'Cross' is back on Prime Video for season 2, and the thriller is even more twisty and brutal than ever

Opinion
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Fans of 'Cross' won't be disappointed by its latest season

(L-R) Aldis Hodge and Alona Tal in "Cross" season 2 on Prime Video.
(Image credit: Ian Watson/Prime)
Tom's Guide Verdict: 'Cross' season 2

  • Rating: 3/5 Stars
  • Verdict: "Cross" season 2 repeats much of what worked — and didn't work — in season 1. But that means if you love this thriller series' dark twists and turns, its charismatic lead and compelling performances, then you'll love season 2 just as much as you did season 1.
  • Premiere date/time: First three episodes are streaming now
  • Channel: Stream it on Prime Video

"Cross" is officially back for season 2, and if you’re excited for this Prime Video thriller return, you’re not alone. It was a massive hit in its first season, in no small part due to its charismatic male lead, Aldis Hodge, as the titular detective Alex Cross. The first season was a dark and twisty thriller where Cross had to go toe-to-toe with a demented serial killer. He came out on top, but that story left scars that are still visible in season 2.

Like the last season, this time around, Cross is dealing with another serial killer. This time, though, the killer is out for justice rather than for trying to make a name for themselves. That puts a new twist on this show that’s already all too familiar with having plenty of twists and turns. And it ultimately leads to a dramatic conclusion that will change the course of the show forever.

But it’s not just the twisty thriller that makes "Cross" so beloved, nor is it solely its dashing leading man. A big part of this crime thriller's success is that it portrays a diverse cast led by two Black male leads and features a fair amount of Black supporting actors as well. On the one hand, this feels intentional and authentic, especially for a show set in D.C. Still, it also manages to feel like a mainstream streaming thriller series that just so happens to have Black culture at its center. That's not to say "Cross" pushes its "Blackness" to the side; far from it. But if you're not remotely in tune with Black culture in America, the show won't punish you for it.

If you haven’t seen "Cross" before, I do recommend checking out the first season before season 2. Yes, there is a "Previously on" segment that will catch you up to speed, but I think if you watch the first season, you’ll get a deeper appreciation of exactly what this show is trying to do. You’ll also appreciate season 2's far more vibrant visual aesthetic as opposed to the (perhaps) too darkly shot season 1. Once you're caught up, though, read on for my spoiler-free review of "Cross" season 2.

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Malcolm McMillan

Malcolm has been with Tom's Guide since 2022, and watches over 50 seasons of TV a year so you can skip the bad ones.

'Cross' season 2 provides more of the same brutal, twisted plot lines as season 1

In season 1, Cross takes on Ed Ramsey (Ryan Eggold), a powerful figure in D.C. who is secretly a serial killer. In season 2, he's now taking on a woman known as La Luz. He doesn't know that right away, though. All he knows is that someone has sent food production magnate Lance Durand (Matthew Lillard) the severed fingers of a former business associate who's very much dead.

That kicks off a twisty plot that exposes a wide network of evildoers. If you watched season 1, you’ll know that "Cross" isn’t afraid to have more than a few twists. Season 2 is no different on that count, and the show delivers more than a few moments that will have you shocked. It's also not afraid to kill off members of its cast, and as we watch vigilante justice unfold in this season, it's clear the show still isn't afraid to kill some darlings. In fact, by the end of season 2, you're left wondering just how many main cast members might not be around in season 3.

Cross Season 2 - Official Trailer | Prime Video - YouTube Cross Season 2 - Official Trailer | Prime Video - YouTube
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Another hallmark of "Cross" is that it likes to throw a lot of storylines at you over the course of its eight-episode seasons. In season 1, you're following Cross vs. Ramsey, but you're also watching him deal with the fallout of his wife’s death and warding off a dangerous stalker.

In season 2, the showrunners stick to the formula. The main plotline follows Cross and FBI agent Kayla Craig (Alona Tal) trying to stop a vigilante serial killer. But there's a subplot where Kayla, who has a much larger role in this season than in season 1, is being framed as a key player in a mysterious operation from her past. This forces her to team up with the killer Bobby Trey (Johnny Ray Gill), who is undeniably the highlight of season 2. His delightfully unhinged nature is turned up to 11 this season, and you find yourself rooting for him even though just last season you watched him murder people as Ramsey's henchman.

Of course, the show doesn't stop there. We once again take time to focus on Cross's personal life, specifically his romantic relationships. There's his fractured relationship with Elle (Samantha Walkes), which is still broken and scarred by the events over a year ago in season 1. There's also a new relationship that comes with plenty of baggage on its own.

Finally, there's another storyline where Det. John Sampson a.k.a. "Two John" (Isaiah Mustafa) is forced to deal with the re-emergence of his estranged mother. Oh, and did I mention that Cross ends up adopting a foster child? Most shows would be content to have two such storylines going on in a given season, but the writers of "Cross" can't seem to help themselves for the second season in a row.

Verdict: If you liked 'Cross' season 1, you’re going to like season 2

(L-R) Aldis Hodge and Isaiah Mustafa in "Cross" season 2 on Prime Video.

(Image credit: Ian Watson/Prime)

In season 1, "Cross" established itself as a twisty thriller that excels at telling some compelling stories; perhaps too many, despite the great performances anchoring them. It also set itself up as a show anchored by great performances, unafraid of its Blackness and its D.C. setting. As someone who lived in D.C., I love the references to places like Ben’s Chili Bowl (which I miss dearly) and when the show broke into an argument about the impact of Georgetown Hoyas basketball, I nearly jumped for joy. As someone who sees D.C. get mangled by shows regularly (looking at you, "Bones"), this show will forever win points for me by getting things about D.C. right.

In season 2, the show doesn't abandon any of that, for better and worse. "Cross" still lives and dies by its storylines and its performances. While there are too many of the former, which is my biggest knock against the show, the performances remain a highlight, from Hodge as Cross to Johnny Ray Gill as Bobby and more.

So if, in season 1, you liked the callbacks to DC, the casting of the show and the twisty conspiracies lying within, then you will like season 2, which features all that while taking the show forward in an exciting new direction by the season's end. Even if you didn't watch season 1, though, I think you'll still find "Cross" season 2 stands on its own as an enjoyable crime thriller, even if there are others in the genre (and even on Prime Video) that do it better.

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Malcolm McMillan
Malcolm McMillan
Streaming Editor

Malcolm has been with Tom's Guide since 2022, and has been covering the latest in streaming shows and movies since 2023. He's not one to shy away from a hot take, including that "John Wick" is one of the four greatest films ever made.

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