SPOILER ALERT: The following contains spoilers for Cross Season 2, Episode 1.
Cross Season 2 is immediately unkind to both John Sampson and Elle Monteiro. The Prime Video series opens its sophomore cycle with an episode that reveals Elle and Alex Cross broke up after all that they worked through in Season 1 (although they’re definitely not over each other). But more saddening and shocking is the audience learning that John’s mother is alive… and being accused of murder.
Series stars Samantha Walkes and Isaiah Mustafa spoke about their reactions to these two key pieces of information. Did they know these huge changes were coming, and how did they feel about them? Plus, what from Cross Season 2 stood out to them?
Brittany Frederick: The most emotional reveal in the Cross Season 2 premiere is realizing that John’s mom is alive. Isaiah, were you aware that this was on the table, or how surprised were you by it?
Isaiah Mustafa: I knew nothing. I knew nothing was coming. [Cross executive producer and showrunner] Ben [Watkins] is very good about holding those secrets very close, and he doesn’t let us in on those things.
And honestly, I prefer that he doesn’t let us in on those secrets until we get to a table read—and then you can go, oh man. Everybody’s surprised at the same time, and then it’s a mad dash to figure out how you’re going to work with that, how you’re going to deal with that. You get hints, but you don’t get details.
Samantha, on a less startling note, the romance between Elle and Cross have broken up between seasons, even though there’s still a strong pull between them. How was it for you to see that, after you and Aldis Hodge had spent Season 1 building up that pairing?
Samantha Walkes: To be honest, the first day of shooting was one of those intense scenes, and I sweated so much that day, because it’s hard to jump in at that point of the hurt and and where her heart is. I’m not going to lie about that.
As an artist, you really love those moments, because that’s really where the proof is in the pudding, right? That’s really where you either know what you’re doing works and it’s pulling through for you, or I feel like I’m drowning. I’m not prepared. But it felt like I had wings. I really loved the challenge of that—but it was incredibly heartbreaking. Incredibly heartbreaking.
As your characters went on these individual journeys separate from their dynamics with Cross, did you have favorite Season 2 scenes? What resonated with you?
Mustafa: It’s hard to pick favorites but I would have to say that any scene that you see Samson and LaDonna. Those scenes were very emotionally driven, and I had an amazing scene partner. Those scenes, I want to watch them on screen… To watch them again, you’re like oh, wow, that’s how deep it was. But I think all the scenes with his mother were probably my favorite.
Walkes: There’s a scene further into [Season 2] where it’s Elle and [Cross’ daughter] Jani… I champion our directors, because anytime you have a child actor on set, I’m always worried for them. I’ve always been a bit of a mother, I have a motherly instinct, but I worry for them only because they’re expected to do so many things that the adults are expected to do. And I think a lot of times off-screen, people forget that they’re just children.
[Director] R.T. [Thorne] was just so kind and generous around her process. We made this beautiful scene together, and I watched her grow in that moment. It was such a trip for me, because I know where she comes from. I know her journey as an actor—and then to watch her just have this growth spurt, because she had this creative interaction with her director who created such a great space for her.
I felt so privileged to say oh, that’s what happens to me sometimes, but this is happening to a young, growing aspiring mind. It was magic for me, and it was one of the best things that has ever happened to me as an artist—just to watch how that happens when you have a good environment and someone championing you to do exactly what you feel in your heart to do for this character, and not creating parameters or boxes or walls. Allowing it all to be a playing field. It was just so beautiful.
Cross streams Wednesdays on Prime Video. Photo Credit: Ian Watson/Courtesy of Prime Video; JC Olivera/Courtesy of Prime Video.
