Who plays Cal on Sullivan's Crossing season 3?
Chad Michael Murray is the guy who steps into Cal’s boots for Sullivan’s Crossing season 3—and yep, it’s just as swoon-worthy as you’d think. You say “Cal,” I say “Chad,” because honestly, after three seasons, this feels less like casting and more like a seamless brain-to-screen download of rugged charm and occasionally devastating puppy eyes. If you’re the type who watched One Tree Hill in fuzzy socks, odds are you already have a soft spot for the dude. And if not, let me paint you a scene.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DI4dZjyxYiP/
So. Cal Jones—full name California Jones, which I admit makes me snicker every time Maggie says it seriously—has always been a bit mysterious, quietly steady, running from a tragic past, looking just slightly windswept even indoors. Chad’s performance? It’s easy—it never feels “acted.” Sometimes he just leans against the cabin, watching drama unfold, and somehow, that gives more emotional punch than a two-page monologue ever could.
Honestly, I didn’t expect Cal to grow on me like this. At first, I figured he was just standard “soft-eyed handyman with secrets,” you know? I remember a friend texting me, “Is Cal just going to be hot wallpaper all season?” But Chad Michael Murray brings this subtlety to Cal, especially as his baggage starts unfolding in season 3. There’s this bit where Cal clumsily tries to help Maggie prepare for her legal battle, and he ends up mentioning his late wife Lynne—it’s one of those moments that feels too real for network TV. I found myself gawking at the screen, feeling simultaneously proud of Cal for opening up and mildly annoyed with Maggie for always hesitating when life hands her a handsome, emotionally available guy.
There’s a faint, enjoyable chaos when Chad’s Cal is in a scene. He goes from fixing broken camp pipes to patching up broken hearts without a hitch. And yeah, maybe sometimes the dialogue is so syrupy I want to yell at the TV, but when Chad does his patented “listening stare,” it’s easy to forgive—and rewatch. Some fans online keep wondering if season 3 gives Cal more screen time than previous years. I’m on the fence, but I’ll say this: when Sullivan’s Crossing gets tense, it’s almost always Cal anchoring the mood. Like that time he tried to rescue a kid from a climbing mishap—nerve-wracking! My roommate actually clenched her theater degree in horror.
