# Outstandingly good pilot episodes **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 20, 2015, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outstandingly-good-pilot-episodes/731943 "2015-09-20T13:59:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outstandingly-good-pilot-episodes/731943/1 "2015-09-20T13:59:10Z")
Over in the [worst types of episodes from any series](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=769208) thread, **Tim R. Mortiss** makes the following insightful observation: > [@Tim R. Mortiss](#): > > Usually, the worst episode of any series is the pilot episode. For one thing, they are too busy introducing the characters to have time for much of a story. And for another, they usually haven’t settled on their format, rhythm, timing, and style yet, and it all feels rather raw. I think Tim’s spot-on here; TV pilots are usually quite bad, at least in comparison to much later episodes of the series. So let’s see if we can think of any good counterexamples to this general rule. What are some TV pilots which were exceptionally good in comparison to the rest of the series? Any pilots for long-running series which viewers would put in their top 10 favourite episodes? I’ll nominate a couple to get the discussion started: [ul] [li]_ **Lost** _ had a terrific first episode which instantly gripped the viewer’s attention. Like other pilots, it involved a lot of character introductions and plot-line set-ups, but they were all so interesting, unusual, and mysterious that we couldn’t wait to learn more. Great special effects, too.[/li][li]It’s been a while since I’ve seen it, but _ **Nowhere Man** _ was another great mystery/conspiracy show which made good use of the pilot to foster interest in the plot.[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outstandingly-good-pilot-episodes/731943/2 "2015-09-20T14:08:23Z")
HEROES was quite good. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outstandingly-good-pilot-episodes/731943/3 "2015-09-20T14:20:42Z")
The \*Twin Peaks \* pilot was exceptional. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outstandingly-good-pilot-episodes/731943/4 "2015-09-20T14:22:34Z")
_The Shield_ started out with a great first episode. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outstandingly-good-pilot-episodes/731943/5 "2015-09-20T14:35:24Z")
Also, MAD MEN. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outstandingly-good-pilot-episodes/731943/6 "2015-09-20T14:36:14Z")
_West Wing_ had a great pilot that set up the characters and tone for the series. ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outstandingly-good-pilot-episodes/731943/7 "2015-09-20T14:36:16Z")
Both “pilots” of _Firefly_ were good. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_John_Marcej)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outstandingly-good-pilot-episodes/731943/8 "2015-09-20T14:36:31Z")
I’ll second a vote for **Lost** and add the pilot for **Breaking Bad** that really grabbed you and made you want to tune in and see where this series would go. I’d also add a shout out for the pilot of **Hogan’s Heroes**. Since the series itself is loosely based on the Billy Wilder film **Stalag 17** the pilot acts as a mini version of that film, what with the hidden Nazi spy among the prisoners. That and with the pilot filmed in B&W made it look and feel like the film. (It’s also interesting to see the original lineup of prisoners that had a Russian POW among their group, who was dropped when the show was picked up and replaced by another American) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outstandingly-good-pilot-episodes/731943/9 "2015-09-20T14:54:12Z")
> [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](#): > > I’ll second a vote for **Lost** and add the pilot for **Breaking Bad** that really grabbed you and made you want to tune in and see where this series would go. Much like THE PRISONER. ---
**Author:** ![Skara\_Brae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Skara\_Brae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skara_Brae)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outstandingly-good-pilot-episodes/731943/10 "2015-09-20T15:15:56Z")
Despite the far-fetched premises of both, I think both _Leverage_ and _Suits_ had excellent pilots. They were also both longer than a normal episode, so maybe the extra time allows for a better story? ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outstandingly-good-pilot-episodes/731943/11 "2015-09-20T15:23:20Z")
Digging deep, I think \*The Six Million Dollar Man \*pilot was the best of the series as it was less gimmicky, had a darker tone and actually made an attempt to consider the psychological effects of such a dramatic change. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outstandingly-good-pilot-episodes/731943/12 "2015-09-20T15:44:03Z")
The first episode of MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE was a classic. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outstandingly-good-pilot-episodes/731943/13 "2015-09-20T15:48:06Z")
Veronica Mars has a great pilot as well. Keith: Who’s your Daddy? Veronica: I hate it when you say that. Battlestar Galactica’s mini-series was not great, but its first episode as a regular show was amazing. It’s called \*\*33 \*\*and is incredible. I recommend watching it before anything else. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_John_Marcej)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outstandingly-good-pilot-episodes/731943/14 "2015-09-20T15:54:35Z")
> [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > Digging deep, I think \*The Six Million Dollar Man \*pilot was the best of the series as it was less gimmicky, had a darker tone and actually made an attempt to consider the psychological effects of such a dramatic change. Don’t forget, the original **The Six Million Dollar Man** was a movie, part of the _ABC Movie of the Week_ series. I’m not sure if they’d planned on making it a weekly hour series all along or decided to make it a series after the ratings came in for the film. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outstandingly-good-pilot-episodes/731943/15 "2015-09-20T16:00:08Z")
I don’t even know which episode of COLUMBO was the pilot, but Peter Falk already had his Will-Get-7-Straight-Emmy-Noms-And-Win-A-Bunch-Of-'Em schtick down cold in it. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_John_Marcej)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outstandingly-good-pilot-episodes/731943/16 "2015-09-20T16:06:39Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > I don’t even know which episode of COLUMBO was the pilot, but Peter Falk already had his Will-Get-7-Straight-Emmy-Noms-And-Win-A-Bunch-Of-'Em schtick down cold in it. That was \*\*\*Prescription: Murder \*\*\* and aired as a TV movie three years before it became part of the **NBC Mystery Movie** roster. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outstandingly-good-pilot-episodes/731943/17 "2015-09-20T16:14:10Z")
See, I knew that was one of the contenders – and it was _awesome_ – but I just wasn’t sure if it counted as the pilot, is all. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outstandingly-good-pilot-episodes/731943/18 "2015-09-20T16:38:03Z")
I think the pilot for _Breaking Bad_ was the best I’ve ever seen. It basically laid out the pattern for the whole series. The opening sequence kept you guessing about how the characters had got there, until it was revealed in the final sequence that ended in a cliffhanger. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outstandingly-good-pilot-episodes/731943/19 "2015-09-20T16:52:40Z")
The other way around, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER kicked off with quality supporting stuff from Alyson Hannigan and Jason Segel and Neil Patrick Harris while Josh Radnor hits it off with Cobie Smulders and after some awkwardly playful banter cheerfully wraps up the episode with a wistful _“And that’s how I met – your Aunt Robin.”_ Prompting the kids to say _whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?_ ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outstandingly-good-pilot-episodes/731943/20 "2015-09-20T16:58:36Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > I don’t even know which episode of COLUMBO was the pilot, but Peter Falk already had his Will-Get-7-Straight-Emmy-Noms-And-Win-A-Bunch-Of-'Em schtick down cold in it. The COLUMBO pilot was shot in 1969, a couple of years before the series aired. Falk looked absurdly young in it. As said before, _Twin Peaks_ and _The Prisoner_ hooked you for what was about to come. I would add 1975’s _Ellery Queen_ with Jim Hutton and David Wayne. I love whodunits, and these were the best ever put on th’ teevee. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outstandingly-good-pilot-episodes/731943.md?page=2)