The Madison reveals shock death of A-list star’s character in dramatic first episode

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*Warning – contains major spoilers for The Madison episode 1.*

The first three episodes of Taylor Sheridan’s new drama, The Madison, are now streaming on Paramount+, and they immediately grab your attention with a surprising beginning.

We knew the show would center around a family facing a difficult loss, but we didn’t know the specifics. It became clear what happened within the first thirty minutes of the first episode.

The movie opens with Kurt Russell’s character, Preston, frequently visiting his brother, Paul, for fishing trips at Paul’s cabin in the Madison River valley.

On their way back to the shack after a trip, Preston and Paul were flying in a biplane when they encountered a dangerous storm, which ultimately proved fatal.

Shortly after watching Preston and his team battle the storm, his wife, Stacy (played by Michelle Pfeiffer), receives devastating news in New York: the plane they were on has crashed, and two people are confirmed dead.

Authorities think the recovered remains are those of Preston and Paul, but they need to officially confirm their identities. This news brings Stacy, her two daughters, son-in-law, and two granddaughters to the Madison River valley, and sets the stage for the rest of the season’s events.

Although Russell will still appear in flashbacks throughout the rest of the season, his character’s early death is surprising, especially since the show heavily promoted both Pfeiffer and Russell as its main stars.

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The show features a talented cast including Beau Garrett, Elle Chapman, Patrick J. Adams, Amiah Miller, Alaina Pollack, Ben Schnetzer, Kevin Zegers, Rebecca Spence, Danielle Vasinova, Matthew Fox, and Will Arnett.

Okay, so here’s the deal with the release schedule. The show kicks off with six episodes, and then, just a week later on March 21st, the final three will drop. It’s a bit of a staggered release, but I think it’ll keep us talking about it for longer!

The Madison will continue on Paramount+ on Saturday 21 March.

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Authors

James HibbsDrama Writer

James Hibbs writes about TV dramas for TopMob, covering shows on streaming services and traditional channels. Before becoming a writer, he worked in public relations, first at a business-to-business agency and then at the international production company Fremantle. He has a BA in English and Theatre Studies, as well as a Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.

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2026-03-14 21:04