Fall is just around the corner, and with it comes a slew of new shows that many TV viewers are eager to watch.
You might be attracted to a new series because the medical series is a favorite of yours.
Or because your favorite book is finally making its long-awaited journey to the small screen.
Or maybe your favorite actress or actor is starring in a new movie and that’s the only reason you decide to watch certain movies.
When a well-known star appears on a series, it’s easy to be lulled into a false sense of security because there’s no way they could kill off someone they included in the series’ marketing.
Someone brought a new audience to the show! Of course not!
Well, as we’ve seen over the years, shows never rise above shock value, and many shows kill off important characters right off the bat.
Often times, these reveals end up shaping much of the rest of the series.
We’ve thought a lot about some of the most memorable first-episode deaths, but they still left us confused, disturbed, impressed, or all of the above.
big sky
We can discuss the shortcomings of Big Sky in another article.
However, one thing the thriller did right was its decision to kill off Ryan Phillippe’s character Cody Hoyt in the series premiere.
The marketing for “Big Sky” is important to Philippe, which is understandable since he’s the best-known actor.
Philip was a movie star in his own right, and many people decided to watch the series, which was set in the beautiful mountains of Montana.
Cody is a former police officer who handles many personal matters, and he becomes interested in the case of two girls who disappeared while visiting their son.
His digging brought him into contact with Montana Highway Patrol trooper Rick Legarski, who was involved in the kidnapping of the two young girls and shot him when he got too close to the truth. Cody.
This is a shocking murder.
Not only did you expect Philip to be the star of the show, but Cody’s death also changed the tone of the show.
Fans weren’t happy with his untimely death, although the show wasn’t too affected as it ran for three seasons on ABC.
But it’s still funny looking back now.
If Cody hadn’t died, we might never have seen Jenny and Cassie come together as partners like they did throughout the series.
Their friendship is truly the heart and soul of it all, and it’s a friendship that might never have come to fruition if Cody had lived among them.
yellowstone park
By now, we’re all aware of the behind-the-scenes drama that’s plagued Yellowstone over the past few years.
It’s a shame that so many things cast a shadow on a show that was so great in its first few seasons.
When it first premiered, no one knew what to expect, except for the big movie stars with Kevin Costner at the helm and the vast Montana landscape as a backdrop.
The story of the Dutton family and their claim to the land continues throughout the first episode with the Dutton siblings, including eldest brother Lee, played by “Brothers and Sisters” actor Dave Annable.
Fans of “Annable” were eager to see him take on another starring role on the ABC series, but fans were shocked when Lee’s character was quickly killed off in the series premiere.
No one knew what kind of show Yellowstone would become, or what cultural phenomenon it would spark, but they learned early on that no one was safe — even if your last name was Dutton.
a million little things
The marketing for ABC’s tearjerker made it very clear what the series was about and what the catalyst for everything we were about to see was; Jon Dixon’s intention to commit suicide.
We knew what was coming, and yet we were still devastated when Ron Livingston’s Jon died during his inauguration time.
This guy may not be as good at bait and switch as others, but it’s still a pain, mostly because he’s so prominent in the marketing rollout.
Livingston was a popular actor with a lot of credits to his credit, and losing him so early would be difficult, even if he did pop up from time to time throughout the rest of the show.
This may not be an unexpected death or departure like others on this list, but we’re still feeling the same emotions.
mayor of kingston
Do me a favor and go back and watch the early trailers for Mayor of Kingston.
This is clearly Jeremy Renner’s show, but Kyle Chandler’s steady presence throughout the promos has led many, including myself, to think he’s going to be a major factor in the series.
Chandler’s character Mickey McCluskey is the “mayor” of Kingston at the start of the show, and Renner’s Mike is his right-hand man.
While there may be drama here with Mitch and Mac fighting for power even though Mac doesn’t seem to want it, the point of the show is to get rid of that dynamic by defeating Mitch in the first episode.
Chandler rose to fame with starring roles in “Early Edition,” “Friday Night Lights” and “Descent.”
Many people tuned in to watch Chandler and Renner play opposite each other, but unfortunately that dream was cut short when Mickey bit the bullet early on.
fifth generation
Just because it is a spin-off of “The Boys,” people will definitely tune in to watch “The 5th.”
But with a fresh cast and an interesting premise, fans are excited to see what comes next from this universe.
One reason for this excitement is the appearance of Patrick Schwarzenegger.
Arnold’s son stars alongside a cast of up-and-coming actors and actresses and brought a huge buzz to the HBO Max miniseries “The Staircase” following its success.
Schwarzenegger’s Golden Boy is expected to be the next Homelander and a promising new member of The Seven.
However, throughout the pilot, you can tell that something sinister is going on at Godolkin University, and it directly involves the most popular kid on campus.
Golden Boy’s death shocked fans who thought he would play a larger role in the series, setting the tone for the entire first season.
No one is safe and anything can happen at any given time. After all, this is the place next to the boys, and you’d better remember that.
edge
The Fringe has really become a small show.
It wasn’t a huge hit when it first premiered, but it eventually found its footing and attracted a cult audience that stayed with it until the very end.
This series is the very definition of a cult classic.
When the show first premiered, it didn’t grab anyone’s attention, and the biggest draw was Joshua Jackson, who had just done a long run in Dawson’s Creek.
Mark Vallee is also well-known in broadcast circles after his role on “Boston Legal,” with audiences interested in his starring role in the sci-fi drama opposite Jackson, John Noble, and Anna Torv.
Valley’s John Scott was an integral part of the pilot as he was exposed to chemicals that caused his body to rapidly decay.
His recovery process brought together the Fringe team viewers came to know and love, but he ultimately died in a car crash.
Scott’s death in a car crash, in addition to being a huge letdown for Valley fans who were hoping for him to have a bigger role in the series, felt anticlimactic considering how much time was spent trying to save him.
silo
“Silo” has a lot going for it when it premieres on Apple TV+ in 2023, including a star-studded cast.
“The Silo” stars Rebecca Ferguson, Rashida Jones, David Olyelowo, Common and Tim Robbins Infused with life.
The show’s premiere focused on the dynamic between Oyelowo’s Silo Sheriff Holston Becker and Jones’ devoted wife Allison Becker.
The premise of Silo is simple. In a dystopian future, a group of people live in underground silos, bound by rules designed to protect them.
They dare not venture out of the silo for fear of death.
Throughout the pilot, Alison becomes increasingly disillusioned with the silo and its history, leading to her firing.
There had been hopes that Allison would survive the assault outside the silo, but those hopes were quickly dashed when she fell a few feet away and collapsed.
Jones has been acting for a while and has played many famous roles. It looks like a star turn in a famous series.
But from a plot perspective, Alison’s death was incredibly heartbreaking and truly surprising due to Jones’ hiding and presence in promotional materials.
the last of us
The Last of Us is one of the biggest series premieres of 2023, with an opening episode so good it feels more like a movie than a TV series at times.
This post-apocalyptic drama begins in Austin, Texas, on what promises to be a devastating day from the perspective of teenage Nico.
As we follow Nico Parker’s Sarah Miller, it’s easy to feel ecstatic about her perspective on an increasingly deteriorating day.
The pilot does a great job in its first few minutes, which prepares us for our journey into a post-apocalyptic universe.
But it doesn’t take long for Sarah to enter that world, which is a terrible shock to her father, Joel, played by the talented Pedro Pascal.
If you’re a fan of the video games adapted from the series, then you already know Sarah’s fate.
But many people new to this universe are surprised and upset that we don’t learn more about Sarah and Joel’s relationship.
Sarah’s presence continues to be a big part of the season, but her death in the premiere still felt like a major blow.
Over to you, TV fanatics! What’s your favorite example of a show that killed off a major character in its premiere episode?
Hit the comments section below to share your thoughts!
