Common Sense Media Review
By Marty Brown
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Heavy-handed cliches, language in crime drama adaptation.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Cross
What's the Story?
CROSS refers to Alex Cross, a forensic psychologist and homicide detective in Washington D.C. Grieving the death of his wife, who was murdered in front of him, Cross throws himself into his work while also trying to raise his two kids.
Is It Any Good?
A crime procedural for Black audiences shouldn't be such a unique thing. Cross features a deep cast of predominantly Black actors, takes place in a Black community, and focuses on the search for the murderer of a Black activist. The problem is that the series is almost unbearably heavy-handed in its depiction of this world, dragging out cliche after cliche (presumably at the hands of the mostly White writer's room). When the police encounter a racist early on, he's the rare open, extremely vocal racist, calling the detectives names and making sure the audience knows who they're supposed to be rooting for and against. Things don't get any subtler from there.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what motivates Alex Cross. Is he an effective policeman? Why or why not?
Why does the series reveal the serial killer early on? How does your experience change when you already know the killer?
How does Cross differ from a typical crime procedural? How does this uniqueness help the series?
TV Details
- Premiere date : November 13, 2024
- Cast : Aldis Hodge , Ryan Eggold , Alona Tal
- Network : Prime Video
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Awards : NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Winner , NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated : February 26, 2025
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