The new detective show Cross on Amazon Prime Video is making waves in the TV world with its unique take on the police procedural genre. The show’s creative writing has garnered both praise and criticism.
Detective Alex Cross is the main character of the show. He is after a complicated serial killer named Ed Ramsey, who is also known as the “Fanboy Killer.” Ramsey’s one-of-a-kind method involves reenacting killings that famous serial killers have done. This turns criminal history into a dreadful form of performance art.
In a very disturbing plot twist, the show uses the true story of Aileen Wuornos, a killer who was put to death in 2002. Ramsey tries to reenact Wuornos’ story with his last victim, Shannon, and even plans to kill her in the same way that Wuornos did.
Wuornos was found guilty of killing seven men between 1989 and 1990, but she said she did it in self-defense during her hearing. Psychiatric tests showed that she had borderline and antisocial personality disorders. Even though it was said that some of her victims had crime records, she was given six death sentences.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, show creator Ben Watkins said, “The show explores the psychological depths of what drives criminals.” The show makes Ramsey’s mental health look complicated. It shows him as a killer with a god complex who sees his killings as works of art meant to cement his place in criminal history.
As a clever plot twist, the police don’t give Ramsey the attention he wants by charging him with only two crimes, even though there is proof of a longer list of people he wants to kill. This way of writing crime dramas differs because it focuses on psychological effects instead of shocking events.
Many reviewers think “Cross” is the best movie version of James Patterson’s famous character. The show has crime-solving and personal stories, like Cross’s emotional journey through sadness after his wife’s death.
At the end of the season, there is a scene during the credits that hints at what might happen next. Watkins says that Ramsey’s story may go on. The show has already been picked up for a second season, and the creator has promised that the new killer will be introduced while keeping current relationships.
The show’s popularity comes from its ability to combine complicated psychological themes with interesting storylines, giving viewers a more sophisticated take on the crime drama genre.
