Lola’s Dark Secrets Unveiled: Can She Find Redemption in Sullivan’s Crossing?

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In Season 1 of Sullivan’s Crossing, we meet Lola Gunderson (played by Amalia Williamson), who would eventually become the show’s most contentious figure. The main focus of this critically acclaimed Canadian family drama revolves around Dr. Maggie Sullivan (portrayed by Morgan Kohan), a renowned Boston neurosurgeon. After her professional reputation was damaged due to a fraudulent billing scandal involving her business partner, she opted for a fresh start in her small-town hometown in Nova Scotia. However, this wasn’t exactly a warm welcome back for Maggie, as some townspeople (including her father, Sully) still harbored resentment over her abrupt departure and close connections to pursue a better career.

Upon Maggie’s return, a new acquaintance emerged in the form of Lola. However, she didn’t fully grasp how her relationship with Sully would influence her down the line. The initial episode hinted at tension between Maggie and Lola, a conflict that was delved into more deeply across Seasons 1 and 2.

Just now, Seasons 1 and 2 of Sullivan’s Crossing became available on Netflix U.S., on July 8, 2025. This show is currently ranked second among TV series. The cast includes Morgan Kohan, Chad Michael Murray, Tom Jackson, Scott Patterson, and Andrea Menard.

Who Is Lola In Sullivan’s Crossing? Her Shady Actions Explained 

In Episode 3 of Season 1, Sullivan Crossing unveiled the true identity of Lola Gunderson – she is Sully’s stepdaughter. This revelation clarifies why Maggie harbors animosity towards Lola; she resented that Sully (portrayed by Scott Patterson, who had a surprising departure in Season 2 of Sullivan’s Crossing) seemed to favor Lola over her as a daughter.

In Maggie’s absence, Lola took over assisting Sully in managing the campground. This arrangement further upset Maggie as Sully showed increased kindness towards Lola, and even loaned money to help Lola’s struggling grandfather install handrails (despite Sully’s own financial difficulties).

During the first season of “Sullivan’s Crossing,” Maggie made every effort to mend her relationship with her dad. For those who might not know, Sully was deeply hurt when Maggie decided to relocate to Boston for her career and to live with her mom, leaving him feeling isolated in the small town. Things weren’t any easier due to Lola seeming to fill the role of daughter that Maggie had left behind in their father-daughter relationship.

So, why did Lola initially come into Sullivan’s care? The story “Sullivan’s Crossing” tells us that Sully felt remorseful because he unintentionally struck Lola with his vehicle while she was on a bike. This unfortunate incident occurred as Sully was pursuing Maggie who had decided to depart suddenly, taking her belongings along.

In Season 1, Lola found herself engaging in underhanded activities towards Maggie, as she suspected that Maggie was actually Sully’s biological daughter, intending to replace her permanently. Some of the dubious actions she took were withholding a letter Cal wrote for Maggie at the end of Season 1 (he had left town to keep his promise to his deceased wife) because Lola secretly admired Cal and didn’t want Maggie to be with him, and frequently making unnecessary and harsh remarks towards Maggie during their conversations.

The act of concealing Cal’s letter served as a decisive moment in Lola’s impulsive behavior, driven by her strong longing to take Cal from Maggie, which represented an act of retribution towards her.

Or:

Lola’s decision to hide Cal’s letter was the key factor that sparked her reckless actions, stemming from a deep-seated desire for revenge against Maggie and a wish to seize Cal for herself.

Although Lola doesn’t fit the stereotype of a classic villain, her actions towards Maggie have sparked controversy, leading some to view her as complex and challenging. However, beneath this facade lies a character who yearns deeply for affection and attention from those she holds dear, making her more misunderstood than malicious in her actions.

Read more about why Maggie was arrested in Sullivan’s Crossing Season 1. 

How Sullivan’s Crossing Season 3 Redeemed Lola 

In the finale of Sullivan’s Crossing Season 2, Sully admitted the truth to Lola regarding the past incident. He confessed that he had struck her as a child, and this unfortunate event occurred because he was under the influence of alcohol at the time.

Lola had been extremely angry with Sully due to his years of deceit, and she firmly stated that she wanted nothing more to do with him. But upon returning to the location of the accident in Season 3, Lola discovered it wasn’t Sully’s vehicle that struck her, which eventually led to their reconciliation.

Lola and Sully making up led to a turning point for her, paving the way for her to find redemption. Ultimately, Lola managed to find some shared understanding with Maggie, thus putting an end to their growing feud.

Witnessing Lola’s personal development following her questionable deeds significantly changed her character, as she gained a fresh outlook on life that led her to renounce her adversarial behavior.

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2025-07-11 22:04