8 Biggest Changes Cross Season 1 Makes To James Patterson’s Alex Cross Books

Warning! This article contains spoilers for Cross season 1.

Despite borrowing many narrative beats from James Patterson’s Alex Cross books, Amazon’s Cross significantly drifts away from its source material in more ways than one. From its early moments, Amazon’s Cross draws subtle references to its source material. For instance, it features a scene in which the central killer recalls how Alex Cross worked on the Gary Soneji case, which turns out to be a direct callback to the first novel, Along Came A Spider, in James Patterson’s Alex Cross series.

As the show progresses, it becomes evident that it reinstates many characters from the source material’s lore, albeit in slightly different roles. However, despite introducing many elements from the books into its storyline, the Amazon show does not shy away from having its own original elements. Unlike most adaptations, Cross intentionally avoids being too similar to the original books and brings many changes to the original stories.

8 The Reason Behind Alex Cross’ Wife’s Death Is Different In The Books

Maria Is Murdered By Someone Else In The Books

Just like the original books, Amazon Prime Video’s Cross establishes the titular character as a widower, haunted by his inability to save his wife. In both the books and the show, Alex Cross’ wife, Maria, was murdered. However, while the books maintain an air of ambiguity surrounding Alex Cross’ wife’s death for a long time, the show makes it one of the primary drivers of its storyline before revealing the truth behind it in its final episodes. In James Patterson’s Alex Cross books, the identity of Maria’s killer remains a mystery till the 12th installment, Cross.

The 12th book finally confirms that she was murdered by a sniper just when Alex Cross showed up at her workplace to pick her up. Many clues in the book also suggest that the sniper was likely targeting Alex Cross but accidentally killed his wife. Maria’s killers, Miss Nancy and Peter, in the series, are driven by a personal grudge against Alex Cross. They blame him for sending their loved one, Diedre, to prison for life because he testified against her in court and claimed she had psychopathic tendencies that could not be fixed.

7 The Show Seems To Change The Gender Of One Major Character From The Books

Kayla Craig Might Be A Major Villain’s Counterpart

Kayla Craig is portrayed as one of Alex Cross’ allies almost throughout Cross season 1’s runtime. However, given how she shares her surname with the original novels’ major villain, Kyle Craig, it is hard not to wonder if the show has changed the villain’s gender. In Cross season 1’s mid-credits scene, Kayla also strikes a suspicious deal with a secondary antagonist, Bobby Tery, which might have set her up as season 2’s main villain.

Considering her shared surname, Kayla Craig could also be related to Kyle Craig in some way. She could either be in pursuit of improving her family’s reputation because she is related to a criminal like Kyle, or she might eventually betray Alex Cross. Regardless of the role she eventually plays in the Amazon Prime Video detective show, she is an original character who does not appear in the original books.

6 The Amazon Series Adds More Thematic Depth To James Patterson’s Stories

It Dabbles With Themes Surrounding Masculinity & Violence Against Black Men

While the original James Patterson novels play around with some deeper themes in some of their stories, the books primarily unfold like the regular fare of fictional detective tales. Amazon Prime Video’s Cross sets out to borrow many narrative threads from the books but brings its own originality to them and expands them in a positive way by dabbling with many didactic themes. Like most protagonists in detective thrillers, Alex Cross is also portrayed as an emotionally numb and stoic law enforcer.

However, instead of portraying his emotional withdrawal as a strength, the show establishes that it is his biggest weakness. His rage and overwhelming grief towards his wife’s death not only taints his relationship with his family but also skews his judgment. By highlighting how Alex Cross ends up attacking an innocent black man after finding circumstantial evidence against him, the show also touches upon the subject of police brutality and how systemic issues within law enforcement can lead to tragic consequences.

5 Alex Cross Is More Of A Flawed Hero In The Amazon Show

Despite His Talents, Cross Makes Some Grave Mistakes In The Series

Alex Cross is portrayed as a savant in the original James Patterson books. Even in the show, there are moments when the character’s colleagues step back and let him do all the thinking because they trust his deductive abilities and intelligence. However, the show also portrays him as a flawed hero, who, despite his intellect, often makes flawed decisions and grave errors in judgment. For instance, when Cross looks back at one of his testimonies in court from a few years ago, he himself is surprised that he claimed a criminal was irredeemable.

Many black characters in Cross, including his family members, also struggle to look up to him at times because of his complex and contradictory nature. As much as his peers trust him, they do not believe him in the show’s final arc because a video clip proves that he assaulted an innocent man in broad daylight. Cross also lets his emotions get the best of him in many situations and says mean things to his best friend, Sampson, despite realizing the consequences of his actions and words.

4 The Amazon Show Feels More Progressive Than The James Patterson Books

The Series Surprisingly Breaks Some Norms Of The Thriller Genre

One of the most intriguing side stories in Amazon’s Cross involves the titular character’s loved ones encouraging him to seek therapy after his wife’s death. However, Alex Cross avoids seeking help, ignoring how his grief is impacting both his personal and professional life. Towards the end of the series, the character finally redeems himself by turning to therapy, which becomes a pivotal step in his journey of healing. Characters in “dad” books and shows rarely face their emotional struggles head-on, especially in action thrillers that focus on heroism.

While the original James Patterson books highlight how losing his wife impacts Alex Cross, they do not really challenge the traditional portrayal of male heroes in any way. Instead of treading the same path as the books and sidelining Alex Cross’ emotional vulnerability in favor of stoicism, the show takes a far more progressive approach towards portraying heroic male leads.

3 The Series Intentionally Avoids Adapting Any Specific James Patterson Story

There Is One Specific Reason Why The Show Is So Different From The Original Books

While the Morgan Freeman Alex Cross movies are far more loyal adaptations of James Patterson’s works, Amazon’s Cross avoids sticking to any specific stories from the source. Instead, it only borrows the character beats, themes, and tropes from the books while presenting a wholly original storyline. As explained by executive producer and showrunner Ben Watkins (via Collider), the show does this to “tap into what is actually happening right now in society.“

James Patterson, too, seemed pleased that the show etched its own identity instead of following the books. “It’s something I say when anybody is developing one of my books or characters: I much prefer the story be brand new,” he said (via Entertainment Weekly). While some viewers will be disappointed with the show’s approach toward adapting the Alex Cross books, it is intriguing how it strives to expand the books’ lore and story instead of recreating them.

2 Ed Ramsey Is Not A Villain In The Original Books’ Lore

He Is An Original Antagonist Written For The Amazon Show

Apart from retconning the reason behind Maria’s death and connecting it to original villains like Nancy and Peter, Amazon’s Cross also introduces another new villain, Ed Ramsey, who does not appear in the books. Labeled as the “Fanboy Killer,” Ramsey keeps Alex Cross on his toes throughout the show’s runtime and is portrayed as an influential man who uses his power and resources to pull all the strings and control the ones around him. The show also adds other original characters like Bobby Trey and Shannon Witmer to the mix to keep things fresh.

1 One Aspect Of Sampson’s Story Is Significantly Different In The Amazon Show

Sampson Remains Cross’ Best Friend But Does Not Do One Crucial Thing

Sampson helps Alex Cross overpower Nancy and Peter in Cross season 1’s ending moments. However, Alex Cross does most of the fighting. Even after Peter overpowers Sampson, Alex Cross stands tall against the villain and takes him down before it is too late. As a result, Alex Cross eventually avenges his wife’s death by himself in the Amazon show. In the original books, in contrast, Sampson plays a different role when it comes to avenging Maria’s death.

The books reveal that Sampson grew increasingly concerned about Alex Cross’ mental health after he lost his wife. He realized that if he went down the path of vengeance, he would lose the last remnants of humanity he had left in him. Therefore, Sampson takes it upon himself to avenge Maria’s death and kills the sniper who shot her. This makes Sampson’s characterization more important in the books than in Amazon’s Cross.

Cross follows the titular Alex Cross, a detective and forensic psychologist particularly adept at understanding and analyzing the minds of killers and their victims. Cross uses this prowess to bring murderers to justice.

Cast

Aldis Hodge , Jennifer Wigmore , Mercedes de la Zerda , Sharon Taylor , Siobhan Murphy , Stacie Greenwell , Ashley Rios , matthew lillard

Release Date

November 14, 2024

Seasons

1

Franchise(s)

Alex Cross

Writers

Ben Watkins

Directors

Craig Siebels , Nzingha Stewart

Creator(s)

Ben Watkins

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