‘Lethal Weapon’ Kills Off Clayne Crawford’s Riggs — Fans React

Jessica Napoli September 26, 2018, 2:00 pm

Clayne Crawford in the 'Fools Rush In' episode of Lethal Weapon — Ray Mickshaw/FOX

When it became clear Clayne Crawford would not be returning to Lethal Weapon, fans immediately started to speculate about how his character, Martin Riggs, would be written off the show. Well, last night’s episode answered that, at least.

Tuesday night was the Season 3 premiere of the Fox drama, coming off of a cliffhanger in last season’s finale. Last we saw Riggs, he’d been shot in the chest. And as one can predict, he died on the operating table.

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After his partner, Murtaugh (Damon Wayans), rushed a unconscious Riggs to the hospital, it was revealed Riggs didn’t survive the surgery.

Murtaugh was obviously having a hard time processing Riggs’ sudden death and couldn’t believe it was Riggs’ own brother who shot him (even though the audience knew this to be true). The veteran cop began to spiral out of control and found himself in the middle of a very sticky situation: He intervened in the mob’s plan to rob a bank vault by blowing up a subway train.

Enter detective William Cole, played by new cast addition Seann William Scott, who uncovered the dangerous plot, and tried to stop it. The two then teamed up to thwart the mob, though the train still did end up exploding.

Murtaugh was impressed with Cole’s crime-fighting capabilities and requested him as his new partner.

The episode was a solid start to the third season but, of course, the Internet had a few thoughts about the way the show handled Crawford’s exit.

Check out people’s reactions on Twitter:

Its not Lethal Weapon anymore….. #NoClayneNoWatch #BoycottLethalWeapon pic.twitter.com/pO4j6ZlCzt

— Sami Byrne (@SamiKByrne) September 25, 2018

@ClayneCrawford say it aint sooooooo…… i cant believe ur not gonna be on Lethal Weapon anymore. Cant someone make some reconsiderations???? Like give it 1 MORE TRY PAAAALLLEEEAAASSSSSS!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/IkSuDsVvti

— …… (@clalove22) September 26, 2018

So they hated the actor who played Riggs so much that they didn’t give his character a way to even make a cameo one day. #LethalWeapon

— Rich Conte (@RichWC_) September 26, 2018