The third attempt to bring Detective Alex Cross to life on the big screen seems to have worked. Finally! The Amazon Prime series premiered this week, making all episodes of the first season available. It features actor Aldis Hodge in the title role. The character has been a popular character in literature since 1993.

Alex Cross was created by author James Patterson and immediately caught the interest of Hollywood. He is a black detective and forensic psychologist who works for the Washington, D.C. police and acts as an FBI agent in some stories. Cross is known for his sharp intelligence, determination, and empathy, which make him an effective investigator and a caring father figure to his children. His background as a psychologist and his analytical skills help him understand the minds of dangerous criminals, including serial killers and terrorists.

Yes, this is the long-awaited birth of a franchise!

Alex Cross in books

Alex Cross first appeared in the bestseller Along Came a Spider, published in 1993. In it, Cross faces a sadistic kidnapper, but throughout the book series, he is challenged by several antagonists, many of whom are complex psychopaths. The Alex Cross book series became extremely popular, leading to film adaptations. In the films, Cross was played by Morgan Freeman in Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider, to lukewarm reception from critics. At the time, I loved both. Later, Tyler Perry tried to revive the franchise by playing the detective, but it didn’t work.

Alex Cross is one of the first prominent black protagonists in mystery thrillers, and his character explores themes of justice, family, and personal struggle against evil. He remains one of James Patterson’s most enduring and beloved characters, with a series of books that still attract readers around the world.

Patterson has released over 30 titles starring Alex Cross, each exploring challenging crimes, in a series known for its blend of action, suspense, and an emotional dimension centered on the protagonist’s family life.

The initial reception was positive, especially for Patterson’s ability to create suspenseful plots that captivate the reader. However, criticism has arisen over time due to the frequent use of co-authors to expand the franchise, which some readers consider to dilute the original quality. Nevertheless, the books have maintained a dedicated fan base and continue to be one of Patterson’s most popular, helping him become one of the world’s best-selling authors.

With each new title, Cross gains layers of complexity. The series shows his struggle to balance the role of father, investigator, and human being in a world full of violence. This makes him a multifaceted character with whom readers can connect.

His main characteristics are:

Intelligence and insight: Cross uses his psychological training to understand the minds of criminals, which gives him an advantage in complex investigations. His approach is meticulous and focused on human behavior, making him an excellent detective.

Family connection: Family life is an emotional anchor for Alex. He is the father of three children and is very close to his grandmother, Nana Mama, who helps care for the children. This dynamic highlights his human side, contrasting with the dangers and horrors he faces at work.

Personal trauma: His wife was murdered, an event that left a deep impression on him. Despite this, he remains resilient, balancing his professional and personal responsibilities with determination.

Strong morality: Alex is guided by an unwavering sense of justice. He refuses to let the world’s adversity or cynicism alter his belief in what is right.

Alex Cross in the movies

With the success of the books, the first film adaptations focused on the first two books and, of course, also helped to popularize the series. Star Morgan Freeman was the first Alex Cross outside of the pages, being praised by the public, even with criticism of the differences between what he was in the books and on the screen.

For example, in the books, Alex Cross is a homicide detective and forensic psychologist from Washington, D.C., whose intelligence and compassion stand out, described as a tall, athletic black man, with a personality that combines strength and vulnerability. Cross is deeply dedicated to his career, but his personal life, marked by tragedies, plays a central role in the narrative, but with Freeman, many of them were excluded from the script.

Thanks to Freeman’s talent and credibility, many fans considered him a perfect choice for the role, praising his presence in scenes and the ability to convey both the intelligence and humanity of the character. He brought a gravity that made the character resonate with the audience. However, his family relationship was ‘sacrificed’ because he was much older than the Alex Cross in the books, offering a more mature and calm version of the character.

In 2012, Tyler Perry tried to take advantage of the space left by Freeman and rescued Alex Cross, as a reboot of the franchise. He completely slipped up, facing harsh criticism and a mixed reception from the public. Directed by Rob Cohen and Matthew Fox as the antagonist, Perry was not convinced as the hero, also older than in the book and without Freeman’s charisma.

The film was criticized for its inconsistent direction and superficial script. On Rotten Tomatoes, it only had an 11% critical approval rating, and its average on Metacritic was 30/100, indicating unfavorable reviews. Commercially, the film grossed $34.6 million, slightly below its $35 million budget, which discouraged the planned sequel to Double Cross.

Although Tyler Perry tried to make Alex Cross more accessible and emotional, critics noted that his performance failed to capture the complexity and charisma of the character from the books, and the tone of the film oscillated between action and psychological thriller, without excelling at either.

The third time’s the charm?

Cross is the third attempt to bring the detective to life and it seems that – this time – it hit the target. Even more so because it is a series, not a film, it therefore has the necessary time for Alex’s development with his family, which always didn’t get enough time before.

The first season is based on the book Along Came a Spider, the first in James Patterson‘s literary series. However, despite using central elements of the story, such as the death of Maria Cross and Alex’s investigation into a serial killer, the adaptation makes significant adjustments to update the plot and highlight aspects of the character’s identity and culture.

Now, we see more details about Alex’s family and emotional background, in addition to emphasizing his life as a father and the dynamics in his community. These elements, although less explored in the previous films and even in some parts of the book, seek to make the adaptation more contemporary and authentic, aligning with the spirit of Patterson’s original works, but with a modern approach to TV.

Although, like the previous films, Cross also changed significant details, the series stayed closer to the original spirit by delving deeper into the psychological and family aspects of Alex Cross, which are central to James Patterson’s work.

In general, the reception has been mixed, with praise for the performance of the protagonist Aldis Hodge, but criticism regarding the execution of the plot. There are many loose ends, which seem repetitive for hours and make it difficult to follow the investigations’ solutions coherently. It has an inconsistent pace, and a need for twists and turns that could have been handled better. Which doesn’t really take away from the quality of entertaining us.

Cross is an option for Reacher fans, no matter how opposite the characters are on the pages and on the screen. These are psychological thrillers that are entertaining and engaging. They don’t demand great theories or hours of discussion, but they work for their purpose. A second season is guaranteed and that’s great news. Apparently, the third time really was the lucky one.

Pesquisar

Pesquisar