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The Hidden Signal: How Clothing Colors Foreshadow Death in TV Series

Star Trek, Lost still

The color-coded system subtly signals to viewers which characters are at risk, adding an extra layer of suspense and foreshadowing death through wardrobe choices.

In many TV series, the color of a character’s clothing often hints at their fate.

A famous example comes from Star Trek, where crew members wearing red shirts frequently met their demise. To keep viewers engaged, creators needed to show constant danger and risk. Since killing main characters was costly, they targeted secondary characters — those in red shirts — who were easily replaceable.

Over time, viewers noticed a pattern: characters in yellow or blue shirts usually survived, while those in red shirts often died. This trend became a visual shorthand for impending doom, influencing many other shows like Lost.

Star Trek still
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