A TV series premiere is just as strong as its final moments, if not better. Providing a first-chance look into an exciting world while serving as the foundation for the myriad of stories told, a pilot episode can be a truly exciting experience. Meeting characters for the first time and watching these shows establishes their unique norms and conventions, and gives insight into the minds of the creators and their intentions for the series.
With the ethos of the series weaved into the pilot, these episodes excellently entertain audiences with truly riveting stories waiting to unfold.
20Lost - “Pilot”
Lost is a mystery drama series created for TV that follows a group of survivors of a plane crash and tells its story between the past, present, and future via flashbacks. When Oceanic Airlines Flight 815 crashes and lands on a mysterious island in the pacific ocean, the castaways discover their new temporary home may have a mind of its own, as strange supernatural events keep them locked to the island. From an unknown black smoke creature to dangerous islanders, the passengers must work together to survive the island’s seemingly deadly intentions.
Lostcarries the reputation of having one of the most divisive series finales to ever air. However, that is in part due to the exciting pilot that laid the foundation for the rest of the series. Introducing the unforgettable group of strangers who find themselves stranded, the pilot episode excels in throwing audiences into a jarring yet intriguing experience.
An Exceptionally Captivating Premiere
The introduction toLostinitially stunned audiences with its gripping premise and a cluster of admirable personalities. As a result, the series earned multiple Emmy Awards for its direction, performances, and cinematography. Leaping back and forth in time, viewers leave with a greater grasp on the complex characters they have come to meet and the mysterious universe they inhabit.Stream on Hulu.
19The Handmaid’s Tale - “Offred”
The Handmaid’s Tale
The Handmaid’s Tale is a dystopian television series based on the 1985 novel by author Margaret Atwood. The series was created by Bruce Miller and stars Elisabeth Moss, Joseph Fiennes, and Yvonne Strahovski. The show follows the story of a young handmaid as she is forced to deal with a new totalitarian government that subjugates women in this dark societal twist.
The Handmaid’s Taleenvisions an alternate North America dominated by Gilead, a Christian fundamentalist theocracy that overthrew the United States and essentially renders fertility, and women who are fertile, as commodities. Audiences learn about Gilead through the lens of June (Elizabeth Moss), a former assistant editor who lost her family during the coup.
An Eerie Omen of Contemporary Times
Much like the novel,The Handmaid’s Taleas a whole predicts and warns of the growing campaigns to pull back reproductive rights. In tandem with the ever-so-present threat of gendered violence, the pilot illustrates the many, unique harms that women continue to face currently and the culpability of institutions in the disenfranchisement of marginalized communities. The suspenseful opener paves the way for a great book-to-TV adaptation.Stream on Hulu.
18Scrubs - “My First Day”
Scrubsfollows the lives of aspiring doctors at the fictional Sacred Heart Hospital and boasts a group of charming students who travel between reality and fantastical moments of the mind while chronicling their work. Despite the series' straying far from authentic medical practices,Scrubshas solidified itself as one of the most cherished series to grace televisions, and much of the strong fan reception lies in the success of the pilot.
A Comical Chronicle of Life
“My First Day” received particularly bright reviews for its well-paced, humorous approach to introducing audiences to J.D. (Zach Braff) and his colleagues. As the title suggests, “My First Day” both evokes the juvenile yet relatable and amusing look at navigating life and its many stressful situations that many can relate to while transitioning through life’s many stages.Stream on Hulu.
17Desperate Housewives - “Pilot”
Desperate Housewives
DesperateHousewivespresented viewers with four flawed women, their loved ones, and their bitter rivals. On the infamous Wisteria Lane, the series opens with a tragedy that propels four friends to convene and attempt to make sense of everything. However, as they gravitate toward each other one more, the drama of their personal lives spills over into the streets.
A Darkly Satisfying Look Into Suburbia
Narrating the events, Mary Alice (Brenda Strong) provides worthwhile commentary on the personalities of her friends. Nonetheless, she hands the reins over to dynamic women like Gabrielle Solis (Eva Longoria), Bree Van de Kamp (Marcia Cross), and Susan Meyer (Terri Hatcher), who dominate the screens for the first time in the pilot, and continue to do so until the final moments of the show.Stream on Hulu.
16Archer - “Mole Hunt”
Archer is an adult-animated spy comedy that follows the titular agent (H. Jon Benjamin) and his various missions. While friends like the serious Lana (Aisha Tyler) and the presence of his mother (Jessica Walter) at the agency attempt to rein him in, Archer continues to wreak havoc, inadvertently or otherwise.
A Crass and Zany Spy Story for the Ages
Favorably compared to shows likeThe OfficeandMad Men,“Mole Hunt” was celebrated as a refreshing addition to FX’s programming schedule. With its sardonic approach to espionage, the series complemented the channel’s typically darker material while offering truly amusing dialogue and scenarios to audiences.Stream on Hulu.
15The Other Two - “Pilot”
The Other Twois a comical odyssey through the seas of fame, wealth, and family. After their younger brother Chase (Case Walker) transforms into aviral sensation, sibling duo Brooke (Helene Yorke) and Cary (Drew Tarver) decide to try their luck for a time in the limelight. With Chase’s increasing fame and their mother’s (Molly Shannon) return, the two siblings navigate tricky relationships, uniquely shocking experiences, and personal traumas.
A Whirlwind of Fame and Family
Deeply conversational with real world events, mannerisms, and pop culture,The Other Two’s pilot is a marvel that contains quite the message about the chaos of life, weaved into truly comical scenes.Stream on Max.
14True Detective - “The Long Bright Dark”
True Detective
True Detectiveis a fascinating anthology that dedicates each season to a different set of crimes. Throughout its four seasons, the series has stunned audiences and critics alike with the intriguing stories and the captivating characters at the center of the investigations.
A Tantalizing Mystery
“Long Bright Dark” finds agents Rustin Cole (Matthew McConaughey) and Martin “Marty” Hart (Woody Harrelson) being interviewed nearly two decades after their infamous investigation of the disappearance of Dora Lange.
Leaping back and forth between 1995 and 2012, the series premiere does an incredible job of introducing two distinct protagonists, a spine-chilling mystery, as well as philosophical outlooks on life, family, politics, and death.Stream on Max.
Breaking Bad
Beloved by many,Breaking Badintroduces audiences to disgruntled high school teacher turned drug lord Walter White (Bryan Cranston). The jaded professional turns to the drug trade, at first, to help alleviate financial issues brought upon by a tragic cancer diagnosis. As the series persists, however, White and his accomplices become roped into an international game of chess that proves to have frightening consequences.
An Unpredictable Classic
The pilot episode of any impactful series can either be a dark horse, secretly carrying some of the best plots to come, or a case of instant gratification that continues to satisfy audiences over time.Breaking Bad’spilot has been heralded as the latter. Given Cranston’s spectacular performance and the dark, intriguing premise, critics and fans alike were uniquely endeared to the series premiere.Stream on Netflix.
12The Good Place - “Everything Is Fine”
The Good Place
The Good Placeopens with Eleanor (Kristen Bell), a cynical and crude woman who joins the many souls in the afterlife after her painful yet oddly comedic death. There she meets the studious Chidi (William Jackson Harper), the pompous Tahani (Jameela Jamil), and the goofy Jason (Manny Jacinto), and the four attempt to navigate the brave new world that lays before them.
A Jovial, Earnest Investigation of Existence
Alongside the jovial Michael (Ted Danson) and the informative Janet (D’Arcy Carden), “Everything Is Fine” provides audiences with jovial attitudes, exciting lore behind the afterlife, and a basis for the philosophical pondering of its characters. WatchingThe Good Placefeels like receiving a surprising yet comforting hug and just like such a hug, the first time is quite unforgettable.Stream on Netflix.
11The Leftovers - “Pilot”
The Leftovers
After a cataclysmic event known as the “Sudden Departure” sees 2% of the global population disappear,The Leftoverssees the world attempt to make sense of their newfound predicament through a myriad of methods. Officer Kevin Garvey Jr. (Justin Theroux) finds himself confronting his fractured family, a frazzled hometown, and a series of religious institutions and cults threatening to unravel the peace they have been struggling to keep.
A Clever, Eerie Masterpiece
The pilot also manages to hold fully realized discussions about mental health, faith, grief, and the role of the state in a single episode, previewing assertions about existence that have yet to come.Stream on Max.
