Beste Episodes
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 man has been gunned down in a convenience store. With the surveillance cameras keeping watch, the last few minutes of this man’s life are caught on tape. A gruesome murder in a high-rise condo, will send detectives on the trail of a killer. When they find a blood trail leading out of the building…the hunt is on.
The episode was rated 7,40 from 87 votes.
In a personal killing, the body of a woman has been found stabbed, beaten and burned. With the victims niece and mother missing…a new level of urgency is reached in this case. In a local motel the body of a pool hustler is found. With the victim’s car nowhere to be found, detectives hope to by finding the car they can find a suspect.
The episode was rated 7,47 from 32 votes.
A young woman is found dead, shot with few clues. Detectives are glad to hear a witness has called but soon learns all they left was a cryptic message. Detectives are left to determine just who “Mississippi” is and what the connection is to the murder. While an elderly woman sleeps inside her husband of 40 years is found duct taped and murdered outside of their home. Detectives investigate to determine if this was a random act of violence, robbery or retribution.
The episode was rated 7,50 from 32 votes.
A homeless man is beaten to death, detectives think they have found the killer. Much to their surprise their case take an unexpected turn in events. Found in her kitchen a grandmother has been stabbed to death. While detectives follow up on leads, it will take forensics to point to the killer.
The episode was rated 7,50 from 28 votes.
A decomposing body is found in Texas. Detectives must trace the victims life to find the answer they need…all they find is love and deceit. In Tennessee a body dumped in and empty field has left few clues for detectives. Finding clues will not be an easy task.
The episode was rated 7,50 from 38 votes.
A woman is shot and killed though a closed front door. Detectives scour the city and the country to find a killer, leaving no stone unturned. Shots ring out and a 17-year-old is shot in what the locals call “Pork and Beans”. With witnesses telling different stories detectives are left to sort though details looking for the killer.
The episode was rated 7,51 from 37 votes.
A young man is found dead in an apartment complex. With nothing more than a cell phone to go on detectives rush to find clues in the murder. When a young woman is killed in a local neighborhood one detective is driven to solve the case. Turns out this woman was murdered in the neighborhood where the detective grew up.
The episode was rated 7,52 from 29 votes.
When a robbery gets messed up a woman is killed, with only a teenager as a witness. The detectives plead with her mother to convince her to talk. Tragedy strikes when a young mother and her baby are murdered. The hunt is on in the city for the man the believe killed them: the young mothers boyfriend.
The episode was rated 7,57 from 28 votes.
An elderly man is found stabbed in his own home. After collecting some vital evidence police soon realize a family member may be involved. The mean streets of Memphis have claimed the life of a man outside a liquor store. Detectives must use interrogation skills and street smarts to track down this killer.
The episode was rated 7,58 from 50 votes.
A burned body found in a car, leads detectives down a winding road. The victims past is littered with danger and questionable friends. A home invasion as left one victim dead. The hunt is on for the killer. Detectives will go cross jurisdiction for find the person responsible.
The episode was rated 7,60 from 48 votes.
A gas station clerk falls victim to an armed robbery and is shot, before he dies he hit’s the alarms. All exits are sealed locking the killer inside, however when police arrive the killer is no where to be found. Two men open fire on each other outside a young girls home, she is caught in the crossfire and dies. With only witnesses from the community they are forced to rely on them to lead them to the shooters.
The episode was rated 7,63 from 35 votes.
A gunfight has broke out at a local motel leaving two men dead and another clinging to life. The detectives must act quickly to find their shooter. Nothing is more tragic than they death of a child, emotions run deep when a two year old shooting victim is found. A nationwide manhunt will follow with tips from an eight year old witness.
The episode was rated 7,64 from 33 votes.
A young couples goes missing in Memphis. Family members contact the local police for help, the fear the worst might have happened. While detectives investigate they soon realize they may not be investigating the loss of two lives but rather helping to return them to their families. Behind a barbershop a young man has been gunned down in cold blood. As the detectives investigate they quickly realized not everything is as it appears.
The episode was rated 7,68 from 19 votes.
It is a rainy day when shots ring out from a moving car, detectives respond and find a victim. Turns out the victim is an innocent bystander…but the intended target helps detectives. A man is murdered in his van, identifying the victim will prove to be harder than expected. To find the killer detectives must first sort out truth from fiction.
The episode was rated 7,75 from 36 votes.
A young woman is found dead, shot with few clues. Detectives are glad to hear a witness has called but soon learns all they left was a cryptic message. Detectives are left to determine just who “Mississippi” is and what the connection is to the murder. While an elderly woman sleeps inside her husband of 40 years is found duct taped and murdered outside of their home. Detectives investigate to determine if this was a random act of violence, robbery or retribution.
The episode was rated 7,77 from 13 votes.
