The First 48 is one of the longest-running and most successful crime series on A&E. It premiered in 2004 and has now aired 24 seasons. The show follows detectives during the hours immediately following a homicide. Over the years, many episodes have been highly lauded for their gripping stories and compelling crime scenes. But there have also been some episodes that have been met with criticism or have been ranked among the show’s worst. In this article, we will rank the worst episodes of The First 48, examining the reasons why they are not as well-received as the rest.
In order to determine the worst episodes of the show, we must first examine the criteria for what makes an episode great. Generally, the most successful episodes of The First 48 have an interesting crime scene and a compelling story that follows it. Good episodes will also draw viewers in with intense suspense and drama, and will resolve the crime in a satisfying way.
The following episodes are some of the lowest-rated in the show’s history. While these episodes may not be as well-received as the rest, they still offer a unique insight into the world of crime and justice. We will discuss why these episodes have been considered some of the worst, and what makes them stand out from the rest of the series.
Written by Sophie and last updated on Feb 13, 2023.
PS: The following content contains spoilers!
PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!
In Gwinnett County, a teenager is gunned down outside a nightclub when he winds up at the center of a gang feud.
The episode was rated 6,15 from 13 votes.
When a young man goes missing in Tulsa, Okla., detectives must crack a family's code of silence in order to find him.
The episode was rated 7,00 from 11 votes.
When a young man is found executed in the street and a second victim is shot nearby, Tulsa detectives scramble to track down the dangerous gunman before he kills again.
The episode was rated 7,06 from 18 votes.
In Mobile, Ala., a man who turned his life around is gunned down in cold blood; detectives need to know if his troubled past came back to haunt him.
The episode was rated 7,26 from 65 votes.
In Tulsa, Okla., a barrage of gunfire kills a man while he's sitting in his car, with his 2-year-old daughter in the back seat; an elderly Atlanta man is burned alive in a building fire suspected to be arson.
The episode was rated 7,27 from 51 votes.
When a potential spree killer targets the most vulnerable in Tulsa, Okla., Detective Max Ryden must stop the murderer before he kills again.
The episode was rated 7,43 from 72 votes.
The First 48 episode "The Visitor" follows the investigation of a missing Atlanta man. His mother reported him missing and police soon find him dead in his bedroom, naked and shot twice. This mysterious crime starts off with many questions as to what happened to this man and why.
The detectives must work to piece together the evidence to solve the case and bring justice for the victim. As the investigation progresses, new leads take the detectives in different directions. They must follow all possible clues to determine who is responsible for the crime. With the help of witnesses, surveillance footage, and forensic evidence, the detectives strive to solve the case.
The episode was rated 7,71 from 17 votes.
