There’s no doubt thatGilmore Girlswas Scott Patterson’s star-making show, but he’s just as good inSullivan’s Crossing, and his two roles are similar in the best way possible. Patterson is one of the main actors in theSullivan’s Crossingcast, and he plays Harry “Sully” Sullivan.
Sullivan’s Crossingis based on the novel series by Robyn Carr (who also wrote theVirgin Riverbooks), and centers on Maggie Sullivan (Morgan Kohan), a neurosurgeon who flees to her hometown in Nova Scotia following workplace legal troubles. There, she finds unexpected romance with former lawyer, Cal Jones (Chad Michael Murray), and reconnects with her estranged father, Patterson’s Sully.
The romantic drama series first premiered on Canada’s CTV in March 2023, before making a splash in the US when it was released on the CW seven months later. It continues to be a hugely popular series, withSullivan’s Crossingseason 4set to premiere in 2026. But if that date sounds far away, you should definitely check out Patterson’s OG cozy series,Gilmore Girls.
Gilmore Girls' Luke Is Similar To Scott Patterson’s Sullivan’s Crossing Character
InSullivan’s Crossing, Sully definitely isn’t a ray of sunshine, but beneath his gruff exterior is an incredibly kind man with a big heart. This definitely sounds like Patterson’s curmudgeonly diner owner character, Luke Danes, inGilmore Girls.
Sully prides himself on being a simple guy, and is one of severalSullivan’s Crossingcharacters who doesn’t own a cell phone. He’d certainly be right at home in Luke’s Diner, as Luke has a strict no-cell phones policy. Luke also hates small talk, change of any kind, and rarely likes to open up about his feelings.
But, like Sully, Luke is one of the kindest souls in his town.Luke’s relationship with Lorelaisees him doing anything and everything to make her happy, though his generosity is not just limited to the love of his life, as Luke is the ultimate father figure to Lorelai’s daughter Rory — certainly more than her biological dad, Christopher.
When Maggie comes back into Sully’s life, the time they’ve lost becomes very apparent to him, and Luke feels similarly when he first meets his daughter, April. Of course, Luke was never estranged from April, as for 12 years he never knew she existed, but he’s determined to be there for her.
Patterson definitely set the bar for playing small-town grumps who are secretly big softies. While Luke may not have as dark a past as Sully, they’re definitely cut from the same cloth, and it’s easy to imagine these two going fishing together.
Luke Is An Integral Part Of Gilmore Girls' Smalltown Setting
Sully may not be enthusiastic about much, but he wears his love for his town of Timberlake, Nova Scotia, on his sleeve. Smalltown living and community are the beating heart ofSullivan’s Crossing, which is what makes it such a cozy show.
Meanwhile, Patterson’sGilmore Girlsis considered the gold standard of cozy series, and is so warm and inviting that it’s aTV show you can’t watch just once. RewatchingGilmore Girlsfeels like coming home, and many fans wish the show’s setting of Stars Hollow, Connecticut, were a real place thanks to its folksy charm.
Luke Danes may not be an active participant inStars Hollow’s many town festivals, but he prides himself on being a pillar of the community he was born and raised in, attending every town meeting. Like the Sullivan’s Crossing campground in Timberlake, Luke’s Diner is a fixture of Stars Hollow — and Luke wouldn’t have it any other way.
Complicated Family Relationships Are At The Heart Of Both Sullivan’s Crossing & Gilmore Girls
Much of the drama inSullivan’s Crossingstems from Maggie and Sully’s fractured relationship, and it wouldn’t be nearly as effective without Kohan and Patterson’s committed performances. Of course, Patterson was more than equipped for the role, asGilmore Girlsis all about tumultuous family units.
Lorelai and Rory’s mother-daughter relationship inGilmore Girlscouldn’t be more different than what Sully has with Maggie, but, like theSullivan’s Crossingprotagonist, Lorelai also has parental trauma. She may not be as estranged from her parents as Maggie is from Sully at the start of the show, but Lorelai initially wants little to do with Richard and Emily Gilmore.
Luke Danes isn’t at the heart ofGilmore Girls' central family conflict, but he’s still got complications of his own, which come to the surface in a major way when his rebellious nephew Jess comes to live with him in season 2. Their dynamic is much more comedic than what we see inSullivan’s Crossing, but there’s still real tension there.
Ultimately, both Luke and Sully are flawed yet loving humans who just want to do the right thing, and Patterson’s committed performances makeGilmore GirlsandSullivan’s Crossingexcellent shows.
Gilmore Girls
Cast
In the fictional town of Star’s Hollow, single mother Lorelai Gilmore raises her high-achieving teenage daughter Rory. Mother and daughter rely on each other throughout their own life changes, romantic entanglements, and friendships.
Sullivan’s Crossing
Sullivan’s Crossing follows neurosurgeon Maggie Sullivan as she returns to her hometown after personal and professional upheavals. In her journey to reconcile with her present challenges, she confronts a difficult past she had long evaded, framing a story of introspection and emotional growth.
