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 have broken up after all that they worked through in Season 1 (although they’re definitely not over each other). But more saddening and shocking is everyone 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 but no less sad note, 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.

Read the rest of this interview at Fangirlish.

Cross streams Wednesdays on Prime Video. Photo Credit: Ian Watson/Courtesy of Prime Video; JC Olivera/Courtesy of Prime Video.

Article content is (c)2020-2026 Brittany Frederick and may not be excerpted or reproduced without express written permission by the author. Follow me on Twitter at @BFTVTwtr and on Instagram at @BFTVGram. For story pitches, contact me at tvbrittanyf@yahoo.com.