Cross

Even though I've never read any of the source material from the James Patterson books, I've still heard of Alex Cross long before this tv show was in production. It's definitely something that I knew I would like and did...a lot. Aldis Hodge is an up and coming and underrated actor and he absolutely kills it as Alex Cross. The series follow Cross, who's a decorated D. C. homicide detective and forensic psychologist. He studies the victims to better understand who murdered them. Here he tracks a serial killer with his partner, John Sampson (Isaiah Mustafa) that also has ties to his past. Besides being a detective he's also a family man and he's dedicated to being great at both. The best thing that this show has going for it is it's never boring. That's the very least you want from a show, to be invested in the story and never be bored. Cross does that.

I started following Aldis Hodge's career when I fell in love with his character in Leverage. His performance as "hacker" Hardison was superb, and I am totally buying his performance as Alex Cross as well. The writing is strong, the performances are excellent all around, and the directing and editing are top-notch. Here is my problem...

The lighting stinks.

I don't know anybody who lives every moment of their indoor life in such darkness. I am only 40 minutes into the first episode, but I already struggle to see details of many scenes. In particular, three scenes stand out. First was the cocktail lounge. I don't frequent cocktail lounges and bars myself, but even the darkest restaurant I ever visited had enough lighting that I could see the faces of the other people at the table. Second was the bad guy's lair. Would anybody working on detailed plans and projects really do it in such dim lighting? Certainly a perfectionist would want to see clearly everything he or she is doing. Third, is the house Alex shows up at for dinner. This is not a romantic dinner for two. It is a gathering of family and friends. The whole house is dark - the entry hall, the living room, and the dining room. Plus, every room in the police building is dark. Would a forensic expert not have a very well-lit operating room?

Why so dark? If they are trying to set a mood, I am more focused on struggling to see than I am on plot and dialogue.

This is a choice made by a lot of shows in recent years. You know, anybody with failing vision would simply not be able to watch this. Certainly my Father could not.

That being said, I could be wrong about the reason for the darkness. I stopped watching "How I Met your Father" on a different streaming service because it also was so dark it was not enjoyable. A little digging on the internet revealed that the problem was with the service, not the show. When the show aired on the network, the lighting was just fine.

I have been struggling, the picture is so dark. I actually have to hit pause to see which characters are on the screen. Everyone wears black and the background is dark even in the daytime. Visually, it's very unappealing. I had planned on binging the series in one day but this constant pausing to see who is in the scene is frustrating. The story is interesting and I want to watch all the episodes but I'm not super excited about the series now that I've watched half of the episodes.

I love the characters in the books but in my opinion, this series does not accurately measure up.

I think I was expecting a show as good as Reacher or Bosch. Those two series got the characters spot-on.

Seriously, the plot and the show is great, but can somebody tell the video editing dude to turn the damn brightness up please. The show is SO dark, literal dark not metaphorically dark, that you can't see what in the heck is going on like 75% of the time. Don't you dare try to watch it in the day time. I really want this review to make it to the editor so they can do something about the lack of brightness. I feel like i've made my point not, but I have one hundred and twenty characters left minimum before I can post, so I'll keep on typing until I get there. Sorry for the inconvenience, almost there, there we are!

I have enjoyed reading the Alex Cross series by James Patterson. As a fan of this character, when I heard the books were being turned into a series, I was worried that all the things I love about the books and characters would be ruined as the majority of film/tv series adaptations usually are.

I can say that my concerns were unfounded. Aldis Hodge is the perfect Alex Cross. Hodge possesses a commanding physical presence that is essential for the character, who is often depicted as both a brilliant thinker and a man who can hold his own in physical confrontations. This duality is crucial for portraying Cross authentically.

His performance reflects a deep understanding of the novels by James Patterson. He captures the essence of Cross's character as a brilliant detective driven by a strong sense of justice.

Overall, Hodge's interpretation of Alex Cross combines skillful acting with a strong emotional core, making him a standout choice for the role in the series. His performance likely appeals to both long-time fans of the character and newcomers alike.

Cross captures the essence of James Patterson's novels with gripping storytelling, character depth, and a suspenseful plot that will appeal to both longtime fans and new viewers.