Among the many many causes to observe Prime Video’s “Cross” is the person behind the sequence, Ben Watkins. Watkins is linked to a few of my favourite exhibits, reminiscent of “The Hand of God” and “Burn Notice.” In truth, “Hero Complex” blends the cheekiness and impertinence of Michael Westin from “Burn Notice” with the psychological weight of Choose Pernell Harris from “Hand of God.” Due to this fact, Watkins, a self-professed crime junkie, could be trusted to ship on all fronts with Cross. I encourage you to test it out.
In lesser palms, taking over James Patterson’s well-worn character, Alex Cross, may be problematic. That is decidedly not the case right here. The unique story is well-plotted, paced, and acted. The present goes out of its approach to imprint upon viewers how deeply in love Alex Cross is together with his spouse. Yeah, then she is straight away ripped away…murdered.
“Hero Complex” – CROSS, Pictured: Aldis Hodge as Alex Cross. Photo: Keri Anderson/Prime Video @ 2010-2024 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliate. All Rights Reserved.
A year passes, and the camera closes in on Cross’s back as he sits alone in a dingy office. You can feel the grief dripping off him. Tonally, you get the impression that he hasn’t fully recovered from his wife’s death. Later, we learn, narratively, that he is not over her death. We understand that the Metro DC police suspended him for six months due to his involvement in vigilante actions following her death. The point is that we immediately establish this widowed father of two as a rich, complex character with whom we can empathize. Aldis Hodge channels this character perfectly.
Although seated alone, Cross hears the interrogation of a suspect from his office. Other officers are questioning the man about the death of his pregnant wife. The suspect is racist, arrogant, and overall insufferable. He goads a black officer into attacking him after he had already requested medical attention because he is suffering from “a horrible case of life’s fitful fever.” Cross tells his fellow officers that the suspect has already confessed. They didn’t hear it, so they defer the interrogation to Cross.
The interaction between the white suspect and Cross was, perhaps, the most entertaining sequence in the episode, and probably why it was selected for the trailer. There’s some banter about ‘free chicken’. Confused? Please watch the episode for answers and because this scene is both informative and amusing.
“Hero Complicated” – CROSS, Pictured: Aldis Hodge as Alex Cross. Photograph: Keri Anderson/Prime Video @ 2010-2024 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliate. All Rights Reserved.
In brief, Cross goads the suspect by mocking the premise that genetics make white males intellectually superior by reasoning that genetics make black males superiorly endowed. Ouch – that needed to damage. Cross continues, telling the suspect that he has confessed on tape. “I didn’t say anything,” the person says, his racist bravado flagging. Cross reminds him that he’d admitted to affected by “life’s fitful fever,” a line from Shakespeare’s Macbeth that means the person is affected by an affliction brought on by a burden of guilt. In my head, Cross is considering one other line from Macbeth as he finest this man: “Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” This quote from Macbeth provides dimension to Cross’s character, highlighting his mental prowess whereas additionally emphasizing the futility and chaos of the suspect’s actions. The scene successfully units the stage for his dominance, each mentally and bodily, which is essential for the story’s development.
Past Ben Watkins being on the helm, you must look ahead to the stellar ensemble solid. Should you watch as a lot TV and films as I do, you will acknowledge the faces, if not the names. Aldis Hodge, who portrayed Assistant District Lawyer DeCourcy Ward reverse Kevin Bacon in Showtime’s Metropolis on a Hill, is every part! His portrayal of Alex Cross is nothing wanting good. Hodge’s efficiency conjures up me to learn all 32 of Patterson’s novels that includes Alex Cross. Anybody wish to be a part of me?
“Hero Complex” – CROSS, Pictured: Juanita Jennings as Nana Mama. Photo: Keri Anderson/Prime Video @ 2010-2024 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliate. All Rights Reserved.
You may also recognize the visage of Nana Mama, Cross’s grandmother. She immediately triggers warm feelings like hot cocoa at Christmas. Perhaps the most familiar face in this ensemble is Ryan Eggold’s. He was Max Goodwin on “New Amsterdam” and Tom Keene from “The Blacklist” and “Blacklist Redemption.” What’s intriguing about Eggold’s casting here is that, despite clearly being a bad guy—if not THE bad guy—he brings a unique alchemy for seduction.
As a diehard fan of New Amsterdam, Max Goodwin, per Eggold’s portrayal, relied on his vulnerability to build genuine connections, trust, and empathy. In Cross, Eggold, as Ed Ramsey, operates from the opposite end of the ethical spectrum. He portrays a master manipulator, creating the illusion of authentic connection. His character is a façade tailored to control, exploit, and gain power and advantage over others. For example, when Cross and Ramsey meet at an event, he tells Cross he follows his work. He also reveals that his mother was murdered when he was in college. When handing over his business card, he says he does favors for other people and enjoys collecting on those favors. Ramsey shared a wealth of information for a forensic psychologist to use throughout the rest of the season.
“Hero Complicated” – CROSS, Pictured: Ryan Eggold as Ed Ramsey. Photograph: Keri Anderson/Prime Video @ 2010-2024 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliate. All Rights Reserved.
The one false word in “Hero Complex” was the inclusion of the Black Lives Matter, defund the police storyline. This narrative thread felt stale. Given the backlash, or ‘whitelash’ as some would name it, we (America) are not in a social-political local weather that has a modicum of tolerance for such social justice points. The content material lag could also be as a result of Amazon introduced Cross again in 2022, however vital modifications have occurred in simply two years.
Regardless, I’ve been ready patiently for this present with impossibly excessive expectations. Cross surpassed these expectations as a result of it successfully embodies and executes all of the hallmarks of crime procedurals. The present titillates viewers’ curiosity concerning the darker, unsettling points of human conduct whereas piquing our want to grasp the motives of the serial killer driving this story. The present launched us to a banging thriller. Who would not wish to put themselves in Cross’s place, deciphering clues and exercising our crucial considering expertise? I am already trying to puzzle out the connection between his spouse’s and the activist Emir Goodspeed’s homicide. What do you assume?
The episode’s title, “Hero Complex,” refers to a character flaw in Cross that arises from his overwhelming want to assist, rescue, and defend others. These obligations are inseparable from his roles as a therapist, detective, father, and husband. The truth that he couldn’t save his spouse is clearly taking a toll on Cross’s psychological well being in addition to endangering his nascent relationship with Elle. Watkin’s exploration of those human parts provides depth to the crime-solving points of the present, akin to simmering a dish in wine, including layers of advanced flavors and balancing them to create a harmonious and richly flavored dish. Nice, now I am hungry—hungry for extra Cross.
Did you discover Cross a well-balanced ensemble? Do you imagine that the homicide of his spouse has a connection to the homicide of Emir Goodspeed? Let me know within the feedback, and thanks for studying.
Total Ranking:
10/10
Lynette Jones
