Prime Video’s ‘Cross’ returns for season 2, asking viewers to decide how far is too far when the cause feels justified

Amazon Prime’s hit crime thriller starring Aldis Hodge, “Cross,” has returned for a second season with an urgent theme at its center.

Prime Video’s “Cross” has returned for a second season and, despite being filmed back-to-back with the first installment, its central story feels as timely as ever.

The Amazon Studios thriller once again follows Alex Cross, the Washington, D.C.-based homicide detective and forensic psychologist created by James Patterson, as he takes on another chilling case while navigating life as a widowed father.

This time, the stakes feel especially charged. The second season centers on a calculating vigilante killer targeting members of the wealthy elite, forcing both Cross and viewers to grapple with a complicated question: How far is too far when the cause feels justified?

The updated storyline arrives at a moment when anxieties around the power and influence of the ultra-wealthy feel heightened, making the show’s exploration of justice and accountability all the more resonant.

“It’s almost as if we predicted the future,” series showrunner Ben Watkins told theGrio exclusively ahead of the debut. “The themes that we’re talking about — vigilantism, oversized influence by billionaires and institutions, both government and corporate, that seem to treat the population like we’re disposable — those are all themes in our show that are more timely now than ever.”

He added, “You will have to ask that question, how far is too far, and I think that answer is going to be different for everyone.”

Aldis Hodge, who stars as the titular detective, said the relevance and the conversations it may spark are “exciting.” This season, he said, will leave viewers grappling with whether they feel comfortable supporting people doing seemingly good things in the wrong ways.

“How do you feel about that? Because that’s a real conversation, particularly that’s been going on for a minute, but really right now,” he said. 

The series’s first season introduced audiences to Cross as a brilliant investigator still reeling from the murder of his wife, Maria, while raising his two children with the help of his beloved Nana Mama (Juanita Jennings). Alongside his longtime friend and partner, Detective John Sampson (Isaiah Mustafa), Cross hunted a sadistic serial killer in a case that tested him professionally and emotionally.

Season two picks up in the aftermath, with Cross attempting to steady his personal life even as a new threat emerges. The vigilante at the center of the mystery, Luz, played by Jeanine Mason, is cunning and driven by a sense of righteousness, targeting powerful billionaires and corporate figures. As the investigation unfolds, Cross is forced deeper into questions about justice, corruption, and accountability.

Returning cast members include Samantha Walkes as Elle Monteiro and Alona Tal as FBI agent Kayla Craig, whose professional ties to Cross deepen this season. Caleb Elijah and Melody Hurd reprise their roles as Cross’s children, while Matthew Lillard joins the cast in a pivotal role tied to the elite circle under threat.

The season’s return is also notable because it was filmed alongside season one, which debuted in November 2024 to strong viewership and critical buzz long before its reception was clear. The cast and creative team committed to telling a sweeping story without knowing how audiences would respond.

“Going into it, it felt weighted,” Walkes said. “We were like, ‘Wait, we’re going back for a second season, and the world hasn’t seen one.’”

She added that the early renewal felt rare in today’s climate and reinforced the cast’s belief in the work.

Lillard echoed that enthusiasm. “Jumping onto a show that has a chance to be an international smash, it’s always fun,” he said. “Our lives change when you’re associated with such great work.”

While season one focused heavily on Cross’s grief, the second allows more space for the relationships around him to evolve. His bond with Sampson is tested, his connection with Elle grows more complicated as danger inches closer to home, and his dynamic with Kayla continues to shift.

“I’m excited for people to see the new tone of this thriller,” Tal said, noting that viewers will see deeper layers of her character.

As the body count rises and the vigilante’s motivations sharpen, season two pushes Cross to not only question the law, but his own beliefs.

“His evolution this season is one of challenging his resilience,” Hodge said. “He starts off in a pretty positive place. And then it all gets upended. Where we find him later is asking himself if he can actually enact his idea of justice from where he sits.”

The first three episodes of “Cross” are available now on Prime Video, with new episodes dropping on Wednesdays.