Warning: The following contains spoilers for Cross season 1
One character will play a slightly bigger role in Cross season 2. In season 1, the Prime Video series centers around the James Patterson-created character Detective Alex Cross (Aldis Hodge), as he teams up with his partner John Sampson (Isaiah Mustafa) to solve a serial murder case while dealing with the aftermath of his wife’s murder. Prime Video has already renewed Cross for season 2, a decision that came before the show even premiered.
Cross show creator Ben Watkins told Entertainment Weekly that season 2 will show more of John. The show creator teases that season 2 will delve into the character more by revealing a little bit of John’s backstory. While John keeps his composure and holds Cross accountable when his friend is spiraling after Maria’s murder, the following season will see John dealing with his own emotions. Check out what Watkins said below:
We get to peel back a layer to John, where you get to see a little bit of his backstory and watch him deal with emotion. You’ve seen how good he is at holding his friend accountable and at helping his friend navigate deep emotions. You haven’t seen how he would do it if it was him having to confront it.
What This Means For Cross Season 2
Things Might Get Personal With John Sampson
Cross season 1 introduced many likable characters with their own strengths and weaknesses. The show positions John and Cross’ relationship as that of best friends and work partners. John is the only one who can call Cross out when he’s not taking care of his anger and grief. At the same time, John shows a deep understanding of how Cross works and is able to help others navigate interacting with his partner. However, there’s not much to know about John beyond his relationship with Cross and Cross’ family.
Watkins’ comments confirm that Cross season 2 will put this character under the spotlight. Seeing John going through something emotional also seems to suggest that things might get personal for John in season 2. In the same interview, the show creator teases that a new killer is coming to the series. This could potentially mean that John might be targeted in the new killer’s crimes. While John helped Cross navigate his own mess in season 1, their roles might be reversed in season 2.
Our Take On John Sampson in Cross
John Is Not Easily Rattled
John plays a crucial role in Cross’ story. In the books, John has been Cross’ friend since they were nine years old. While the show’s creator has previously said that they won’t adapt any James Patterson books, John and Cross’ relationship in the series has many parallels to the one they have in the books, including the fact that John is like a brother to Cross. Things can get incredibly tense between them, yet they are able to patch things up, which says how deep their relationship is.
There’s so much to know about John. In Cross season 1, viewers can already see the man having both soft and tough sides while dealing with the hardships in life. He’s better at dealing with his emotions than Cross while solving the mystery behind Maria’s murder. As a man who knows how to take care of himself, his best friend, and his best friend’s family, the question of what could rattle John is something very intriguing.
Source: EW