Warning: SPOILERS lie ahead for Cross season 1!
With the latest incarnation of James Patterson’s iconic hero finally airing, creator Ben Watkins is sharing some insight intoCrossseason 1’s post-credits scene. The third adaptation of the character takes an original approach to its source material by making its own story, in which Aldis Hodge’s Alex Cross races to put a stop to a local serial killer dubbed the Fanboy Killer, who is being helped by former cop Bobby Trey. TheCrossseason 1 mid-credits sceneshows Alona Tal’s Kayla Craig meeting with Bobby to propose a deal to take the fall for the Fanboy Killer murders in exchange for full immunity.
In honor of the show’s premiere,Entertainment Weeklyspoke with Ben Watkins to discussCrossseason 1, particularly its mid-credits scene. The creator began by explaining that he had two major goals for the scene, and its impact on the show’s future, the first of which being he"always had plans for Bobby Trey", and as such he needed to find a way to leave the door open for his return:
I wanted to start two conversations. I always had plans for Bobby Trey, but the storyline almost requires that he go away for a long time. There has to be some sort of resolution to him. So I knew I had to plant a seed that would leave the door open for Bobby Trey’s return.
Watkins went on to explain that the other major goal of the mid-credits scene was for audiences to"question the different levels of Kayla Craig", hinting that the way she presents herself as a comic relief and a potential romantic interest for the titular detective may only be a façade for a darker alternate goal in the show’s future:
I also wanted to plant a seed that would make you question the different levels of Kayla Craig, who has just been nothing but helpful the entire time. Sometimes [she’s] a little comic relief, a little sarcastic humor, sometimes a little romantic chemistry, but mostly just someone who’s been helping. So I wanted to make you question her a little bit.
In looking at the other deal the duo make, in which Kayla asks for access to Ed Ramsey’s collection of blackmail on the Washington D.C. elite, Watkins notes that he"wanted to keep alive this idea"of the dangerous leverage that Ramsey had on some very important people in the city, and as such is something that could prove a threat for Cross and his team going into future seasons. See the rest of what Watkins explained below:
I felt like we’d set up a really powerful component to Ramsey in terms of him using leverage on people. I wanted to keep alive this idea that that treasure trove of dirt on people could still be kept alive going into new seasons.
What This Means For Cross' Future
Kayla Craig’s Name May Hold The Importance Book Fans Know
While newcomers to the property may have been surprised to see the character seemingly set up as a potential antagonist,those familiar with Patterson’s novels likely saw Kayla Craig’s dark turn coming intheCrossseason 1 ending. One of the more iconic characters in the books was that of Kyle Craig, a close friend of the titular detective who’s later revealed to be a serial killer. Though the character was seen in the Morgan Freeman-led movies, it was never hinted at whether they were planning on following through with this arc.
Cross Season 1: The Fanboy Killer’s Identity & Motivations Fully Explained
In its 8-episode runtime, Cross season 1 gradually unravels the tapestry of who the fanboy killer is and what he intends to achieve with his murders.
Even before the show’s premiere,Tal had similarly indicated toScreen Rantthere may be more to Kayla than meets the eye. While theCrossstar didn’t go as far as Watkins to confirm audiences would be questioning her allegiances, given she was being interviewed during New York Comic Con, she did find herself biting her tongue on how her character would develop in future seasons. See what Tal previously shared withScreen Rantbelow:
Well, in this season, she’s one of the inner sanctum of people that he can rely on and go to when he needs a little bit of assistance here and there with the case, specifically, that we’re dealing with in this season. She’s a trustworthy person to him in this season, she’s a person that will also attempt to be truthful, but she’s one of the people that helps them through and through, and you will see it develop in the future seasons. I can’t give you [more], I can’t say it.
Beyond Kayla’s potential connection to the iconic Kyle Craig, theCrossseason 1 mid-credits certainly established that Hodge’s Alex will have multiple enemies to look out for going forward. If Kayla first looks to use the blackmail she receives from Trey and Ramsey for good means, it could very well paint a target on her and Alex’s backs in season 2.
Our Take On The Cross Season 1 Mid-Credits Scene & Future
Watkins Shouldn’t Rush The Show’s Moriarty Equivalent
As much as I love that the show is seemingly building toward her being the same key villain as the books, I do admit thatCrossseason 2shouldn’t quite make Kayla a full-on antagonist just yet. Much like Will Graham and Hannibal Lecter in theHannibalTV show, or Moriarty in variousSherlock Holmesadaptations, the reveal of Craig’s villainy should have some impact on Hodge’s titular detective, which is something I feel would do better in a potential season 3 or beyond to better establish their relationship and make the twist then feel more devastating.
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.
