Warning! This article contains spoilers for Cross season 1 and James Patterson’s Alex Cross books.

Cross season 1 closes on a conclusive note but still intentionally leaves a few plot threads and book teases hanging to set the stage for season 2. As reports have confirmed, Cross season 2’s renewal was announced even before the show’s first installment landed on Amazon Prime Video. Owing to this, it is not surprising that, despite unfolding an original standalone story, the show’s season 1 features many story beats and book references that can be expanded in season 2.

While only time will tell how the show will progress and perform in the future, Cross seems to have become another addition to Amazon Prime Video’s growing catalog of acclaimed “Dad shows.” Similar to shows like Reacher and Jack Ryan, Cross has garnered positive reviews from both viewers and critics. Considering its critical success, Prime Video made the right choice by renewing it for another season. However, the show’s success in the future will primarily depend on how it will expand the following narrative elements introduced in Cross season 1.

8Cross Will Be More At Peace About Maria’s Death In Season 2

He Takes A Massive Step Towards Healing Himself

Alex Cross is a widower in both the books and the show. In both, he struggles to deal with his wife’s death and finds it hard not to blame himself for her murder. While the passage of time eventually heals him in the books, the show’s version of the character seeks therapy towards the end of season 1. This suggests that Alex Cross will be less troubled by his wife’s demise in Cross season 2, which could help him move on and pursue other romantic relationships. Consequently, even his relationship with his children will gradually improve in the upcoming season.

7Alex Cross Will Consider Retirement In Future Storylines

He Is Already Questioning Whether His Job Is Worth The

In a key story development in the original Alex Cross books, the titular character considers retiring from his line of work after realizing how it has been impacting his family. Cross season 1’s events help the Aldis Hodge character realize that he is putting his family’s life in danger by hunting down dangerous criminals. He even worries about who else will try to attack him in the future for taking down a serial killer like Ed Ramsey. Owing to this, it would not be surprising if the show’s Alex Cross thinks about backing off from his role as a detective despite being extremely good at his job.

6Bobby Trey’s Arc Seems Far From Over After Cross Season 1

Bobby Will Likely Reprise His Role As A Secondary Villain

Since Bobby Trey accepts Kayla Craig’s offer, he will remain behind bars for a while. However, if Kayla or the police refuse to keep their side of the deal, he might eventually return to seek revenge. Even if they give him everything they have promised, Bobby Trey is not the kind of man who would suddenly walk down the morally righteous path. Once he is out of prison, he will likely set out to grab several other big paydays by protecting more corrupt influential people like Ed Ramsey. After crossing paths with Ramsey in prison, he might even team up with him again.

5Alex Cross Worries About Ed Ramsey’s Followers In Cross Season 1’s Ending

Ed Ramsey’s Powerful Supporters Might Seek Revenge

Toward Cross season 1’s ending moments, Alex Cross manages to catch Ed Ramsey before he kills his final victim. The police department also punishes him by ensuring he does not get credit for most of his crimes but remains in prison for the rest of his life. However, Cross still feels uneasy about the whole investigation because he realizes his actions will have rippling consequences in the future. He knows that just like his wife ended up paying for his past choices, catching Ed Ramsey could also lead to many problems.

Cross season 1 reveals that many powerful people only supported and helped Ed Ramsey because he had dirt on them. However, a few others, like the plastic surgeon, encouraged him to commit more murders because his work inspired them. They saw him as an artist and were deeply inspired by his murders. Following his arrest, one of his influential followers could emerge from the shadows in Cross’ future installments and attempt to harm the titular character and his family.

4Cross Season 1’s Mid-Credits Scene Confirms A Book Villain Will Appear In Season 2

The Book Villain’s Gender Has Been Swapped

In Cross season 1’s mid-credits scene, FBI agent Kayla Craig arranges a meeting with former DC cop Bobby Trey. Since the police need someone to take the blame for some of Ed Ramsey’s crimes, Kayla asks Bobby to present evidence for at least six of Ramsey’s murders and plead guilty to them. In return, she promises him full immunity and assures him that he will only serve a 24-month prison sentence. Realizing that Alex Cross will anyway find evidence of the two murders he committed to protect Ramsey, Bobby accepts the offer.

In James Patterson’s novels, Kyle Craig, like Kayla, is portrayed as an FBI agent who initially helps Cross but later becomes his biggest enemy.

Kayla then carefully adds another layer to the offer. She asks him to provide her with Ed Ramsey’s dirt on influential people and promises to get him paid a hefty sum when he leaves prison after 24 months. This side deal reveals that Kayla may not have the best motives and might be based on a key villain from the original books. In James Patterson’s novels, Kyle Craig, like Kayla, is portrayed as an FBI agent who initially helps Cross but later becomes his biggest enemy. It would not be surprising if Kayla’s narrative goes in a similar direction in Cross season 2.

3Cross & Sampson’s Brotherhood Will Be Tested Again

Sampson Could Get Romantically Involved With Kayla

The final moments of Cross season 1 hint that John Sampson might get romantically involved with Kayla Craig in future stories. Given how Kayla could be the show’s next big villain, Sampson’s relationship with her could create another major rift between him and Cross. In the books, Sampson briefly befriends Kyle Craig after knowing him through Alex Cross. However, he later drifts away from the character without complications after Kyle Craig reveals his true colors.

Cross Key Facts Breakdown

Created By
Ben Watkins

Rotten Tomatoes Critics’ Score
78%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
67%

Based on
James Patterson’s Alex Cross book series

However, in the series, Sampson might get into a serious relationship with Kayla. If that happens, he will find it hard to believe that she has ill intentions, which could lead to another big fight between him and Cross. However, as Cross season 1’s best hilarious scene establishes, Alex and John share an unbreakable bond and will likely find their way back to trusting one another.

2Cross Season 1 Subtly Mentions The Events Of James Patterson’s Along Came A Spider

The Reference Gives Insights Into The Show’s Timeline

When Cross season 1’s Fanboy Killer, Ed Ramsey, meets Alex Cross for the first time, he claims to be his biggest fan. He adds that he followed his investigation on “the Gary Soneji case,” which played a crucial role in helping Cross become somewhat of a celebrity. Although Cross season 1 barely mentions anything else about most other high-profile cases Alex Cross has previously worked on, the name “Gary Soneji” reveals a lot about his past in the Amazon Prime Video detective series.

James Patterson’s Along Came A Spider also has a movie adaptation, which stars Morgan Freeman as the titular character.

In James Patterson’s first Alex Cross book, Along Came A Spider, Gary Soneji is portrayed as one of the primary antagonists. While the show adopts an original storyline and avoids staying true to any major story beats from the source material, it is interesting that it refers to the Gary Soneji case in the past tense. The Along Came A Spider nod highlights that the events of the first novel have already happened in some form in the Amazon show’s overarching timeline and confirms the show will not feature any story beats from the book in future seasons.

1Cross Could Encounter An Old Enemy In Future Seasons

Gary Soneji Might Return

In the original James Patterson books, Gary Soneji is captured and sent behind bars. However, much later in the book series, he escapes prison and sets out to murder Cross. One of Soneji’s friends also later targets Alex Cross and tries to kill him in the books. Given how the show has established Gary Soneji as one of Alex Cross’ former enemies, he could return in a future season. While Cross season 1 does not delve too deep into his whereabouts, he could still be alive and in pursuit of escaping prison to exact revenge on Alex Cross.