Behind this incredible show that has won the hearts of millions of viewers, is a dedicated and passionate showrunner, Roma Roth, whose journey into television has been marked by a dedication to storytelling that resonates on a deep emotional level. Her previous success with Virgin River established her as a creator capable of crafting compelling narratives that capture the hearts of audiences. With Sullivan's Crossing, Roth continues to explore themes of homecoming, personal growth, and emotional authenticity, bringing her vision to life with a cast that embodies the essence of their characters.
In every aspect of Sullivan's Crossing, from its inception to its heartfelt performances, Roth’s passion and care for the show shine through, promising viewers an emotionally rich and engaging experience. As US fans get set to tune in to season two, we sat down with Roth to get a behind the scenes look at the process that brought the show to life. With a heartfelt dedication to storytelling, Roth's passion for the show is palpable.
When asked about the inspiration behind creating Sullivan’s Crossing, Roth shared, "It’s based on a book series and I had an existing relationship with Robin Carr who I did Virgin River with, and I really enjoy creating shows that move people and touch them in an emotional way. I was looking specifically to follow up Virgin River with a show that would be successful, but was a Canadian content show - filmed in Canada as Canada and so that was kind of the initial inspiration in addition to having a great novel series to work with. I also loved the idea of going back home as a theme for a show because Virgin River is the opposite, it's a show about a fish out of water and I really liked the idea of taking that kind of genre and then kind of flipping it.”
Casting the Perfect Ensemble
The cast of Sullivan's Crossing is nothing short of perfection, each actor seamlessly embodying their characters with a depth and authenticity that brings the story to life. The impeccably selected ensemble not only fits their roles perfectly, but also shares a palpable chemistry that elevates the show. Roth detailed the meticulous casting process, "I had a vision in my head of who the characters would be, what they would look like, what they would feel like. Obviously, we were casting a lead from Canada. I wanted somebody who would kind of embody the idea of a neurosurgeon but also have the kind of the personality that would work for a neurosurgeon but also would have some warmth and be a wonderful leading lady and Morgan Kohan was sensational in the audition.”
Roth further detailed Morgan Kohan’s audition, “I did spend a lot of time looking for the right fit, and we did a wonderful read with Morgan and she blew it out of the water, which was nice. It really kind of felt like there was Maggie Sullivan. So that was an easy, easy choice. Then it came down to who's going to be her love interest and there's not that many people that are leading male material that would have the kind of ruggedness and sexiness as well as having that ‘the man that we all would love to date’ quality.” Roth couldn't have chosen a better actor to embody Cal Jones than Chad Michael Murray. Fortunately, Murray fell in love with the show's content, making him a perfect fit. Roth recounted the casting process:, “I remembered him from a couple of different shows and reached out and he was available and we did a wonderful call and there was just a lot of synergy between us on that call and he fell in love with the material and the character and that was how we cast Chad.”
As for Scott Patterson's impeccable portrayal of the lovable Sully Sullivan, Roth explained the serendipitous casting: “then it came down to, where do you find a lovable curmudgeon? There are not that many. They're either curmudgeons or they're lovable. But the lovable curmudgeon combination is kind of a difficult position to fill. I was walking by my living room and my daughter was watching Gilmore Girls. She was about 13 at the time, and I looked over and I saw Scott Patterson and I thought, oh my god, he could be the right age, and I ran to my computer and I contacted his manager, Lee Brillstein, and he was available and interested and the rest is history.”
Morgan Kohan's Stellar Performance as Maggie Sullivan
Morgan Kohan shines as Maggie, capturing the nuanced emotions of a neurosurgeon returning to her roots with an effortless blend of strength and vulnerability. Discussing Morgan Kohan's emotional range and character growth, Roth praised, "She's totally sensational. She can literally cry on cue. She really goes there. I don't know what she's drawing from. She doesn't strike me as someone who's gone through a terrible time. You can see her processes as she's getting into it and she really goes there. That was what solidified my choice of making her the lead because she really could bring that. I mean, we're trying to find ways to write more smiley stuff for her too because season 1 had a lot of drama, so we're going to try and balance that out moving forward. She can go very quickly from happy go lucky to crying her eyes out within a second. She's so talented, that's for sure."
Balancing Romance and Tension
The "will they, won't they" dynamic between Cal and Maggie keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. Their undeniable chemistry is balanced with just the right amount of tension and unspoken longing, creating a captivating and emotionally charged storyline. As they navigate personal challenges and unexpected obstacles, fans are left eagerly anticipating each moment they share, hoping for their romance to finally blossom. Roth addressed the delicate balance of romance and tension between Maggie and Cal. "You're always walking on that tightrope of unrequited love versus requited love and bringing them together. And once you bring them together, then you've got to find ways, usually, to try and keep them apart or to add obstacles because at the end of the day, if everything is perfect, you really don't have a drama anymore. I do look at the notes that people write online or in reviews and I could tell that people were starting to go, ‘wait, we want to see them get together.’ You have to carefully walk that line because you don't want people to feel that they're not getting that emotional fix that they need with regards to unrequited love.”
Exploring Family Dynamics
The central relationship between Maggie and Sully is another focal point of the series. Roth explained, “In the first season, they obviously didn't have an opportunity to resolve the issue as to why Sully didn't come back for Maggie, which is kind of how we left things at the end of season one. And whether or not that does get resolved or not really depends on what happens in season two.”
Crafting Emotional and Dramatic Scenes
The emotional and dramatic scenes in Sullivan's Crossing are the heart and soul of the show, delivering powerful storytelling that resonates deeply with viewers. These moments, crafted with authenticity and raw emotion, showcase the characters' vulnerabilities and triumphs, drawing audiences into their personal journeys. On writing emotional and dramatic scenes, Roth shared insights into the writers' room process. "We arc out the season in advance, so we kind of know where we're heading. We know what the journeys of the characters are and we like to try and have all of the characters' journeys interconnect, at least thematically, with what's going on with our lead character, Maggie. I draw a lot from personal experience in order to make sure that it's authentic. You want to be able to write what you know. I want the writing to resonate with people and feel real. Then we try and figure out where we are going with the writing, both from a positive side, like, what are those lovely moments that you would have between Cal and Maggie or the painful moments that you would have between Sully and Maggie, and what kind of drama you can weave in, in order to give them as much of an arc as possible.”
Core Themes of Sullivan’s Crossing
The core message of Sullivan's Crossing, according to Roth, is deeply personal and universal. "The main theme for the show is the longest road you'll ever have to travel is the path from your head to your heart. I think that we all go through life setting goals for ourselves. Some of those goals are maybe driven by the way other people look at you or the way you'd like other people to look at you. Sometimes we stray off of a path that we're meant to be on, because we're trying to get approval from other people and we're not really connecting anymore with who we are as a person. So I think the real message that will resonate with the audience is, you need to figure out what makes you happy and not everything that you think makes you happy, is actually what's going to make you happy. You have to reevaluate and figure out who you are at your core and what you're going to do in order to stay on the right path. I think there's another theme as well, which is that life sometimes throws you curveballs and they can feel like obstacles that are insurmountable, but eventually, you'll realize that they're actually life helping to redirect you onto your path of happiness.”
Season Two Sneak Peek
Without revealing too much, Roth teased what fans can expect in season two. "There will be a lot of twists, a lot of turns, a lot of tears, and a lot of laughter."
American viewers can catch the second season of Sullivan’s Crossing on The CW, premiering on October 2nd.
