Alex Cross, the protagonist of James Patterson's crime novels, is a compelling mix of a determined detective and a sad widower. As a detective, he is relentless in his pursuit of justice, yet behind his resolute demeanor lies the heart of a grieving widower, deeply missing his wife. This duality defines him as both a tireless investigator and a man carrying profound personal pain.
This layered character is brought to life by Aldis Hodge in the Amazon Prime Video series Cross, capturing the essence of his strength and sorrow with striking authenticity. He is determined to solve crimes, and at the same time look for answers about his wife, Maria's murder. It was an important event that had both professional and personal implications that shaped Cross's life.
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As a single dad who lost his wife, he is driven by his grief to almost obsessively seek justice, but that shows unending love and guilt. The series also represents his weaknesses—his distance away from his kids, his emotional isolation, and his rash choices influenced by his unsolved sorrow.
There's a contrast between his meticulous detective skills and his grieving heart, but this sets him to be a more relatable human being.
Disclaimer: This article has spoilers for the show so proceed with caution if you haven't caught up with it yet.
Alex Cross is a symbol of resilience and complexity
Alex Cross represents the human challenge of overcoming pain while still excelling in having to excel at one's job. His grieving yet determined character shows strength, as he turns his sadness into an unstoppable ambition.
Not to shy away from showing the weaknesses of the lead character, the show depicts the quick decisions, lack of trust, and times when he breaks down emotionally. This makes him more endearing. Hence, critics have praised Hodge for capturing this medley of traits.
As pointed out by Pierre Chanliau, Alex's success in solving Maria's case will closely be related to his progression, thus making him:
"A man whose strength lies as much in his vulnerabilities as in his sharp intellect."
Maria's death is important to his journey and injects some emotionally mature feelings. It shows a man trying to find peace without getting too obsessed.
How Maria's death impacts Alex Cross' investigations
To Alex, Maria's murder is the driving force behind the relentless quest for justice. He sees it as not just the loss of a loved one but also as a failure at a personal level which hurts him. This loss fuels his determination to crack even the toughest of cases, particularly those involving victims who remind him of Maria.
Finally, in the last episode, he discovers the trivial motives behind the killing of his wife. It reveals she was planned to be killed by Miss Nancy and her son Peter Lennox as revenge to Cross for his testimony at the court against Deirdre Nolan.
Finding out who did it and why (because of family issues and being tricked) helps Cross better his psychological state, but it also brings problems. Nancy reminds him of Maria's final words before she burned herself, making Cross even more sorrowful and determined to keep his family safe.
The hard part of trying to take care of family and work at the same time
Alex's sadness has impacted his family life. The emotional distance seen in the series makes it hard for him to connect with his kids, Damon and Janelle. He cannot have a word about Maria's death, which causes problems and arguments between them.
The show contrasts his role as a dad with his job as a detective. Some of the ongoing threats to his family, from scary break-ins to dangerous stalkers, come from his work, adding to his mental strain.
Despite these problems, his desire to safeguard remains strong. In the season finale when he reunited with his children, Cross demonstrates that he recognizes pain needs to be faced to heal and further keep his loved ones safe.
The show is available on Amazon Prime Video.
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