'Kevin Can Wait' killing off its lead actress was the most WTF thing on TV

Now in its second season, CBS's Kevin Can Wait is a massive success, averaging over nine million viewers on Monday nights. But in the Season 2 premiere, the show quickly and coldly killed off Kevin's wife, played by Erinn Hayes, with just a throwaway comment followed by a lukewarm joke.

Fans were shocked; even How I Met Your Mother's contentious finale reveal of a big death had more sensitivity, and people hated it.

Will Kevin Can Wait suffer for its insensitivity? Probably not, but Twitter was aflame.

The reveal came by way of Kevin (Kevin James) getting a letter from his wife's gym that says "We haven't seen you, we miss you!"

"You know what, so do I," he says. His daughter chimes in to help by calling the gym.

"It's been over a year since she died," she says. "They shouldn't still be sending this."

Kevin agrees, then asks her to keep part of the postcard so he can get a cheap Kung-Fu lesson, because he is a class act.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

AND THAT'S THE BIG REVEAL.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

TV characters die literally all the time, but usually with buildup and even some emotional attention. Jane the Virgin showed the moment of a key death last season, then jumped three years forward in time to preserve the comedy (and still pepper in plenty of tears). Game of Thrones literally still talks about Ned Stark in every episode.

You may be pointing out that Kevin Can Wait is neither of these shows, but with almost 10 million fans, shouldn't the stakes be higher?

With such a savage premiere, how will the show handle Donna's death throughout the season? How quickly will Kevin connect with Leah Remini's character?