‘The Crossing’ Wanted to Be Two Shows: One Flew Off the Rails

“The Crossing” wants to be two shows at once: a sci-fi thriller about refugees from a distant American future, and an allegory about the U.S. border. Neither fully lands. It’s a decent premise, a strong cast, and a short run, but the execution keeps getting in its own way.

The Premise

Refugees arrive in an American town claiming to be Americans from 250 years ahead, fleeing a war. Sheriff Jude Ellis, played by Steve Zahn, finds himself protecting people he can’t trust while investigating why they’re here. Federal agent Emma Ren, played by Sandrine Holt, thinks they’re lying. The show spends its first few episodes building tension around who these people are and what they want.

The Allegory Problem

Then the allegory starts to show its seams. The refugees become stand-ins for undocumented immigrants, and the town becomes a stand-in for America. The show leans on this heavily, and the metaphor stops feeling fresh fast. Characters keep explaining the point out loud, which is a rare mistake in TV writing.

The Twist and the End

The finale tries to tie everything together with a conspiracy twist. It’s a twist, but it doesn’t quite pay off the setup. The show ends on a note that feels less like a resolution and more like a shrug.

The Cast

Steve Zahn carries the show. His Jude Ellis is weary, funny, and human, and he sells the emotional weight of the story better than anyone else on screen. Natalie Martinez and Sandrine Holt both bring energy to their roles, though their characters get less room to breathe. Georgina Haig’s Dr. Sophie Forbin gets some of the best science-fiction moments in the series, but her arc goes nowhere.

The show was cancelled after one season, and that’s probably for the best. It was a solid pilot with a weak middle and a confusing ending. The cast deserved more time, and the premise deserved sharper edges.

Key Facts
– Network: ABC
– Season: 1, 11 episodes
– First aired: April 2, 2018
– Last aired: June 9, 2018
– Cancelled: May 11, 2018

Schedule
| Episode | Date |
|———|——|
| Pilot | April 2, 2018 |
| Final | June 9, 2018 |

The Crossing is a show that wanted to say something and got lost along the way. It’s watchable, occasionally clever, and ultimately forgettable. A strong pilot and a solid cast couldn’t save a story that couldn’t decide what it wanted to be.

ABC · cancelled show · science fiction · Streaming · TV Review