By Connie Lee - November 14, 2024
It’s been over a decade since we’ve seen Alex Cross, James Patterson’s fictional detective, brought to life on our screens. But now, Cross, the latest iteration starring Aldis Hodge, is ringing in a new era, adding thought-provoking thrill, modernism, and a fragile balance between stability and rage, and that does the beloved book character justice. And while it may not be the most action-packed crime series we’ve gotten this year, it effectively sets itself apart from other shows and its predecessors by being smarter, slicker, and completely wicked.
Cross follows Detective Alex Cross (played by Hodge), a distinguished homicide detective and forensic psychologist who uses his special skills to delve into the darkest corners of people’s minds and understand their motivations for the atrocities they commit. As he tries to piece his and his family’s lives back together after a tragedy, he has to track down an elusive serial killer while having to confront a threat from his past.
If you’re expecting Cross to stay true to Along Came a Spider, Kiss the Girls, or any of the other Alex Cross books, it doesn’t. It’s its own story, but it has just the right amount of references to be familiar to older fans but still holds new fans’ interest without them feeling like they’re missing out on anything. This deviation was the perfect choice as it allowed creators to take risks and be more provocative while providing Hodge the space he needed to make the role his own and prove this series is not just a run-of-the-mill rehash. Because of this, though, there’s a lot going on throughout (maybe to a slight fault), but thanks to the creators’ touch and Hodge’s strong sophistication and grounded direction, everything comes together neatly and stands strong on its own.
Whether a viewer is familiar with the detective’s affinity for music or not, it’s obvious how music is a critical driver for the series. Everything from classical to karaoke hits and techno, different genres of music manipulate the plot both overtly and subtly and add weight to the characters’ motivations in ways that are unexpected.
Out of everything referenced, this had to be my favourite because music is so simple, but each piece is powerful enough to heighten our emotional experience (like with terror, redemption, panic, etc.) instead of just telling us everything.
All throughout, it seems like the series has a foot in the 1990s (when it was originally created) and in the present, balancing the portrayal of the hard work and dedication from cops while addressing the recent complexities and issues raised about officers from Black Lives Matter activists and those part of the Defund the Police movement. The series doesn’t shy away from the issues but also doesn’t really force viewers to pick a side, instead using both to create a much more thoughtful, layered narrative about the systemic challenges the characters are facing now, and have been for years. It has a lot to say and isn’t afraid to have difficult conversations with audiences and make us feel uncomfortable.
The second half is where the series’ hiccups become more noticeable, with the story and tonal directions changing quite heavy-handedly. Without giving too much away, the second half focuses on the threat from Alex’s past, and this shift doesn’t feel natural or confident. Between the rushed events and a resolution that feels more the resolution to the threat that feels more corny than satisfying, it’s as if some of the show’s mojo diminished a bit after such a strong first half. And this had me wondering if this season would have benefitted from wrapping up much sooner than it did. However, Hodge and the supporting cast make the best of these weaknesses, using their strengths to keep the dialogue and emotion authentic and tense. If anything were to come out of this second half, this is really where the supporting members prove they’re major power players in this series as much as Hodge is.
Fortunately, it doesn’t look like we’ll have to wait very long for more Cross, as a second season was already announced earlier this year. And with how juicy and well-executed the first season is, this isn’t a surprise. Creators pushed limits and took viewers on such a wild mental ride, and if the series maintains its momentum, it’ll become one of the shows I’ll keep revisiting years from now, just like the novels and older movies.
Cross is streaming now on Prime Video
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