Amazon almost gets Alex Cross right

On By Littum

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While watching the eight long episodes of “Cross,” Amazon’s latest crime fiction adaptation that your dad will probably enjoy, I couldn’t help but think of, of all things, the Chappell Roan lyrics.

What does the young, newly anointed pop star have to do with a TV show about Alex Cross, the detective, coroner and hero of more than 30 James Patterson novels, two movies starring Morgan Freeman and another starring Tyler Perry?

Well, like Roan, I’m not overdramatic; I know what I want. And Amazon is so damn close to it, it’s almost worse than if they took Dr. Cross completely wrong.

“Cross” (streaming now, ★★ out of four) is the first TV show based on the book series, and this time Cross is portrayed by Aldis Hodge in pure smoldering glory. It checks many boxes in the adaptation of the books, from Cross’s strong loyalty to his family to the PhD’s innate understanding of the criminal mind.

Unfortunately, Vibes is where the good parts of the series begin and end. What “Cross,” created by Ben Watkins (“Burn Notice”), doesn’t get is the addictive tension and twistiness of Patterson’s many novels (the series isn’t based on a single book, which might explain this). So while Hodge is superbly cast and everyone does their best to tell a gripping crime story, the pacing, plot and big reveals are all just a bit out of tune. It leaves you with the feeling that what you’ve seen is an Alex Cross cover band, not the real thing.

“Cross” follows the detective as he investigates two crimes: the year-old unsolved murder of his wife, Maria, and the death of a local Black Lives Matter activist, which the police are eager to declare an overdose despite community outrage and evidence. the opposite. Cross has a fair head about his official case, which he immediately sniffs out as far more complicated than the top brass would like. But when it comes to his wife, he can’t stop his emotions (mostly rage) from spiraling out of control, much to the chagrin of his best friend and partner John Sampson (Isaiah Mustafa) and grandmother Regina “Nana Mama” ( Juanita) Jennings), who has stepped in to raise Cross’ two young children.

With the help of Sampson, FBI agent Kayla Craig (Alona Tal) and the reluctant Washington, DC police department, Cross soon discovers that the murder of the activist is part of a much larger plot, and a woman’s life is at stake as he hunts the killer. But it’s hard for Cross to focus while his wife’s killer keeps sending him flowers and talking to his kids through Wi-Fi security cameras.

The mere presence of Hodge, with his big, oceanic eyes and disarming gaze, is almost enough to support “Cross” all by itself. No offense to Perry and Freeman, but they weren’t what you’d call the dreamy of forensic psychologist detectives. Hodge (“Black Adam”, “One Night in Miami”) makes his cross a constantly steaming cauldron of rage, close to being pushed over the edge by corrupt police chiefs, murder suspects and even his own friends and family. Those eyes can be beautiful or a bit crazy, and Hodge plays the wide range of his character’s emotions with sensitivity and finesse.

But that’s a shame, because Hodge works in a shaky narrative structure full of plot holes and head-scratchers. Why does the deeply bereaved Cross already have a serious girlfriend when his wife died just a year ago? Why does the star detective make such grave mistakes as tipping off a suspected serial killer about his suspicions? Why does everyone in Washington stop caring about the murder of a Black Lives Matter activist halfway through the episodes? Why are the police officers discussing sensitive information at the booths of the DC landmark and noted drunken twenty-twenty hub Ben’s Chili Bowl? (OK, that last one might just bother current and former DC residents like me.)

Amazon has made these ’90s-flavored detective dad shows that are the bread and butter of its Prime Video streaming service. The company reportedly spent more than $1 billion making a half-hearted “Lord of the Rings” prequel, but it’s “Jack Ryan” and “Bosch” people are here to see. “Cross” looks like it’ll fit easily into this rotation of airport book adaptations (and Amazon has already renewed the show for a second season). People often make fun of these sometimes predictable formulas, but they can also be really surprising and nuanced stories that you can’t put down, and just as good as TV shows and movies that take your breath away.

However, this version of “Cross” seems like all the worst stereotypes about the genre have been mashed together into one slow, overlong season of television.

It’s like a betrayal. Or maybe a double cross.