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!
A young man is murdered while defending his friends during a home invasion; retired Detective Ronnie Leatherman hands off the case to Detective Lacey Lansdown, who must now seek justice for the man's family.
The episode was rated 6,27 from 11 votes.
In Tulsa, detectives scour the city for a man on the run while trying to uncover the truth behind a woman's mysterious injuries.
The episode was rated 6,60 from 10 votes.
When a man is found inside of a truck, stabbed 45 times, a bilingual Tulsa community comes together to help Detective Mark Kennedy identify the victim and track down his killer.
The episode was rated 7,08 from 12 votes.
Detective Angela Carter takes over the case of a missing teenage girl and wonders if the key to her disappearance could lie shockingly close to home.
The episode was rated 7,17 from 12 votes.
When a woman's body is discovered in her car on an overgrown lot outside of Mobile, Det. Glenn Barton traces her final steps to find who or what is ultimately responsible for her mysterious death.
The episode was rated 7,50 from 12 votes.
When a house fire turns out to be a triple murder involving a 7-year-old girl, Tulsa Homicide takes it personally.
The episode was rated 7,71 from 14 votes.
