Apilot episodecan make or break an audience’s opinion of a TV show, and very occasionally, a series manages to outdo all viewer expectations with a truly perfect episode. This is never easy to pull off, as the first season premieres have the difficult job of not only introducing all the main characters but also ensuring the series remains engaging, the characters' motivations make sense, and there’s enough narrative potential to carry forward an entire show. Without an excellent pilot episode, viewers are liable to stop watching, even if later episodes and seasons get a lot better.
Many of thegreatest shows of all timeboast incredible pilot episodes that laid the groundwork for all that would follow. While intense dramas likeBreaking BadandMad Meneffectively introduced the world to antiheroes like Walter White and Don Draper, it was also just as important that sitcoms likeHow I Met Your Mothergave viewers a reason to tune in week after week.A pilot episode is the most important moment in a TV show’s entire historybecause if viewers aren’t hooked from the beginning, they’ll be gone forever.
10How I Met Your Mother (2005 - 2014)
Season 1, Episode 1, “Pilot”
How I Met Your Motherpremiered the year afterFriendshad concluded and acted as the perfect replacement show for lovers of that popular sitcom. WhileFriendswas a tough act to follow,How I Met Your Motherset itself up well in its opening episode to hook viewers in with a unique premisethat kept them tuning in year after year to discover the mysterious mother’s identity. This would not have been possible without an excellent opening episode that encouraged viewers to get invested in Ted Mosby’s love life.
The pilot ofHow I Met Your Motherhad a lot of work to do as it showcased the framing device of the older Ted’s voiceover narrative, had many flashbacks to the past, present, and future, and introduced not just Ted but also Robin, Barney, Marshall, and Lily. As a bright and cleverly constructed sitcom, it’s no surprise that viewers were hooked audiences right from the opening episode. With an impressive 10.94 million viewers tuning in to its premiere,How I Met Your Motherremained extremely popular throughout its nine seasons.
How I Met Your Mother
Cast
How I Met Your Mother is a television series that follows a father telling his children about his past. Released in 2005, it explores his experiences and adventures with four close friends, leading up to meeting their mother, as depicted through a series of flashbacks.
9Twin Peaks (1990 - 1991, 2017)
Season 1, Episode 1: “Northwest Passage”
David Lynch and Mark Frost created a cultural phenomenon withTwin Peaksas the serialized nature of its mysterious narrative pushed television into a brave new era. Prior toTwin Peaksmost television was episodic, as networks felt they couldn’t rely on viewers tuning in week after week without ever missing an episode, but this series trusted that audiences were paying attention as this pilot posited the question ofwho killed Laura Palmer. With rich storytelling, an eccentric set of unusual characters, and Lynch’s distinctive sense of surrealism,Twin Peakswas unlike anything else on TV at the time.
With a hugely influential first episode, countless modernTV shows wouldn’t exist withoutTwin Peaks. From the ethereal beauty of Angelo Badalamenti’s opening theme song to the unique mannerisms of Agent Dale Cooper,Twin Peakshad a unique identity all of its own. An impeccable piece of storytelling,the most impressive thing aboutTwin Peakspilot episode was the way it blended soap opera melodrama with an intense murder mysterywhile giving just the slightest hint of the absurd, supernatural happenings that would occur later down the line.
Twin Peaks
Conceived by Mark Frost and David Lynch in 1990, Twin Peaks is a supernatural mystery-drama series that brings FBI Agent Dale Cooper to the quiet town of Twin Peaks to investigate the murder of a young woman named Laura Palmer. As Dale continues his investigation of her death, he learns that Laura’s life wasn’t as she advertised it, and the town itself is hiding far more secrets than they let on. The show received a revival for a third and final season two decades later to resolve the cliffhanger left at the end of the second season.
Season 1, Episode 1: “Days Gone Bye”
The sheer quality of the opening episode ofThe Walking Deadwas unprecedented in the realm of horror TV, as it showcased it was possible to tell an ongoing story on the small screen that had the same intensity and production values as a feature film. “Days Gone Bye” perfectly set up the horror of its apocalyptic landscape and showcased the true perils of a world that was being ravaged by a zombie outbreak. Withan intense opening scene that saw Rick Grimes shoot a zombified young girl in the head,The Walking Deadimmediately signaled this series was not going to be for the faint of heart.
“Days Gone Bye” was the most-watched series premiere in AMC history and achieved an impressive viewership of 5.35 million (viaHollywood Reporter) as it powerfully set up this adaptation of Robert Kirkman’s comic book series.The Walking Deadfelt like a step up when it came tohorror on television, as, although it boasted plenty of gory scares, it was also propped up by rich storytelling, a strong ensemble cast, and engaging worldbuilding. WhileThe Walking Deadwould vary in quality throughout its 11 seasons, this pilot episode encapsulated the best of this show.
The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead is a television series that premiered on July 31, 2025. It follows Sheriff’s deputy Rick Grimes, who awakens from a coma to find a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies. He embarks on a journey to locate his family, encountering various survivors amidst the chaos.
7True Detective (2014 - Present)
Season 1, Episode 1: “The Long Bright Dark”
The first episode of the anthology crime seriesTrue Detectiveintroduced audiences to the Louisiana State Police homicide detectives Rustin “Rust” Cohle (Matthew McConaughey) and Martin “Marty” Hart (Woody Harrelson.) With a dual setting shifting between 2012 and 1995, “The Long Bright Dark” saw Rust and Marty recounting the history of the Dora Lange murder investigation, as new evidence suggested the killer was still at large. With an engaging mystery and an A-list cast, this opening episode laid the groundwork for a complex, gritty, and philosophically rich crime procedural.
Shot entirely in 35mm film, the most striking thing about the first episode ofTrue Detectivewas how good it looked from a cinematography perspective. The strong writing, effective soliloquies, and impressive performances also immediately signaledTrue Detectiveas a cut above the average murder mystery series. WhileTrue Detectivekept its quality up throughout the entire first season, this opening episode was highlighted it as a show unafraid to explore topics of philosophy, religion, and the fraught, dark underbelly of American society.
True Detective
True Detective is an anthology series exploring intricate criminal investigations through multiple timelines. Each season examines dark personal and professional secrets revealed during the course of solving complex cases, highlighting the impact of crime on individuals both within and outside the law enforcement community.
6Ozark (2017 - 2022)
Season 1, Episode 1: “Sugarwood"
The opening episode ofOzarkstarted with a bang as Marty (Jason Bateman) and Wendy Byrde (Laura Linney), a couple marked for death by the Mexican cartel, were first introduced. As a mild-mannered financial advisor, Marty was shown to be way in over his head laundering money for the cartel after it was discovered that Marty’s partner had skimmed $8 million from them. In order to save his life,Marty devised a plan to move to Lake of the Ozarks to continue their scheme there. Marty promises that, if he’s allowed to live, he will launder $500 million in five years.
This was an intense set-up for an opening episode that saw its lead character almost killed before things had even begun.Ozarktook the dark premise of a mild-mannered man turning bad from series likeBreaking Badand turned it on its head with clever twists in a fish-out-water crime story. While the series would grow in complexity and intrigue over its subsequent seasons,Ozarkepisode one did an excellent job setting up the Byrde family and showcasing that Marty would do anything that was required to ensure his survival.
Ozark
Ozark is a crime drama series released in 2017, focusing on a financial adviser who relocates his family from Chicago to the Missouri Ozarks. He must launder $500 million within five years to satisfy a drug boss, navigating the challenges and dangers of his new environment.
5Chernobyl (2019)
Episode 1: “1:23:45"
The HBO miniseriesChernobylwas a truly riveting five-episode miniseries that outlined the Chernobyl disaster of 1986 and the cleanup efforts that followed. Thisexplosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraineremains the worst nuclear disaster in history, as it had ripple effects throughout Europe and the USSR, with 49,000 people needing to be evicted in the 36 hours after the accident. As a brilliant and emotional dramatization,Chernobyl’sfirst episode laid the groundwork for the series' exploration of the horrific meltdown.
As a cautionary tale about the potentially devastating effects of a nuclear disaster,Chernobylwas made all the more thrilling with the knowledge that everything depicted on screen actually occurred. From the horrific instances of human error among its incredible cast of characters to its feature film-quality visuals,Chernobylwas a series packed with metaphors around current global issues and the lessons that those in power should take from the mistakes of the past. “1:23:45” was particularly effective at setting the atmosphere for the series as the disaster became increasingly unwieldy.
Chernobyl
Chernobyl is a miniseries dramatizing the 1986 nuclear accident, highlighting the efforts of the individuals who worked tirelessly to mitigate its impact. Released in 2019, this historical depiction captures both the technical and human aspects of one of the most significant industrial disasters in history.
4This Is Us (2016 - 2022)
Season 1, Episode 1: “Pilot”
The pilot episode ofThis Is Usintroduced seemingly unconnected characters celebrating their 36th birthday, setting up many of the show’s central themes. With powerful ideas around family, identity, loss, and connection,This Is Usimmediately signaled itself as a show that’s unafraid to depict pivotal moments from life both past and present. The final twist revealed that Jack and Rebecca Pearson’s story took place in 1980, while the other characters, Randall, Kate, and Kevin, live in the present day.
This was one of the most impactful moments in the show and showcasedThis Is Usas a complex series with a unique narrative structure. As the dual lives of parents and their children were told simultaneously,This Is Usmade poignant connections between their similarities and differences as it highlighted the universality of growing up. By showing that parents have rich, full, and complex lives before their children enter the picture,This Is Uswas able to solidify its reputation as a heartstring-tugging family drama in its very first episode.
This Is Us
This Is Us chronicles the Pearson family across the decades: from Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) and Rebecca (Mandy Moore) as young parents in the 1980s to their 37-year-old kids, Kevin (Justin Hartley), Kate (Chrissy Metz) and Randall (Sterling K. Brown) searching for love and fulfillment in the present day. This grounded, life-affirming dramedy reveals how the tiniest events in our lives impact who people become and how the connections people share with each other can transcend time, distance, and even death.
Season 1, Episode 1: “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes”
One of the finest hours in television history came with the Season 1 premiere ofMad Men, “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,” an episode that not only introduced the world to Don Draper, Peggy Olson, and the rest of the Sterling Cooper advertising agency, but also the rich 1960s setting of this period drama. With an impressive visual style, hard-drinking cigarette-smoking executives, and a mysterious protagonist,Mad Menwas immediately engaging. Created by Matthew Weiner, fresh from working as an executive producer onThe Sopranos, he clearly carried forward many lessons from that extraordinary series.
Not only did the pilot ofMad Mendo an excellent job introducing the series characters, but it also showcased itself as a glimpse into bygone times as the cultural, social, and political tensions of the era it was set in bled into every scene.Mad Menset the bar incredibly highwith its first episode, and it was clear from the beginning that Jon Hamm’s characterization of Don would be one of television’s all-time great protagonists. Set around Don’s advertising work for the cigarette manufacturer Lucky Strike, although it was set in the 1960s, it was clearly one of the best shows of the 21st century.
Mad Men
Mad Men is a drama series set in 1960s New York, focusing on the lives of competitive men and women working in Madison Avenue’s advertising industry. The show explores the social mores and cultural dynamics of the era while delving into the personal and professional challenges faced by its characters.
The premiere ofBreaking Badhad a lot riding on it, as the very concept of a high school chemistry teacher turned meth cook was an extreme character arc to achieve in under one hour. With Bryan Cranston as Walter White, this pilothad to undo the audience’s previous perception of him as the goofy dad fromMalcolm in the Middleand accept him in this gritty drama about a terminally ill man wanting to ensure his family’s financial future before he died. However, Cranston’s remarkable performance quickly set the tone for one of the best TV shows ever.
From laying the groundwork for Walter’s partnership with his former student Jesse Pinkman to introducing his DEA brother-in-law Hank Schrader,the first episode ofBreaking Badsowed the seeds for everything that came after it. This pilot powerfully balanced drama and comedy and somehow made Walter’s impulsive decision to start cooking meth not only believable but feel necessary. WhileBreaking Badas a show continued to improve with each subsequent season, the pilot episode was truly a highlight across its entire five-season run.
Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad, created by Vince Gilligan, follows a chemistry teacher turned drug kingpin named Walter White (Bryan Cranston) as he attempts to provide for his family following a fatal diagnosis. With nothing left to fear, White ascends to power in the world of drugs and crime, transforming the simple family man into someone known only as Heisenberg.
1Lost (2004 - 2010)
Season 1, Episode 1 & 2: “Pilot”
The two-part pilot for the ABC mystery seriesLostwas truly a masterclass in how to pull off the perfect opening episode. With the intriguing premise of the true nature of the mysterious island,Lostbegan with its extraordinary plane crashthat saw the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 trying to pick up the pieces after they crash-landed on a seemingly deserted island. With a cost of between $10 and $14 million, it seems the network knew this was a series worth investing in because the first episode ofLostwas the most expensive pilot ever made at the time.
As easily one of the most memorablepilot episodesever made,Lost’spilot hooked viewers right from the beginning and quickly became the most talked about show of its time. With the intensity of a feature film and the production values to back it up,Lostsignaled a new era in television, as the power of this episode alone was enough to earn this series its place in television history. AlthoughLostfailed to keep up the same level of quality throughout its six seasons and 121 episodes, the initial hook of what it all meant ensured its loyal fanbase.
Lost
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.
