Cross Season 2 Review

Cross (2024-)

Season 2 - 8 episodes (2026)
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, Jeanine Mason, Wes Chatham, Johnny Ray Gill , Matthew Lilliard
Rated: TV-MA
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Plot
Alex Cross is a complicated and brilliant Washington, D.C. homicide detective and forensic psychologist.

In the second season, Cross and FBI agent Kayla Craig track a ruthless vigilante named Luz who is systematically executing corrupt, ultra-wealthy billionaires involved in human and child trafficking rings. 

Verdict
This is such an engrossing series. This season is especially relevant, focusing on the rich and powerful getting away with numerous crimes on their way to the top. The law can't and won't stop them. Initially, Cross is trying to stop a vigilante, but we soon see that street justice pales in comparison to what the CEO of a food processing company has done. Of course Alex Cross is at the center of it, threading the line of doing his duty and what's right. Justice isn't always easy. I like this season more than the first due to the focus. A rich CEO killing thousands of poor people isn't a problem; a poor person killing one rich CEO is a big deal. That's what this season explores.
Watch It.

Review
James Patterson's book series spans thirty-three novels at this point with three movie adaptations. This series isn't based on any one book, but taking elements from all of them.

In season 1, Alex Cross (Aldis Hodge) is a cop, psychologist, pianist, and he's grieving his wife. The investigation driving the first season is the death of a political activist. The police chief wants to write it off, but Cross is certain it's the work of a serial killer whose motivation is to make his victims look like notorious convicted killers. Simultaneously, someone is breaking into Cross's home. Is all of it related? The home invasion sub-plot stretches credibility as the culprit continues to torture Cross with increasingly complicated methods.
Cross meets the mugshot killer half way into the season, and that's intense. Of course Cross eventually stops him while also framing someone else for the crimes so the killer gets none of the credit he desperately desired.

E1: Aldis Hodge plays Alex Cross

Season two has everything I liked about the first season and and an even better plot, beginning with a topical murder case involving the rich and elite. It's probably more fact than faction. You don't get to the top without casualties. Another rich CEO has been threatened as the next target, Lance Durand (Matthew Lillard). Durand is incredibly smug. He wants to change the world and end hunger, having developed a resilient seed that will grow anywhere. He ignores the crimes he's committed to get to the top that are antithetical to the mission he's now preaching. The versatile and charming Alex Cross, along with FBI agent Kayla Craig (Alona Tal) are tasked with finding the person after Durand.

Our first introduction to Cross this season has him speaking at a commencement ceremony, telling the police cadets he represents the best and worst of them. He's received many accommodations, but he also beat an innocent man while on the job. It's a difficult career that requires your best every day. You can't put it on pause.

In the first episode Lux (Jeanine Mason) and Donnie (Wes Chatham) kill a man involved in a sex trafficking ring, freeing the women in the process. In episode two, their complex plan involves gaining access to a safe deposit box. We're not quite sure on the plan's specifics until it's happening. They're on a quest for vengeance, but the details aren't revealed until later. We think Lux is using an innocent couple to gain access to the bank, but there's more to that story.

E3: Wes Chatham, Jeanine Mason play Donnie, Luz

Cross discovers Durand is lying to them. He was sent a warning and claimed to know nothing about it. He did but decided to waste their time and try to hide his misdeeds. Cross is tracking "John Ramos" as a potential suspect in Durand's case, but this early in the season that has to be misdirection.

Elle (Samantha Walkes) broke up with Cross in the first season, but she still attends family brunches and leads him on only to say she can't be involved in his life due to the inherent danger of chasing killers. Either she's in or not, and she's trying to have it both ways. Meanwhile Kayla is mixed up in some kind of former military operation, Operation Bad Religion. To cover up her involvement she releases Bobby Trey (Johnny Ray Gil) to get answers and erase any trace of her connections. He's a wildcard and a fun character.

In episode three, Cross has found "John Ramos", but a DHS agent makes a mess of that. It seems just a bit suspect. Luz and "Ramos" are after Durand's company Crestbrook. "Ramos" tried to use the courts to hold Durand accountable for the crimes, but after finding Luz, he believes her vigilante justice is the only answer. While Durand claims to be solving world hunger, he's using illegal workers and even children so he can pay them next to nothing while they die in unsafe conditions. It's not just about solving a crisis, Durand wants to get rich in the process. He's got people in all levels of government working for him and helping him conceal crimes.

E4: Aldis Hodge, Alona Tal play Alex Cross, Kayla Craig

As details emerge about Crestbrook, Durand tries hard to spin. He claims while he had no idea illegal workers were employed, which is a complete joke, he also wants to take full responsibility by side stepping the issue. It sounds too close to reality unfortunately. Durand uses the press to tout his new Prosperity Seed and the need for it. Illegal workers came to America because of hunger, and he can fix that. Durand is so arrogant, unlikable, and despicable. Alex Cross tells Durand he'll do his job and find the person trying to kill him, but after that Cross is coming for Durand. Even Cross understand why Luz has it out for Durand. He's defending his actions as a mission to save the world, but he's destroying communities to reach that point.

It seems the argument Cross and Elle had about her not wanting to be with him but wanting to be part of his family was contrived so we could get this moment later in the season when Cross's daughter doesn't understand why Elle is rejecting Cross.

The core of this season is that rich people lie, cheat, and steal to gain power and money. Many times that's under the guise of something noble like Durand's quest to solve hunger. This isn't an isolated event. They protect each other, and CEOs have to be ruthless to get to and then stay at the top. They conquer the weak. What's chilling is that what this season portrays is closer to reality than we'd like to believe. Luz wants Durand to answer for the people he's killed.

In the final episode, the FBI want to cover up Durand's crimes and protect his Prosperity Seed as a means to boost America's image and in essence let him go without consequences. When the FBI asks Cross to turn over the proof of Durand's crimes, you know they're going to delete it. The rich don't face consequences, and Lux's vigilante justice is the only way to make that happen. Otherwise they're protected by other rich and important people. Working together nets them more power, money, and influence. Durand has the FBI working for him.

E8: Matthew Lilliard plays Lance Durand

Alex can't let this miscarriage of justice happen. He takes the evidence and runs while the FBI try to stop him from revealing the truth. Alex manages to release the truth in a way that absolves him of the FBI's trumped up charges against him. This season shows why it's so difficult to force powerful people to face justice. Their reach is enormous. Not many cops would sacrifice their entire lives to bring someone like Durand down. The consequences and repercussions are just too great. It's easier to ride the wealthy's coat tails and accept a bribe. Doing the right thing is incredibly difficult. There are more people covering up than exposing the truth. The odds are never in favor of the truth coming out as there is always someone willing to take a paycheck and do whatever is required.

While Cross gets to ride off into the sunset, it's not quite like I expected. I look forward to next season which has already been confirmed.