Sullivan’s Crossing may have lost a key cast member, but it won’t lose the spirit that makes it the show fans know and love.

Earlier in March, Scott Patterson, who starred in the Netflix drama as Harry “Sully” Sullivan, announced he would be departing the series, which began airing in 2023, citing that “creative differences were becoming untenable” on set.

Now, his co-star Chad Michael Murray is weighing in on what the show will look like without him.

© Getty Images
Co-stars Morgan and Scott in 2024

Speaking with Yahoo Canada, Chad noted: “It does happen,” of sudden cast exits that throw fans — and creators — for a loop. “There are various, different things that transpire. You just never know.”

“So it’s one of those situations where you go, OK well, just look at the show, what is the show? Where does it sit? And how do you hold it up and keep it true to itself? And that’s all on the text and the storytelling,” he said.

At the end of season three, Scott was written out by having Sully go to Ireland to be with Helen (played by Kate Vernon), just as she planned to continue her career as a doctor by opening her own general practice.

© Michael Tompkins
Sullivan’s Crossing premiered in 2023

“There’s no question in my mind that we did that,” Chad maintained, adding: “The show stays totally true to itself, and Sully is still a big part of it. … He still exists in this world, and there’s still that relationship. And he built the Crossing, so it’s always going to be there, and that’s kind of the foundation that the show is built on.”

The season four premiere sees Maggie Sullivan (Morgan Kohan) step in for Sully, taking on the role of running the Crossing.

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“Her whole world at the beginning of the season is not what she anticipated,” Morgan also told the outlet of her character. “She’s just kind of settled in with Cal (Chad), … and then it’s really thrust on her that now, you’re taking over the Crossing, and you are fully involved, while the rest of your life is kind of thrown up in the air again. … And part of her support system is now gone too.”

Scott announced his departure from Sullivan’s Crossing in a March 5 Facebook post, writing: “Every actor knows what it’s like to fall in love with a character and a story. I fell in love with Sully and have nothing but fondness for him. The creative differences were becoming untenable and I just sadly realized that the show was not something that I could agree to continue.”

© Sullivan’s Crossing
A behind-the-scenes photo from the filming of Sullivan’s Crossing

“It’s unfortunate that it is now being implied that they moved on from me/Sully when the fact is the complete opposite, and those who sadly already have spoken out are also fully aware of this fact, and yet chose to say otherwise,” he noted.

The Gilmore Girls alum concluded: “The fans deserved better than to think the embodiment of this character, me, would just disrespect not only the show, but them. In the end, we’re all fans of these characters and stories, and I’ll always support and defend the truth.”