Season 1 - 8 episodes (2024 November 14)
Rent Cross on Amazon Video (paid link) // Buy the book (paid link)
Created by: Ben Watkins
Based on: Alex Cross by James Patterson
Starring: Aldis Hodge, Isaiah Mustafa, Juanita Jennings, Alona Tal, Samantha Walkes, Ryan Eggold
Rated: TV-MA
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Plot
Alex Cross is a complicated and brilliant Washington, D.C. homicide detective and forensic psychologist.
Verdict
This is a great show that keeps you engaged every step of the way. Alex Cross is a great character, and Aldis Hodge does an excellent job. Cross may be great at his job but he has anger issues, and he's against a villain that's committing salacious crimes. Each episode pushes character development and plot, and there's no lag or filler. It's cat and mouse between a brilliant detective and a dastardly killer. This is a great ride from start to finish with plenty of surprises and payoffs, and it ends very well. This is one of the few current shows where I'd welcome another season.
Watch It.
Review
James Patterson's book series spans thirty-three novels at this point with three movie adaptations. The first book was published in 1993 and the titles were initially taken from children's rhymes. With the twelfth book, Alex Cross's name began appearing as part of the title. This series isn't based on any one book, but taking elements from all of them. Season two was confirmed before the first season even premiered.
I really like this, it's engrossing and provides a lot of depth to the characters. Alex Cross is intriguing on his own, a cop, psychologist, pianist, and he's also grieving his wife. Aldis Hodge always has such charisma in every role, and he's outstanding here.
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| Aldis Hodge plays Alex Cross |
The opening sequence is whiplash inducing as this goes from friends watching a football game to murder with very little context. It serves to provide some background on Cross. A year later and we see how he excels at his job when he overhears an interrogation and claims the guy has already confessed. It's a scene that makes you automatically like Cross.
The investigation driving this season is the death of a political activist. The police chief wants to write it off, but Cross is certain it's a murder and challenges the chief on it. Does the police chief has ulterior motives? She wants to write off this death when they're plenty of evidence to the contrary. You'd think if she's so concerned about public perception that she'd want to do a thorough investigation.
We have a killer whose motivation is to make his victims look like notorious convicted killers. I'm not sure any reason other than crazy could explain that. The first episode covers a lot of ground and sets the stage for the rest of the season. Plenty of conversations expand on the story while leaving more to explore. Cross is chasing this mugshot killer while someone is also breaking into Cross's home. Is all of it related? This doesn't hide the identity of the killer for a reveal later. Though Cross doesn't know it, he meets the serial killer. We also have Bobby Trey (Johnny Ray Gill), a free-spirited and delightfully entertaining henchman for politically connected Ed Ramsey (Ryan Eggold).
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| Ryan Eggold plays Ed Ramsey |
Cross is always a few steps behind the killer, but he gets a lead when he finds the killer's book and thus the motivation. Despite Cross closing in, the killer is undeterred, discounting that Cross could track him. Is this killer the one messing with Cross and breaking into his house? Episode four may reveal a motive for that, but I do question the legitimacy of someone breaking into Cross's house, somehow putting a 911 recording of Cross on a karaoke machine, and guessing correctly which song would be the family finale that night. It's one of the rare times this series stretches credibility too far.
Half way into the series I wondered what was left in the story. With how much Cross knows, episode three felt like the lead in to a finale. Cross knows the killer's identity and is even headed to his home under the guise of a party. It's a chance to snoop around and interrogate the killer. Cross is caught while snooping around, and the conversation between Cross and the killer is intense. Cross is goaded into revealing his profile on the killer, and it turns out that Ramsey and Cross have a history. They both push each other's buttons. Episode five is nothing short of intense.
Cross is a brilliant cop with a temper and a past. That's hurdle in the case, but that doesn't stop him from investigating. He'll go to any length to put this case down, but the killer is always willing to spare no expense to achieve his desired end result. Throughout the series we've seen the killer's victim fight every step of the way. I have to imagine all his other victim's fought too. This one is seemingly the first to fight back because it helps expand the narrative. We also see how the killer has gotten this far, he's incredibly manipulative.
This show keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time. It's such a ride, and I really like that this has two crimes occurring simultaneously. We wonder if whoever is terrorizing Cross and his family is related to the serial killer Cross is chasing. With revealing the killer so early, we get this back and forth between them. Both characters are done well and played by more than competent actors. We also have Cross's partner Sampson (Isaiah Mustafa) who is a great wing man that calls Cross out as needed. The standout supporting character is definitely Bobby Trey. He's scary and funny every time.
I can't wait for next season. This was a great ride and it has a great ending that's very fitting. With so much source material, this has plenty from which to draw
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