Cross – Mask – Review: Covert Insanity

Episode 4, Mask, conveys the idea of the covert. The episode structures itself both literally and figuratively, with some characters donning masks to conceal themselves and others donning them for protection. I have no quarrel with the actor’s execution of the material. However, making good television takes a village of producers, writers, directors, editors, and others. The stark polarization between our hero, Alex Cross (Aldis Hodge), and the villain, Ed Ramsey (Ryan Eggold), sometimes feels forced, resulting in a rather lazy narrative that deprives these gifted actors of opportunities to explore nuance and subtlety. So, it seems, my concerns may lie with the village rabble, not with the show’s leads. Continue reading to learn more.

The last episode ended in a cemetery with a dress hung high in the trees near Maria Cross’s grave, which Cross says he’d seen before. The dress was worn in court by someone, Deirdre Nolan (Jessica Clement), whom he had testified against. While reviewing the courtroom video, Cross cringes at his expert testimony. He said that Ms. Nolan would not be able to reenter society because “she could not be fixed.” The judge predicated Deirdre ‘s life sentence on Cross’s testimony. We also discover that Deirdre was abused in prison by Correctional Officer Brenda Leeland (Kiran Friesen) who was the woman Cross was set up to kill in the previous episode. Deirdre presumably committed suicide in prison because of the abuse she suffered at the hands of Leeland.

“Mask” – CROSS, Pictured: Aldis Hodge as Alex Cross, Isaiah Mustafa as John Sampson. Photo: Keri Anderson/Prime Video © 2010-2024 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved

At home, Cross is continually pressured to move beyond his grief. Mama Nana (Juanita Jennings) is concerned that her grandchildren “walk on eggshells” so as not to make their dad sad. To address this concern, she decreed the return of Friday’s family karaoke. “You just want to see me break down,” Cross accuses. “No, baby, I just want to see you break through,” she reassures. Disconnected and numb, Cross outright rejects that he will attend. Nana Mama complains that the whole family won’t be there without him. Cross correctly reminds her that the whole family won’t be since his wife, Maria, was murdered. When Cross retrieves the karaoke machine from the garage, he plays his wife’s go-to tune, “Love Me Still” by Chaka Khan. His veneer of emotional stability slips, and he gives in to his sadness, anger, and frustration. Can I just say how much I love an angsty Aldis?

Meanwhile, Ed Ramsey, having retrieved Shannon Whitmore from Bobby Trey (Johnny Ray Gill), fortifies against losing control over her again. The scenes between Ramsey and Whitmore in this episode escalate to hair-raising or, more accurately, teeth-shattering heights. Ramsey wears a creepy, rubber mask that completely conceals his face and distorts his speech. However, viewers know that the caretaker of the 41 Price Street property and Bobby Trey know him without the mask. They know his identity, so why the artifice? Clearly, the covert insanity of Ed Ramsey means he is using the mask to hide his mental instability. Ramsey’s façade of order and normalcy slips after he commits an intense and unforgivable act in front of Shannon. In response to her reaction, Ramsey calmly explains, “I’m not a monster.” Isn’t he?

“Mask” – CROSS, Pictured: Ryan Eggold as Ed Ramsey. Photo: Keri Anderson/Prime Video
© 2010-2024 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved

Shannon continues to delight and surprise. She’s smart in her interactions with Ramsey. He sees himself as an artist creating a masterpiece. She is an art curator. Peanut butter. Jelly. She uses her knowledge of art to charm and manipulate Ramsey by complementing his work. Shannon wants to deflect suspicion and maintain the façade that she’s somehow with him. Shannon employs her unique brand of covert insanity as a coping mechanism to manage her severe anxiety, all while maintaining an outward appearance of calm. Unfortunately, Shannon is no match for Ed Ramsey, but as a viewer, it’s fascinating to watch her stay in the fight.

In the squad room, Cross and his team create an evidence mural from the meticulously documented contents from the ‘Good Book.’ Detective Shawna De Lackner (Stacie Greenwell) helps establish the link between the missing woman, Shannon Whitmore, and the case. Some of the evidence in the book is sent for DNA testing. John Sampson (Isaiah Mustafa) shushes the team, clarifying that Cross is “doing his thing.” From studying the wall, Cross divines that the book belongs to someone who considers himself a virtuoso close to completing his masterpiece, ramping up the urgency. But the writing here gets a bit bogged down — becoming a bit too clever when it comes to deciphering the names of the individuals associated with the book. Viewers almost need to have specific knowledge about these people for the plot to make sense. I suspect the goal was less about content knowledge and more about understanding how Cross’s mind works.

Cross knows the book is key to solving the crime. Ramsey has directed Bobby Trey to get it back. Cut to Trey singing, “You, you got what I need,” from Biz Markie’s, ‘Just a Friend.’ It’s funny because Chris Wu (Jason Rogel), a minor character from the police department, has brought him what he needs. We now know that the police department is compromised. We also know that Cross doesn’t believe that Trey, a former cop, is the mastermind behind the book. Cross chases Trey, demanding that he says who he’s working for. Yeah, that doesn’t happen, and the police no longer have custody of the ‘Good Book.’

“Mask” – CROSS, Pictured: Samantha Walkes as Elle Monteiro. Photo: Keri Anderson/Prime Video
© 2010-2024 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved

Cross and Elle Monteiro (Samantha Walkes) meet for lunch. She’s in full seductress mode. Cross questions whether her attention is a ploy to get him to agree to attend Ramsey’s birthday party, to which he declined. Elle assures him that it is not. She didn’t lie. Elle’s real ploy was to deliver him to Friday’s family karaoke night, which she does. Things go well until they don’t. The family’s stalker infiltrates, and instead of the karaoke machine’s music, it plays Cross’s 911 call reporting his wife’s shooting. The kids start crying. Elle is remorseful, saying, “I truly thought this could be good for us.” “It was,” Cross assured. He didn’t lie, as he later showed up to spend the night with Elle.

After Cross’s night with Elle, Special Agent Kayla Craig (Alona Tal) is weirdly waiting outside Elle’s home when he leaves. She has been following up with the DNA samples from the Good Book, which has led to video evidence that convinces Cross that he must go to Ed Ramsey’s birthday party.

“Mask” – CROSS, Pictured: Alona Tal as Kayla Craig. Photo: Keri Anderson/Prime Video
© 2010-2024 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved

Overall, Mask is a solid episode where the strands of this two-pronged mystery begin to knit together. I think the production was a little tropey with its foot chases, profanity-laced arguments, and dramatic shootouts. This approach may cater to high-stakes police drama fans, but it undermines the potential for a richer, more intricate crime story, which the production has shown it can deliver when it focuses on the Cross family. The performances remain solid, and the story is entertaining, so keep watching. If you’re anything like me, you’ll find yourself inspired to watch again. 

What did you think of Mask?  How do the masks and images shown in this episode affect your understanding of who the characters really are and what drives them? Let me know in the comments, and thanks for reading.

Overall Rating: 

8/10

Lynette Jones