Prime Video’s new Alex Cross show repeats Clever Reacher season 2’s trick by avoiding a major book adaptation

The first episode of Cross has already ruled out the readaptation of one of James Patterson’s books, repeating a cool phrase Reach trick. THE Cross show cast Aldis Hodge in the title role, inheriting the character from Morgan Freeman and Tyler Perry. Surprisingly, the Prime Video show doesn’t adapt any of the novels and instead chooses elements from the source material mixed with an original plot. Even showrunner Ben Watkins confessed TV Line that this was a “risky“approach, considering how many fans the books have.

Without considering, Cross is currently rated “Fresh” in Rotten tomatoes with a rating of 70%, with Hodge being praised. Another element that receives positive feedback is Ryan Eggold as serial killer Ed Ramsey/The Fanboy, who recreates famous killers using their victims as “models” before killing them. This makes him a perfect villain for Cross, as he is a “fan” of Alex’s past cases and even name-checks his most famous case in the books.

Ed Ramsey quotes the events of Along Came A Spider during the first episode of Cross

Cross-references from the first book in the series

The first meeting between Cross and Ramsey occurs in the premiere episode “Hero Complex” and seems quite benign, with the latter being friends with Alex’s girlfriend, Elle (Samantha Walkes). Upon meeting, Ramsey claims to be a fan of the detective and particularly followed “the Gary Soneji case” this made Cross a celebrity. This is a return to the 1993 novel Along came a spiderthe first entry into Alex Cruz series by James Patterson.

In the book, Gary Soneji was a killer with a split personality who kidnapped two children and later murdered one of them before being brought to justice. Along came a spider It was later adapted into a film, which marked Morgan Freeman’s second and final time playing the role of Alex Cross. Although the 2001 sequel received mixed reviews, it was still a success, grossing over $105 million worldwide (via The Numbers).

It makes sense for Cross to establish that its titular detective is some sort of known entity because of this case. It’s also a great easter egg for longtime readers, while also ruling out any possible readaptation of the book into a potential Cross Season 2 or beyond.

Crossover Season 1 Romance Reference Uses the Same Trick as Reacher Season 2

Now Aldis Hodge doesn’t need to be compared to Morgan Freeman

Referencing Along came a spider is ultimately a smart move, as it once again establishes an important story while also letting viewers know that the show is charting a new course. This does not mean that Freeman Along came a spider is any kind of unsung classic, but it would be a tall order for any actor to step into his shoes as well. In this way, Hodge is able to form his own distinct opinion of Alex Cross without having to be directly compared to Freeman. in part.

That Cross callback repeats the same trick as Amazon Reach series used during Season 2, where Alan Ritchson’s titular Avenger name-checked a previous adventure. This caused Reacher to reference the events of One shotthe ninth novel in the Lee Child series that was used in the first Tom Cruise film, Jack Reacher. Given how controversial Cruise’s casting was (and continues to be), it was best to avoid any comparisons to Ritchson’s performance.

By claiming the events of One shot occurred between seasons, Reach beautifully avoided the problem of retrofitting the Cruise with a disposable line. Cross opted for a similar approach – although there are readers who would probably have enjoyed a more faithful look at Patterson’s source material.

Why Cross didn’t adapt any of the books for the first season

The Prime Video adaptation wanted a more modern take on Alex Cross

During your conversation with TV Line, Cross showrunner Ben Watkins admits his approach to the books is unusual. He claims that after trying to figure out which Alex Cruz novel would act as a starting point for the series, he felt the best option would be to take James Patterson’s world and find a way to make it more contemporary.

But then I started thinking that I really want to be able to take these characters and the world that’s been created and tell a story that suits our day and time, and the topics and themes that are prominent at the moment. I was also thinking, optimistically, that if this series goes on for a while, this will change all the time and I would love the flexibility of being able to create my mystery around what’s happening at the moment.

It’s a bold approach, but at least for Cross‘ debut season, is a success. The show features fleshed-out characters like Cross or his partner/BBF Detective Sampson (Isaiah Mustafa), while also adding unique elements like The Fanboy. The series also comments on Black Lives Matter and police brutality, examining Cross’ feelings about being a black man and a detective. One of the strongest dramatic aspects is the examination of Cross’s grief over his wife’s murder.and her struggle to move on with her life in the face of immense guilt.

Assuming Cross If season two happens, it will be intriguing to see if it continues to create its own narrative or if it is a more direct adaptation of Patterson’s tales. After all, there are a lot of great stories in the series, so it would be a shame if the series chose to largely ignore them.

Source: TV Line, Rotten tomatoes, The Numbers