Originally, the best TV pilot episodes were a marketing tool used by the creators of a show to sell the first season to networks. As such, they needed to establish characters and tone, and even give a taste of possible season-long arcs. With so much to accomplish it's no surprise that most pilots have the equivalent run time of a TV movie. However, with the current prevalence of the binge-watching model, sites like Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu are slowly transitioning away from the traditional pilot episode.
Instead, these streaming services expect viewers to vote for the content they want to see more of with their attention and people will binge-watch shows on Netflix without caring if the pilot hooks them. Now while they may be dying out, many pilot episodes remain benchmarks of great television, but which are considered the best TV pilot episodes of all time? Over time, there were those prestigious premiere episodes that hooked viewers from the start and created a phenomenon.
16 Sherlock (2010)
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There have been countless iterations of Sherlock Holmes over the years, but the BBC series Sherlock starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman quickly established that this is a worthwhile way of revisiting the famous detective. One of the best TV pilot episodes, it has a lot of heavy lifting to do as it establishes the modern take on the character, introduces Holmes and Watson as a potential friendship, brings in Sherlock's brother, hints at a looming threat, and gives a genuinely thrilling mystery to solve. Somehow, the episode achieves all this with clever writing and excellent performances.
15 Freaks And Geeks (1999)
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Like Firefly, Freaks and Geeks holds a reputation as a great show with one season that fans would love rebooted. Fortunately, that one season left a big impact. Created by Paul Feig and starring baby-faced versions of James Franco, Seth Rogan, Jason Segel, Linda Cardellini, and many others. There's no doubt that this pilot sticks in many of its young viewers' minds as some of the first really relatable TV they watched. One of the best TV pilot episodes, it achieves some amazing setup with former good girl Lindsay Weir becoming friends with more rebellious students while hero brother Sam finds that being a "geek" in high school is not easy.
14 Firefly (2002)
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The great tragedy of Joss Whedon's Firefly is fairly well known by now. A show canceled unjustly, only to be brought back for a film by fan perseverance, and continued in comic form. What some might not know however is that the 90-minute-long pilot episode "Serenity" wasn't just messily split into two parts when initially aired, but the entire first (and only) season itself was aired so out of order that the pilot was the last to air, dooming Firefly from the start.
It's a crying shame, as this is some fantastic television and a much stronger introduction to Malcolm Reynolds and the crew of the Serenity than the episode "The Train Job" provides, the episode used by the network as a first episode. "Serenity" juggles world-building, character introductions, and about three plotlines at once masterfully, and feels much brisker than a TV movie should.
13 Chernobyl (2019)
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While the show may only be getting this single miniseries, there's no denying it was one of the most talked-about TV shows of 2019 from the moment one of the best TV pilot episodes ever aired. Hats off to series creator Craig Mazin, the first episode of Chernobyl is astounding. Dealing with the initial failure that caused the catastrophic failure of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, the episode is nothing short of gripping, masterfully executed storytelling. With a run time of 60 minutes, it's amazing the contained story that the episode manages to convey with so many characters, all while setting the tone, and standard, of the series to come.
12 The Newsroom (2012)
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It seems that shows about making TV shows offer a particularly fascinating story for audiences. This is even more so with The Newsroom exploring the fast-paced and live nature of a news program. But the first episode in the series is really what grabbed viewers' attention as one of the best TV pilot episodes ever. The scene finds newsman Will McAvoy on an interview panel when he is asked a question about why America is the greatest country in the world and gives a shocking and captivating answer. The monologue alone is enough to recommend the episode, but it then dives into the behind-the-scenes covering of live news stories which is even more exciting.
11 The Boys (2019)
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One of the best TV pilot episodes, The Boys came along at a time when audiences had plenty of superhero shows to choose from, but it quickly established itself as something different. This series offered superhero fans a glimpse at a world in which the costumed crime fighters are celebrities, corporate brands, and the most dangerous people on the planet. The episode doesn’t hold back on the gore and mayhem with Hughie getting a rude introduction to the reckless nature of the heroes. Then there is the introduction of Butcher and his offer to fight back enticing the viewer to get invested in the struggle.
10 True Detective (2014)
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With big Hollywood names like Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, True Detective was an immediate show of interest for fans thanks to ne of the best TV pilot episodes ever. The first episode of the show "The Long Bright Dark" did a brilliant job setting up both the relationship between the two central police and the case that would inevitably haunt them. The tone of the show was dark and brooding from the beginning, and it also made clear that the lives of these detectives would be as important as the actual crimes. The hook of this taking place in two separate timelines added another interesting layer.
9 Fargo (2014)
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Attempting to riff off of the writing of the Coen Brothers is no easy task, but the first episode of Fargo showed that it was inspired by the filmmakers while still being its own thing. Like the movie, it set up a cold-blooded crime story in an even colder environment. From a protagonist who finds himself drawn into a deadly plot to a chilling villain who established the series' unique sense of humor, Fargo had a great opening episode with great characters and a lot of bloodshed that proved the iconic story was in good hands.
8 Westworld (2016)
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Due to its cancelation, there are plenty of unanswered questions in Westworld. Yet fans of the show can still look back on one of the best TV pilot episodes as delivering the promise of a terrific adventure ahead. The pilot brings the viewer into the Western theme park where anything goes for guests acting out their Wild West fantasies. Along with the action and carnage of the theme park, viewers are also introduced to those in charge of it all and the questions about how in control they might be of their "hosts." With great performances, epic moments, and so much promise ahead, it is an unforgettable episode of television.
7 Mr. Robot (2015)
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The thriller series Mr. Robot seemed to enjoy keeping audiences on their toes with intrigue and plenty of twists. But one of the best TV pilot episodes did exceptionally well at simply relying on the fascinating main character played by Rami Malek. From the first scene in which hacker Elliot Anderson exposes the criminal operations of a café owner, he is a figure fans want to follow. From there, the show introduces the wider conspiracy and brings Elliot into the world of hacktivists led by the mysterious Mr. Robot. It offers just enough to thrill viewers and make them feel the need to explore it more.
6 The Sopranos (1999)
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The Sopranos may be remembered for having one of the greatest, most controversial endings in TV history. But while fans may never know what happened in that dinner, and that's largely the point, it's often forgotten that the show made a strong captivating start six seasons earlier with one of the best TV pilot episodes. The pilot made sure to set up the mental strain James Gandolfini's Tony was under, his dynamic with the family and between him and Lorraine Bracco's Dr. Jennifer Melfi, but most importantly the tone of the show. It's a masterclass in kicking off a show, but it's not as well-loved as some other episodes.
5 Breaking Bad (2008)
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The Breaking Bad pilot had a monumental task set out for it. Not only did it have to lay the groundwork that every successful pilot must, but it had to do so in a way that hinted at just how far off the deep end Walter White was going to go. The premise of a straight-laced school teacher turning to a life of crime to support his family was a great jumping-off point, but the show proved to be much more than just one good idea. The clever and gripping writing made it a terrific story on its own. While Season 1 of Breaking Bad may be unrecognizable now, the brilliance of the series was evident.
4 This Is Us (2016)
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It is a rare thing for a pilot episode to pull off a big twist, and it seems especially unexpected for a family drama like This is Us. The pilot seems to be telling the story of separate individuals dealing with their own struggles within their imperfect families. Fans get to know these characters and care about the things they are going through, from reconnecting with a parent to losing a child to finding love. However, the revelation that part of this story is taking place in the past and this is the story of one connected family is very impactful.
3 Twin Peaks (1990)
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Twin Peaks is weird. But as weird as it is, fans would be hard-pressed to find someone that's seen it and didn't find it brilliantly entertaining. Quite simply it changed television going forward, opening the door for creators to take more risks with experimental storytelling and trust audiences to understand and stay involved when not everything is immediately obvious. Creators Mark Frost and David Lynch created an enthralling atmosphere from scene to scene that set up a mystery for the ages. In the binging age, it's clear to see why Twin Peaks has become so popular. One of the best TV pilot episodes, it was a work of art and helped create a cult classic.
2 Game Of Thrones (2011)
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By all accounts, the original pilot episode for Game of Thrones was a disaster. Luckily, HBO decided to take another shot and kickstarted its biggest franchise to date. The first episode does an impressive job setting up the grim, dangerous, and captivating world of George. R. R. Martin's Westeros. It clearly defines the dynamics between the Starks, Baratheons, Lannisters, and of course the Targaryens, all ending with a shocking reveal that definitely brought viewers back for more. From the amazing cast to the shocking twists, this pilot did everything to hook viewers.
1 Lost (2004)
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Easily, one of the most memorable and best TV pilot episodes in history was unleashed upon the world. No one knew what was coming when Oceanic Airlines Flight 815 crashed and a pilot unfolded that had the look of a big-screen movie. People were saying on the beach, everyone was disoriented, including the viewers, and this one single episode hooked people for what turned out to be one of the most popular sci-fi shows in history. Over 18.6 million viewers tuned in to watch this episode. While the show dropped in appreciation by the end, one of the best TV pilot episodes shows how to hook new viewers.