CROSS – Something For Book Fans & New Fans

Cross Season 1 is now available to watch on Prime Video, as a fan of the books I had to take a look at the first.

The show’s tone is pretty dark both when we see the killer’s process and when we’re with Alex. We know Alex is a good man but he is haunted, still struggling with the murder of his wife. A lot of that is that they were clearly very much in love and Cross is definitely a family man.

There is a part of him though that remains angry that he hasn’t been able to find and punish the person responsible. We get a hint from the ongoing argument with John that the reckoning with the person should it happen might not end with handcuffs.

I have to declare that I’m somewhat of a fan of the Alex Cross novels, I’ve probably read a dozen of the books so far. Book fans will know that Alex goes through several stages throughout the books. I might be wrong with the order but the stages were:

• Detective with John as his partner
• FBI agent/profiler
• Psychiatrist with patients
• Back to detective with John

Policing

I am glad that the show at least decided to talk about how different things are for the police now than back in 1993 when the first Cross novel debuted. It was an interesting way to frame it though with the dinner party fight and the age-old argument – Who do you call when you are in danger? I wonder if people will understand that juxtaposed with the fact that our first victim is considered nothing more than a criminal despite all the issues Alex brings up. This is just the first episode so I am sure we will examining this throughout the season.

Family

It is great to see Alex at home with his family and the legend that is Nana Mama. If you haven’t read the books you are in for a treat if they give her enough time on camera. She is the moral centre of the books and the family. It is weird seeing the kids so young as I’ve read enough of the books that Damon has started college.

Overall the show feels like it stays very true to the source material while updating the origins and setting. I am looking forward to making my way through the season.

Cast

It is good to see Aldis Hodges front and centre in a major role like this. Especially after that false start in Black Adam. The show has already been renewed for a season two and hopefully it can go the way of Reacher and gain a substantial following. Seeing Isaiah Mustafa in this role is great I remember him as the Old Spice Guy then as a guest star on Nikita and finally his run on Shadowhunters.

Cross stars Aldis Hodge, Isaiah Mustafa, Alona Tal, Samantha Walkes, Juanita Jennings, Caleb Elijah, Melody Hurd, Jennifer Wigmore, Eloise Mumford and Ryan Eggold. Amazon MGM Studios, Paramount Television Studios and Skydance Television are producers on the project.

Check out an interview here with stars Aldis Hodge and Isaiah Mustafa with the Movie Podcast