Protection viewers raged ‘I’m done’ after a ‘brutal’ murder scene during Sunday night’s first instalment of the ITV series.
The crime drama – created by Kris Mrksa – was originally released in December 2024 on BritBox, but dropped on ITVX this weekend.
The show follows the life through the eyes of DI Liz Nyles, an officer who works in witness protection.
The first episode of Protection left fans lost for words in the first 15 minutes when masked men barged into a house and killed those inside, including the family dog.
Fans watching at home were devastated over the death of the pooch as they blasted the channel for breaking a golden TV rule.
Many took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to say the same thing.
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Protection viewers raged ‘I’m done’ after a ‘brutal’ murder scene during Sunday night’s first instalment of the ITV series
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The crime drama – created by Kris Mrksa – was originally released in December 2024 on BritBox, but was dropped on ITVX this weekend
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View gallery
Fans watching at home were devastated over the death of the pooch (pictured) as they blasted the channel for breaking a golden TV rule – killing a dog
One said: ‘Why kill the dog? It adds nothing to the story #Protection.’
Another chimed in: ‘If that dog gets hurt I’m done before we even start #Protection,’ and they later added: ‘Yup I’m done! They’ve killed the dog!’
A third said: ‘Oh nooo! Don’t shoot the poor wee dog! Can’t handle it!’
‘The dog… NOOOOOOOO,’ a fourth tweeted.
A fifth wrote: ‘Shoot anyone except the dog!’
A sixth tweeted: ‘I know this only a tv programme but how can they shoot the dog.’
Protection currently has six episodes in the first and only series.
The star-studded cast of the show includes Siobhan Finneran as DI Liz Nyles, Katherine Kelly as DCI Hannah Wheatley and Nadine Marshall as DCI Amanda Kelman.
Many took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to say the same thing – that they were devastated over the death of the dog
The programme also stars Barry Ward, Caneil Kular, David Hayman, Nichola Burley, Akiya Henry and Alec Newman.
Protection has been dubbed this year’s Line Of Duty – with added sex.
Daily Mail’s Jon Worsnop said: ‘The six-part ITV series reunites Happy Valley stars Siobhan Finneran and Katherine Kelly.
‘Siobhan plays the lead, DI Liz Nyles, an officer with the UK Protected Persons Service (the British name for witness protection) who’s also juggling a complicated home life and conducting a steamy affair that may prove to be her downfall.’
He added: ‘And like Line Of Duty’s detectives Kate Fleming and Steve Arnott, Liz finds herself crossing ethical boundaries and putting herself in life-threatening danger to get to the truth.
‘When the murders happen, the situation is blown out of control because she’s embarked on an affair,’ explains Siobhan, 58.
‘Her lover is taken out on a stretcher, everything’s up in the air. Sometimes people do something totally out of character and hope it works out for the best, but she ends up completely compromised. It’s a great premise.’
Many viewers have rushed to review site Rotten Tomatoes to share how much they love the programme.
One said: ‘I thought this was a great storyline, excellent actors and good watch. Would highly recommend!’
 Another added: ‘The acting was at times excellent, but the writer(s) had nowhere to go by the end. Very dissatisfying conclusion.’
‘The storyline was good. Enough twists to keep me engaged. Acting was pretty good,’ a third wrote.
A fourth chimed in: ‘Great Typical UK Crime Drama whodunnit. It does seem to lag at points earlier on, but once you’re in it takes you on a great ride and can’t wait to find the bent and corrupt officers involved. Bit like ‘Line of Duty’ just not as fast paced.’
