The reviews for the new 
Prime Video series, Cross, are now in, with both critics and audiences building their cases and establishing whether the crime thriller series folds under investigation…or if it’s the new Reacher. Based on James Paterson’s bestselling “Alex Cross” novels, the main character uses forensic psychology to delve into the psyches of killers, identify the culprits, and bring murderers to justice. Cross stars Aldis Hodge (One Night in Miami, The Invisible Man) and Isaiah Mustafa (Boy Kills World, It: Chapter 2), and premiered on Thursday, November 14.
The series has now garnered a 70% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and 69% on the Popcornmeter on Rotten Tomatoes. Reviews seem evenly mixed, with many praising the story and the central performance. MovieWeb’s Greg Archer wrote viewers, “be prepared for fun.”
“Prepare for fun. Be surprised by the plot twists. Enjoy Aldis Hodge every step of the way in a commanding portrayal of a man at odds with work and himself. And here’s to a third season order. It would be nice to have Alex Cross around for a while.”
Aramide Tinubu of Variety said:
“With Hodge at the center and Watkins at the helm,
Cross
is a crime drama boasting several astonishing curveballs. A detective story at its core, the series gracefully addresses the anguish of grief, toxic masculinity and the pitfalls of obsessions.”
Meanwhile, Grant Hermanns of Screen Rant declares the series “the best incarnation of the James Patterson character.”
“Prime Video’s Cross show is not only the best incarnation of the James Patterson character, but keeps the streamer’s adaptation win streak alive.”
How Does Cross Compare To Hit Thriller Shows Reacher & The Night Agent?
However, not all the reviewers were so flattering. Others found the series uninspired compared to other shows airing recently. Eric Deggans with NPR gave the series a less than fresh review, saying, “This is an unfortunate pattern that hobbles Cross; great character work undone by terrible plotting or ham-handed writing,” while Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter calls the series “frustratingly trashy” but concludes that Cross is “absolutely destined to be a hit.” Collider’s Nate Richard, though, recommended the series to crime drama fans looking for a new show in the vein of Reacher and The Night Agent.
“For those looking for another action-crime series to stream while waiting for new seasons of Reacher and The Night Agent, Cross will surely do the trick.”
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Cross follows a decorated D.C. homicide detective and forensic psychologist, Alex Cross (Hodge), as he and his partner, John Sampson (Isaiah Mustafa) track down a sadistic serial killer while threats from Cross’ past catch up to him. Detective Cross is described as a devoted and protective black father and widower. Ryan Eggold stars as the Season 1 villain, Ed Ramsey, with Eloise Mumford starring as Shannon Witmer, Ramsey’s potential victim.
Most of the reviews praised the show’s blend of crime, action, and character-driven drama, with showrunner Ben Watkins striking the right balance of over-the-top action with dynamic character interactions. Reviewers praised the actors’ chemistry as the interactions between Ramsey and Witmer build from a romantic to captor-captive relationship, as well as Watkins’ ambitious attempt to explore the challenges facing Black cops in modern America. Cross has already been renewed for a second season.
Cross
is now streaming on on Amazon Prime Video.