The Crossover Review 2023 Tv Show Series Cast Crew Online
When it comes to discussing the Greatest of All Time in basketball, fans tend to compare players like Russell vs. Wilt or Magic vs. Bird. However, the newest TV series from LeBron James’ SpringHill company, The Crossover, is more likely to evoke comparisons than any direct declarations of greatness. The show, which is available on Disney+, is an adaptation of Kwame Alexander’s novel-in-verse and tells the story of twin brothers Josh and J.B. Bell, who are torn between athletic and academic aspirations as they near high school.
The Crossover generates some satisfying emotional beats and blends its coming-of-age and adult storylines well. Although some of its individual pieces may feel derivative, its overall voice is likably distinctive. The show’s love for Afrocentric culture is evident throughout, with references to Langston Hughes, Miles Davis, and Zora Neale Hurston. While episodes are often built around Big Game montages, the show’s Harlem Renaissance-themed school dance and roller-skating celebration are particularly engaging.
However, The Crossover isn’t always convincing when it comes to depicting sports action. Despite Josh’s joke about being undersized, no amount of strategic editing or immersive photography was able to make viewers believe that the Bell brothers could be potential high school basketball players, much less future top NBA draft picks. Other basketball-centric shows like Apple TV+’s Swagger or Disney+’s short-lived Big Shot managed their athletic limitations better.
The young ensemble cast of The Crossover features solid screen presences like Jalyn Hall and Amir O’Neil, who were likely cast more for their acting abilities than their basketball skills. Derek Luke and Sabrina Revelle also deliver strong performances as the boys’ parents. Phylicia Rashad makes a welcome guest appearance as Chuck’s mother, adding gravitas to the show.
The Crossover’s future elements may be too mature for the youngest viewers, but they add a moody element to the show. However, they sometimes feel like a forced effort to impose serialized mystery onto a show that doesn’t require it. The show’s directors use Josh’s florid verbiage as an opportunity for both education and visual flourishes that may be contagious for some young viewers.
Overall, The Crossover is a distinctive blend of very familiar elements. While it doesn’t quite achieve the lyrical poeticism of OWN’s David Makes Man or the earnest adolescent sincerity of Freevee’s High School or the proficiently executed basketball rush of Apple TV+’s Swagger or the enticing time-jumping mystery of The WB’s Jack & Bobby, it shows wide-ranging ambition that goes beyond many shows targeting a comparably young demographic. The show has clear room to expand and improve as it advances beyond the events of the first season.
