‘Cross’ Season 2 Makers Reveal What To Expect From The Upcoming Series, ‘It’s About Vigilantism..’

The opening scene of Cross clearly establishes that the storm detective ‘Alex Cross’ and his childhood best friend and fellow detective, ‘John Sampson’, are going to face in Season 2. The Prime Video series is based on the bestselling novel by the author, James Patterson. The duo will be facing a new kind of villain in the upcoming show, and it seems like the makers have ripped it straight from the headlines following the Epstein files, which follows the s*x trafficking plot that was actually written back in 2022/2023. Warning: Spoilers ahead!

The violent rescue that sets Season 2 into motion

Cross Season 2 opens with viewers meeting ‘Luz’, who has sneaked onto a boat bound for a remote island. ‘Luz’ has disguised herself as a liquor delivery person for the wealthy businessman, ‘Richard Helvig’. While her accomplice, ‘Donnie’ contacts ‘Helvig’s’ staff, she slips away and heads to the mansion. However, what she found inside was not something she was prepared for. Inside the house, ‘Helvig’ is hosting a disturbing party with powerful men, exploiting women. 

‘Luz’ sneaks into ‘Helvig’s’ private studio, where she interrupts him as he was about to harm a restrained woman. She holds the businessman at gunpoint and forces the woman free. ‘Luz’ further forces ‘Richard Helvig’ to transfer his money, making it clear she intends to make him pay. On the other hand, ‘Donnie’ rounds up the men involved in the party and forces the women to leave before setting the room on fire. The opening plot ends with ‘Luz’ and ‘Donnie’ escaping by boat with the rescued women, delivering them to safety.

Exploring the central question of justice vs the law

We further follow the storyline of Season 1, homicide detective and forensic psychologist, ‘Alex Cross’, who has had to chase down a serial killer making threats to his family. However, this time things will unravel a little differently. Sharing some insights on the same Cross creator, writer, showrunner, and actor, Ben Watkins told The Hollywood Reporter that the three-episode season premiere will highlight how things will be different this time around. He stated:

“There’s this question about what’s the difference between the law and justice? And, what do you do when it doesn’t seem like the law is serving justice? The second season is about vigilantism, and when it slips into vengeance, how far is too far? You might be rooting for somebody because you agree with why they are doing something, but eventually they might cross a line, and you find yourself rooting for a monster.”

A personal reckoning for ‘John Sampson’

However, that is not the only storyline we’ll be following in Cross Season 2. There will be a crossover in themes from Season 1, including one of the most intense moments coming in the middle of the Season 2 premiere, and it has everything to do with ‘John Sampson’. Harrow is about ‘LaDonna DuVernay’, who was being charged for murder but claimed she was innocent and would only share the details with ‘John’.

However, when ‘John’ finally arrived, ‘LaDonna’ dropped a massive bombshell, saying she was his mother. It’s revealed that she left him when he was a little boy. The scene hits harder for Isaiah Mustafa, who plays the role, as he tells The Hollywood Reporter:

“I grew up without a father in the house for the majority of the time. So that was an easy place to go to. But there is something about the connection between a son and his mother that is a little deeper, and it seems to resonate more. That is something I had to find. And it was, honestly, something where I had to dig deep and put myself in that situation. Where would I be if this were happening and I had to put some trust into somebody who abandoned me at one point in time?”

Policing the community from the inside out

Another subplot in the season will explore the relationship between two Black cops who have come from the same community that they now have to look over. However, it is a tender space, given the negative history the Black community has had. Nonetheless, Aldis Hodge believes that Black officers like ‘Alex’ and ‘John’ have a better chance of building positive relationships with the community.

Aldis continued his conversation with THR, saying he has also had some not-so-great encounters with the police, which shaped his views of them. However, he also knew that the officers in his community treated others with kindness and gave them a fair chance. He added that’s what they aim to show through ‘Alex’ and ‘John’, as they too understand the responsibility and carry it with empathy.

The legacy of ‘Alex Cross’

‘Alex Cross’ first appeared in the book by James Patterson more than three decades ago. Reflecting on the character’s legacy, the author told THR that he was delighted when the makers decided to bring him to life. However, what he loved even more was how they interpreted the role. However, with over 30 publications that mention ‘Alex’, James clarified that fans should not assume the Prime Video series is an extension of his novels. He was quoted as saying:

“The novels started a long time ago. What I like about this series is that it’s more realistic about what happens with a cop in Washington these days. I love how Alex and Ben have made the character more complex, more conflicted.”

The makers bring originality to the modern-day audience

Ben Watkins further shared that he and James Patterson have agreed not to base the series solely on the book. He asserted that they are aware of their responsibility to the script and want fans of the book to tune in and see their favourite characters come to life, but the series is more of an homage to the novel series than an adaptation. He said, “The stories are going to be original. He was open to that and encouraged it because [he understood] if I can do original stories, I can actually tap into how we feel today and what is happening today.” He concluded by calling the series an extra gift for fans.

Are you excited for Cross Season 2? Let us know.

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