The Madison reveals shock death of A-list star's character in dramatic first episode
Did you see it coming?
Emerson Miller /Paramount+
- James Hibbs
Published: Saturday, 14 March 2026 at 5:00 pm
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*Warning - contains major spoilers for The Madison episode 1.*
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The first three episodes of Taylor Sheridan's new star-studded drama series The Madison are available to stream now on Paramount+, and they start things out on a shocking note.
While we had been pre-warned that the series would focus on a family dealing with a tragedy, we didn't know what that tragedy would be. However, within the first half of episode 1, it became clear.
The premiere saw Kurt Russell's character, Preston, taking a regular trip to go fishing with his brother, Paul, at the latter's shack in the Madison River valley.
As they return to the shack from one particular trip out, Preston and Paul fly back on a biplane, but find themselves caught up in a storm – one which proves to be deadly.
Kurt Russell as Preston Clyburn in The Madison. Emerson Miller /Paramount+
Soon after we see them struggling through the storm, Preston's wife Stacy, played by Michelle Pfeiffer, receives a call back in New York to say that the worst has happened – the plane has gone down and two people have died.
The bodies are believed to be those of Preston and Paul, but formal identification is needed. This leads to Stacy, her two daughters, her son-in-law and her two granddaughters travelling out to the Madison River valley, setting up the story for the rest of the season.
While Russell continues to make appearances throughout remaining episodes in flashbacks, his character's death this early on in the series is still a shocker – the drama has been sold on Pfeiffer and Russell as its A-list lead stars.
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The series also stars Beau Garrett, Elle Chapman, Patrick J Adams, Amiah Miller, Alaina Pollack, Ben Schnetzer, Kevin Zegers, Rebecca Spence, Danielle Vasinova, Matthew Fox and Will Arnett.
The first season will be made up of just six episodes, with the remaining three being released one week later, on Saturday 21 March.
The Madison will continue on Paramount+ on Saturday 21 March.
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Authors
James HibbsDrama Writer
James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
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