A truly perfect TV show pilot is almost impossible to achieve. It must introduce an entirely new world, establish all its characters, and deliver a captivating story in just an hour. And all this time, they must also find a way to stand apart from hundreds of competing shows.
Yet, some series manage to accomplish all this within the first hour, leaving us desperate for more. Here are the top 10 most perfect pilots on television that got it right from the beginning.
10. “eps1.0_hellofriend.mov” – Mr Robot (2015-2019)
The unsettling ‘Mr Robot’ draws you into the troubled mind of Elliot Anderson. He is a brilliant cybersecurity engineer who works for a corporation by day, and hacks people to expose their wrongdoings by night. Elliot meets the enigmatic Mr Robot and joins their dangerous hacker group and spirals down a dangerous conspiracy.
The show’s strength lies in its unique exploration of themes like capitalism, mental health and digital-age control. The pilot manages to establish them all with remarkable confidence. Rami Malek’s spell-binding performance in the lead role makes the episode even more eye-catching.
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9. “Chapter One: The Vanishing of Will Byers” – Stranger Things (2016-2015)
TV shows can always have unique premises and engaging storylines. But the reason why the first episode of ‘Stranger Things’ particularly stands out is because of the way it manages to line up all the incidents in such an addictive way. You just can’t help but binge-watch the show and enjoy the experience to the fullest.
Set in a small Indiana town during the 1980s, the episode shows us the disappearance of a young boy named Will Byers. Soon arrives the mysterious girl Eleven with her extraordinary abilities. We watch as the town starts to search for answers amidst all this chaos. This premise along with the distinct, nostalgic vibe of the show makes it impossible to not watch further.
8. “Everything Is Fine” – The Good Place (2016-2020)
Audiences follow Eleanor Shellstrop in the pilot episode of ‘The Good Place’ as she wakes up in an idyllic afterlife, where Michael welcomes her to a neighbourhood reserved for the exceptionally good people. We get to see the entire world-building through the eyes of our protagonist and get to know that she isn’t even meant to be here.
This revelation is already such a charming introduction to the brilliantly unconventional premise of ‘The Good Place’. The colourful setting, delightfully captivating performances of the cast and the perfectly timed twist adds to the truly immersive experience that is this show.
7. “Days Gone Bye” – The Walking Dead (2010-2022)
Unlike many zombie movies and series, ‘The Walking Dead’ decided to throw its audience directly in the middle of its nightmarish post-apocalyptic world. Rick Grimes wakes up from a coma to discover that civilisation has collapsed and the dead now roam the earth.
We experience and understand this terrifying new reality in such a uniquely abrupt way with the protagonist, and that is what ultimately defines the show. The episode is also directed with the intensity of a feature-length zombie film, which only adds to its charm.
6. “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” – Mad Men (2007-2015)
The pilot episode of ‘Mad Men’ introduces its meticulously constructed world through two separate stories: secretary Peggy Olson navigating her first day at an advertising agency and creative director Don Draper struggling to develop a cigarette campaign amid growing concerns about smoking’s dangers.
But beneath its polished offices, immaculate costumes, and carefully recreated 1960s atmosphere, we instantly get to know that there is something much deeper lurking beneath the surface. The episode shows you a sophisticated, deeply layered character study which is the ultimate identity of this show.
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5. “Pilot” – The Sopranos (1999-2007)
From its opening moment, ‘The Sopranos’ establishes Tony Soprano as one of the most fascinating anti-heroes in television history. We get access to all the insecurities and persona struggles hidden inside him and that forms the foundation of the series.
The pilot episode introduces the rest of the Soprano family as well as their complicated life intertwined with organised crime. It effortlessly blends the genres of dark comedy, family drama and crime thriller to create such a unique premise that immediately hooks you.
4. “Winter Is Coming” – Game of Thrones (2011-2019)
Adapting the sprawling world of George R.R. Martin’s fantasy novel is no easy feat, and it understandably took the show a second attempt to get it right. The original pilot of the show was deemed an incoherent mess, but the second time turned out to be the charm.
“Winter is Coming” remarkably introduces the richly detailed world of Westeros, its expansive cast of characters and the intricate politics and dynamics that is there. The episode moves between multiple storylines without making the complicated mythology overwhelming, giving viewers plenty of time to understand it all. But still, it leaves a lot of questions unanswered to make you come back for more because it promises an epic like no other.
3. “Northwest Passage” – Twin Peaks (1990-2017)
There is no doubt that ‘Twin Peaks’ has a very distinct image of its own, and it all starts with its immediately unique pilot. It opens with the discovery of Laura Palmer’s body, which sends the seemingly ordinary town into a spiral, and FBI agent Dale Cooper arrives to investigate.
David Lynch’s surreal storytelling technique turns this murder mystery into something far stranger. The atmospheric dread of the episode leaves you wanting to uncover what really lies beneath the town’s picturesque surface and what this show really wants to explore.
2. “Pilot: Part 1 and 2” – Lost (2004-2010)
The pilot episode of ‘Lost’ is probably one of the most ambitious beginnings in television history. In the aftermath of a catastrophic plane crash, a diverse group of strangers finds themselves stranded on a mysterious island. Soon they realise the island holds secrets far beyond their understanding.
The show uses a two-part pilot to introduce the wide variety of characters and the expansive narrative. The goal was to all along throw the audience down a rabbit hole of endless speculations about what happens next and the episode does exactly that to introduce the show’s signature storytelling style.
1. “Pilot” – Breaking Bad (2008-2013)
The pilot episode of ‘Breaking Bad’ encapsulates the unforgettable transformation of Walter White. The underappreciated chemistry teacher gets diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and decides to create a meth empire with his former student Jesse Pinkman to secure his family’s financial future.
The desperate attempt quickly spirals out of control, brilliantly foreshadowing what lies ahead for Walter White throughout the series. The episode is so masterfully crafted that even viewers who have never watched the show beyond the pilot can look back on it and appreciate its brilliance.
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