Ben Watkins collaborates with Prime Video to adapt James Patterson's celebrated literary masterpiece, introducing audiences to one of his most iconic characters in the thrilling series "Cross."
Aldis Hodge takes on the role of the titular character, a distinguished homicide detective in Washington, D.C., who also serves as a forensic psychologist. As he navigates the complexities of his demanding career, he lovingly raises his children, Damon (Caleb Elijah) and Janelle (Melody Hurd). His wise and nurturing grandmother, Regina "Nana Mama" Cross, supports him in this journey, portrayed by the talented Juanita Jennings, who plays a crucial role in helping the family thrive amidst their challenges.
Alex is developing a budding relationship with Elle Monteiro (Samantha Walkes). However, things take a dark turn when Alex and his partner, John Sampson (Isaiah Mustafa), must confront a sadistic serial killer named Ed "Fanboy" Ramsey (Ryan Egglold). Ramsey leaves a trail of bodies across the city as he poses a mysterious threat from Alex's past. This villain aims to destroy everything Alex has worked to keep together—his grieving family, career, and life.
As the son of an avid reader growing up, I was hipped to Alex Cross way before Morgan Freemen portrayed the character in 1997's "Kiss The Girls" and the 2001 sequel "Along Came A Spider." Following the lukewarm critical reception to the latter, the character was dormant on screen until Tyler Perry and director Rob Cohen tried to unsuccessfully reboot the franchise with 2012's "Alex Cross" which, despite a tremendous villainous turn by Matthew Fox and a solid attempt by Perry to step outside of the box, flopped.
As 2024 comes to a close, the character has found his footing in this series. One of the first things viewers should know going into the show is that showrunner Ben Watkins doesn't adapt an existing book for the first season's storyline but instead goes with an original plot. I respected this choice as it allowed Hodge to make the character his own.
After years of supporting work and slowly heading into the lead, Hodge is simply A1 in the lead role. Hodge brings his natural charm to the joy while never losing sight of the characteristics of Patteron's creation. I truly appreciated this take on the character because he's seen as flawed and has an organic relationship with a black love interest that builds over time. I also enjoyed his relationship with John Sampson (Isaiah Mustafa).
While some fans may take issue with Sampson's look not matching the book's description, the actor does make the character his own. As for Ryan Egglold, it was great to see him as a villain who can easily hold his own against Hodge.
If I had one issue with "Alex Cross," it would be some of the twists in the final episode, as I thought it was a bit predictable. However, a mid-credit stinger more than makes up for that. With a commanding performance by Hodge and a solid supporting cast, "Cross" is a mystery worth solving.
Final Grade: B+
All eight episodes of “Cross” premiere on Nov. 14 on Prime Video
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