Aldis Hodge Has Perfected James Patterson’s Alex Cross In Prime Video Series
If you had any doubts about Cross on Prime Video, let me banish them now. This is a series unlike anything I’ve seen before — and it’s perfect from beginning to end, in every way. Creator Ben Watkins and actor Aldis Hodge bring James Patterson’s Alex Cross to the screen in a way we haven’t experienced before, and it is pure gold.
If you’re tired of superhero stories, don’t worry. This isn’t another tale about a man who rises above a tough past to become a noble hero. This isn’t even a story about a superhero. Cross is like any one of us. You’ll see him in yourself, in others, in the world around you. We meet him at one of his darkest moments. Here, he’s a man madly in love, building a life with his soulmate. They have that kind of relationship that makes you want to hate them, but really, you’re just a bit jealous. Surrounded by a strong community, he’s on top of the world. But moments after we first meet him in this blissful, hopeful state, he loses his love. And this is where our story with Alex Cross begins — with instant tragedy.
Cross is struggling to hold on, but, as the father of two young kids, he’s fighting to pull himself together to build a home for them. Of course, he isn’t doing it alone, but it’s not what he planned and that serves as a constant reminder of his pain. He has the support of his grandmother Nana Mama, played by the elegant and graceful Juanita Jennings. At work, where he faces some of the world’s harshest realities, he has his best friend and strongest ally John Sampson (Isaiah Mustafa) by his side. Their relationship is also one of the toughest for Cross because Sampson holds him accountable, constantly showing him the pain he tries to ignore. Mustafa and Hodge bring an effortless, authentic friendship to the screen, giving us a reflection of the kind of community many of us recognize in our own lives.
One of the things that will resonate with audiences most about this show is its willingness to dive head-first into the uncomfortable. Creator Watkins doesn’t just place these characters in Washington, D.C. and let it sit in the background; the city is front and center. From language to community, culture, and food — they even visit Ben’s Chili Bowl — the city plays a vital role in the unfolding mysteries. Cross and Sampson are an electric duo, but let’s be honest about one thing: they are Black men who are detectives and that mix can be explosive, both within their personal lives and in the community. We see this right from their first case, the murder of an ex-con-turned-activist. The department assigns Cross to the case, but he doesn’t want to be a pawn in their political game. Still, he knows that even if they try to use him, he won’t let himself be played. Cross and Sampson fight to make sure their community is heard, that their stories aren’t just buried. Yet, their community sees them as sellouts, not realizing the inner battles they’re fighting, while Chief Anderson is eager to spin any story to make their PR issues disappear. And if that’s not heavy enough, Cross’s personal life takes us even deeper into the mix of raw, conflicting emotions.
Enter Samantha Walkes as Elle Monteiro, a bold, powerful Black woman and Cross’s new love interest. She’s navigating a complicated relationship with a man still in mourning. You may wonder, why go through it? Well, Cross may be grieving and in pain, but, in every way, he’s a man worth loving. Blending their worlds is difficult as Cross’s dark work and internal struggles bleed into many of his relationships, especially with his children. Seeing him as a single dad, it’s empowering, but the real story lies in his journey to recognize how his pain affects his home life in ways he doesn’t fully realize. As much as Cross is a protector, the chaos of his life — including his family’s stalker tormenting them with reminders of his wife’s murder — brings disorder into his home. In Cross, no stone is left unturned.
Cross is exactly what we needed on television. Aldis Hodge is the perfect Alex Cross and the cast is phenomenal, bringing so many different perspectives to life. The psychological elements keep the show thrilling, and if Cross and Sampson aren’t everyone’s favorite brotherly duo by the end, I’ll start to question what more anyone could ask for. Ben Watkins has handled these characters brilliantly, creating a Black-led series that reflects a range of Black experiences, coming together perfectly until that final, cathartic release. Cross has immense potential and there’s no doubt that audiences will fall in love with these characters. This is exactly how James Patterson’s Alex Cross was meant to come alive.
Cross is now streaming on Prime Video.
