Prime Video has been finding success recently with their niche of TV shows based on hit book franchises, namely John Krasinski’s Jack Ryan, which is coming back with a movie, and Alan Ritchson’s Reacher. Their latest venture, Cross, not only continues the streamer’s win streak of successfully translating iconic material for the screen, but also proves to be the best adaptation of James Patterson’s forensic psychologist.

Developed by Burn Notice and Hand of God alum Ben Watkins, Cross takes an original approach to adapting its source material, eschewing Patterson’s 32 novels and creating an original story while pulling elements from the books. Season 1 of the show —which has already been renewed for season 2 — follows Alex Cross as he begins investigating a string of deaths in the Washington, D.C. area that have been staged to not look like murders. At the same time, Cross tries to raise his two children while grieving the murder of his wife a year before.

Aldis Hodge Was Born For The Role Of Alex Cross

He Brings A Refreshing New Take To The Iconic Character

Prior to the show, Patterson’s eponymous detective was brought to life by Oscar winner Morgan Freeman in Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider, followed by Tyler Perry in the 2012 movie franchise reboot. Both stars brought their own meaningful takes to the character, with Perry actually being unfairly dismissed by critics, as it was nice to see him break away from the comedy genre he’s known for and actually tapped into the dramatic side of the character well.

The star also displays such a sense of vulnerability and raw emotion…

Despite solid work from the two, though, they are greatly overshadowed by Hodge’s performance in Cross. While Perry’s version was given a little extra room beyond just being a skilled detective, the Leverage alum proves to be the most well-rounded incarnation of the character we’ve seen onscreen yet. Between showcasing how he is as a father, the grief he is having difficulty managing in the wake of his wife’s murder, and the unique process he brings to his investigations, Watkins and Hodge really land on a nicely three-dimensional portrayal of the character.

One of the best scenes that showcases the sheer emotional range Hodge brings to the role comes partway through Cross, in which he has an especially poignant night of grieving his wife’s murder on her one-year anniversary. Calling into a radio show the two used to listen to together, the combination of the slow jazz and atmospheric direction really go a long way to amplify Hodge’s performance in the scene. The star also displays such a sense of vulnerability and raw emotion here that proves to be thoroughly gripping.

Watkins Finds A Perfect Mix Of Character Drama & Action

The Show Never Lets The Violence Overshadow The General Suspense

One of the other winning elements of Cross is the balance Watkins and his writing team strikes in its mix of action and character development. Much like how the eponymous detective’s depiction is layered, the Prime Video show also rises above the prior movie adaptations by shifting the focus away from over-the-top action. Instead, it creates tension through character dynamics while keeping some of the more horrific sights off-screen. Yet the series still delivers just enough action to keep the story moving at a brisk pace.

The best example of this is the dynamic between Cross season 1’s primary villain, Ryan Eggold’s Ed Ramsey, and his new victim, Eloise Mumford’s Shannon Witmer. Feeling more akin to Daisy Edgar-Jones and Sebastian Stan’s dynamic in Fresh, the slow evolution from a romantic story to captor-captive really immerses us in Shannon’s strive to escape and Cross’ efforts to save her. Mumford’s performance and Watkins’ writing make her more than a victim, but the situation still makes for some horrific sequences that keep the tension high.

The Show’s Mystery & Worldbuilding Play Nicely, Despite 1 Big Issue

A Few Plot Inconsistencies Somewhat Undermine The Overall Flow Of Things

Despite being miles above its predecessors, Cross‘ overall story development is somewhat hindered by a few plot holes and inconsistencies regarding its overall mystery. While Ramsey may be the primary villain of the show, Watkins quickly keeps us guessing by revealing there to be a whole society he’s connected to and sharing his kills with. Beyond just the group, who go unnamed and mysterious for the majority of season 1, a fellow Metro PD detective (who’s introduced in the premiere) turns out to be a killer and working with Ramsey.

…by showcasing them in frequent episodes, we’re instead left to wonder how a detective as smart as Alex didn’t figure out the connection sooner…

Had this been a reveal saved for later on in the show, it would’ve worked nicely. It would have gone a long way to explain some of how Ramsey stayed just out of reach of Alex. By showcasing them in nearly every episode, we’re instead left to wonder how a detective as smart as Alex didn’t figure out the connection sooner, particularly as we see the character seemingly leaving DNA behind at a key crime scene that could’ve quickly linked to them had testing been done.

Though this could be considered a minor gripe in the grand scheme of the show, particularly as we’re meant to suspend our disbelief to some degree when it comes to murder-mystery thrillers, I couldn’t help but feel a tad underwhelmed by that logic gap considering how smart the rest of Crossis in its worldbuilding and storytelling. Regardless of this, though, it’s easily safe to say that Watkins and his talented ensemble cast, including a particularly menacing Eggold, have delivered the best version of Patterson’s novels to date, and shows just why Prime Video was ready to renew it well before its premiere.

All 8 episodes of Cross season 1 begin streaming on Prime Video on November 14.