s finest efforts, no contractors can be found, and the chances of getting the restaurant as much as code earlier than the looming inspection really feel unattainable. For a second, it appears to be like like defeat is inevitable, till Rafe and the hearth crew roll in like true hometown heroes. It’s a lovely second that captures the spirit of Sullivan’s Crossing at its finest: when the stakes are excessive and hope is slipping, the group steps up. Even Cooper, as soon as icy and unreadable, begins to thaw, giving Rafe extra duty and exhibiting a aspect of himself that’s rather less rulebook, a little bit extra actual.
“Unhealthy Timing” – SULLIVAN’S CROSSING. Pictured: Andrea Menard as Edna and Morgan Kohan as Maggie. Photograph: Bell Media ©2025. All Rights Reserved. |
Elsewhere, Jacob and Lola’s budding connection takes a extra adventurous and in the end harmful flip. Their flirtation leads them into an deserted mine seeking lichen samples, however it’s clear their actual mission is one another. Their chemistry is palpable, and when Lola lastly leans in and kisses him, it feels earned and candy, till their second turns chaotic when a misstep causes the mine to partially collapse. It’s the traditional Sullivan’s Crossing twist: simply once you’re enjoyable right into a romantic beat, the earth fairly actually shifts beneath them. And with nobody realizing the place they’re, the stress going into the following episode is immense.
Rob continues to navigate the being prepared to maneuver ahead with Jane, particularly when Jane throws a wrench into issues by revealing she lately went on a date with one other man. Their dynamic is crammed with hesitation and combined indicators, however it’s clear that beneath all of it, Rob is combating loneliness and grief, making an attempt to make sense of what he desires now {that a} second likelihood would possibly really be potential. When Jane reveals she solely went on the date as a result of Rob had pulled again, he exhales a sigh of aid. This could possibly be his second likelihood at it lastly looks as if he is able to take it.
“Unhealthy Timing” – SULLIVAN’S CROSSING. Pictured: Chad Michael Murray as Cal Jones and Reid Worth as Rob. Photograph: Bell Media ©2025. All Rights Reserved. |
Nevertheless it’s Maggie’s confrontation with Walter that results in the emotional climax. A name from her stepfather reopens previous wounds and confirms what Maggie already suspects- she hasn’t simply been afraid to maneuver ahead with Cal, she’s nonetheless carrying unresolved ache from Boston. Her argument with Walter is uncooked and cathartic, and it units the stage for the fantastically intimate scene that follows, when Maggie finds Cal and admits the reality: she’s scared. He meets her honesty along with his personal, telling her he loves her and asking her to take the leap. They make love with a tenderness and vulnerability that feels utterly earned — a excessive level for the collection and a testomony to each actors’ chemistry and restraint.
“Unhealthy Timing” – SULLIVAN’S CROSSING. Pictured: Chad Michael Murray as Cal Jones. Photograph: Bell Media ©2025. All Rights Reserved. |
“Unhealthy Timing” isn’t about explosive drama, till the ultimate scene, however concerning the quieter storms between folks. Miscommunication, worry, and unresolved emotions drive the emotional undercurrent, all whereas the group’s bodily and emotional basis is being rebuilt. It’s a fantastically balanced episode: deeply character-driven, quietly romantic, and ending with a pant. This was a standout episode crammed with emotional weight, romantic payoff, and a literal cliffhanger that lands completely. Sullivan’s Crossing continues to show that small-town tales can hit exhausting.