Warning: The following contains major SPOILERS for Cross season 1!Cross' creator breaks down the season 1 ending and the reveal of Maria’s (Chauntee Schuler Irving) killer. Prime Video’s series stars Aldis Hodge as the titular detective, who comes to discover that Miss Nancy (Karen Robinson) is responsible for his wife’s murder as revenge after Cross’s testimony put her adoptive daughter Deirdre away for life, which resulted in her death. Miss Nancy tells Cross what Maria’s last word is in the finale, or what she heard. Meanwhile,Crossseason 1sees Cross catching the Fanboy Killer, Ed Ramsey (Ryan Eggold), ending with Ramsey behind bars but being denied the recognition he craves.
In an interview withEntertainment Weeklyfor the show’s premiere, Watkins broke downCrossseason 1’s ending. The creator began by admitting thathe “never considered” killing Ramseybecause that would give him the win by being executed like “the legends” he worships. Keeping Eggold’s role alive means that “there’s always the opportunity to bring him back”:
I never considered killing him because I felt that if you’re Ramsey, that fits within your goal. Ultimately, he wants to be executed like all of the legends. The next best step would be to be killed, especially if killed by someone of the stature of Alex Cross. So we knew that we weren’t going to give him that win.
With Miss Nancy, Watkings explained thatMaria’s killer is someone else in the books, and he wants to keep that idea alive, but for Cross, knowing who’s behind it offers the character peace beyondCrossseason 1’s ending. Check out the rest of what he said below:
In the Cross books, there are a lot of killers who stay in the mythology and some return. Once I was getting this performance from Ryan, I said, ‘Man, this guy’s going to land.’ And so at that point, I had already started hatching plans of: I wonder how could we ever see Ramsey again?
It would be the equivalent of Al Capone ordering Frank Nitti to kill someone, and so they know it’s Al Capone who they ultimately hold responsible. But if we ever get our hands on Frank Nitti, that might also be something. In the books, John Sampson [Isaiah Mustafa] finds out that it’s someone else and actually takes care of it for Alex. So I wanted to keep that alive, and also, for the plot logic, I couldn’t have it be Miss Nancy who did the killing.
Someone else carried it out, and we haven’t crossed paths with the person who carried it out. In the writers' room we did talk about whether or not it was her son, but in my mind there’s somebody else out there. After season 1, the whole point is for Alex to deal with the grief. He should not be worried anymore about who actually pulled the trigger. He should be worried about his own healing.
What This Means For Cross' Future
Ed Ramsey Might Come Back
Watkins' comment indicates thatthe show’s creator intends to bring Ramsey back in future seasons ofCross.The Fanboy Killer gets exactly what he doesn’t want in the end, as his scrapbook is destroyed, and someone else takes the credit for his crimes, therefore not allowing him to leave a mark on crime history. The show creator’s comment also revealsRamsey’s true motivationbeing that of attention and recognition, as extensive media coverage and going out with a bang were part of Ramsey’s endgame.
Who Bobby Trey Is & Why He’s Working With The Serial Killer In Cross Season 1
Amazon Prime Video’s Cross introduces Bobby Trey as its secondary antagonist, who directly helps the show’s main serial killer in more ways than one.
With Maria Cross’s killer reveal, the show creator’s intention of keeping that person someone unknown adds mystery to the character. This could suggest thatCrossseason 2might go with the book’s treatment in revealing the actual person who is responsible for her death to be someone other than Peter, or leave the possibility for something more in the future.
Our Take On Cross Season 1
Cross Offers A Refreshing Portrayal Of Serial Killers
Centering around a serial killer operating in the area as well as being targeted personally, Alex Cross has gone through a lot in season 1.The highly-rated seriesCrossis gripping and sophisticated, with the final reveal also offering a satisfying explanation of everything that was going on behind the curtain. From Fanboy’s motivation and Miss Nancy’s revenge plot that’s driven by guilt and grief, the new police procedural easily separates itself from the rest.
Who Killed Alex’s Wife Maria & Why In Cross
Alex Cross' wife, Maria, is brutally murdered in the opening moments of Amazon Prime Video’s Cross, raising many questions about who killed her & why.
The series also offers a very interesting angle on Ed Ramsey that’s differentfrom the usual portrayal of serial killers in television, as Ramsey is arrogant and clumsy in front of a sharp-witted detective.Crossoffers a disillusioned portrayal of a serial killer who has tricks that would grant him the control he has over people, but trips over his own uncontrollable obsession and arrogance. The series' idea of justice also tastes like justice instead of just looking the part.
Cross
Cast
Cross follows the life of Alex Cross, a skilled yet troubled homicide detective balancing his role as a devoted father and relentless crime investigator. Haunted by his wife’s murder, he navigates personal turmoil while persistently pursuing justice in the face of dangerous adversaries.
