# What series was the best from the beginning? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 16, 2009, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-series-was-the-best-from-the-beginning/486101 "2009-02-16T15:26:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-series-was-the-best-from-the-beginning/486101/1 "2009-02-16T15:26:46Z")
I was inspired to start this thread by the thread on **Dollhouse**. A lot of people are making pretty strong judgments about this show based on a single ep. It seems to me that most series take some time to get started. Often, when I like a show, if I look back I’m surprised at how bad the pilot was. If nothing else, you don’t know the characters or plot. It is easier to be more forgiving upon rewatching a pilot once you know more about them. So which shows had pilots that just blew you away - that you knew you wuld love from the first viewing? I can’t really remember any. Well, my son and I really enjoyed the first ep of Firefly we saw. And I didn’t see the premiere of Buffy, but I was blown away by the first ep I saw (where they were caring for the eggs.) But most often my reaction seems to be “Eh, that wasn’t too bad. It is worth another viewing next week.” ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-series-was-the-best-from-the-beginning/486101/2 "2009-02-16T15:31:54Z")
The West Wing had an extraordinarily strong first show, which is surprising given that they have to introduce the all the characters, establish relationships between them and set the stage for seasons to come. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-series-was-the-best-from-the-beginning/486101/3 "2009-02-16T15:39:17Z")
The Sopranos ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-series-was-the-best-from-the-beginning/486101/4 "2009-02-16T15:42:59Z")
_Burn Notice_ is the first to come to mind. _Heroes._ ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-series-was-the-best-from-the-beginning/486101/5 "2009-02-16T15:44:30Z")
_Veronica Mars_. First season is fantastic. Second is pretty entertaining. Third is meh. Then it got cancelled. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-series-was-the-best-from-the-beginning/486101/6 "2009-02-16T15:44:31Z")
I’ll second the _Sopranos_. _All in the Family_ started strong. \*WKRP \*was funny from the first. \*Taxi \*had a great first episode. _Star Trek_ started very strong. _Barney Miller_ **Northern Exposure** might have been the best. **Pushing Daisies** \*\*Started strong but dropped off quick to a still very good level. \*\* \*Cheers \* _My Name is Earl_ ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-series-was-the-best-from-the-beginning/486101/7 "2009-02-16T15:45:00Z")
**Oz**. The mercy killing got me. He was a good, bad guy. I HAD to see more. Had to. **The Wire**. I agree with **The Sopranos.** **The Cosby Show**. **In Living Color**. **Dave Chappelle**. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-series-was-the-best-from-the-beginning/486101/8 "2009-02-16T15:45:08Z")
**Twin Peaks** – The show did go downhill from there, but the first two-hours episode was amazing. **Hill Street Blues** – It’s probably somewhat dated now, but at the time, it was like nothing else on TV – multiple complex stories and characters, with a nice mix of humor and drama. **Arrested Development**. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-series-was-the-best-from-the-beginning/486101/9 "2009-02-16T15:54:20Z")
Well, duh. …\*\*Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire Three’s Company The Nanny\*\* ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-series-was-the-best-from-the-beginning/486101/10 "2009-02-16T16:05:58Z")
I thought _Buffy_ hit the ground running from the very first ep. Of course, two things color this perception: We had just finished watching _Babylon 5_, which had a very weak first season, and my friend made me watch the very painful _Buffy_ movie before we started the series. Coming from those two experiences, a competent first episode was a joyful and welcome sight. ---
**Author:** ![Heropsychodreamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Heropsychodreamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heropsychodreamer)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-series-was-the-best-from-the-beginning/486101/11 "2009-02-16T16:10:42Z")
I’ll second Buffy. I would say Lost, with the disclaimer that I am watching on DVD and I am only about 2/3 of the way through season 2, but I was hooked after about 15 minutes of the first episode. I would disagree on The Sopranos. I am currently watching that for the first time on DVD and I didn’t think the pilot was all that great. I think the 3rd and 4tf episodes is where I was hooked. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-series-was-the-best-from-the-beginning/486101/12 "2009-02-16T16:11:30Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > **Twin Peaks** – The show did go downhill from there, but the first two-hours episode was amazing. > > **Hill Street Blues** – It’s probably somewhat dated now, but at the time, it was like nothing else on TV – multiple complex stories and characters, with a nice mix of humor and drama. Good point **Hill Street Blues** and \*\*NYPD Blue \*\* both had great strong starts. I agree on **Twin Peaks** too but with all the comparisons between it and \*\*Northern Exposure \*\*at the time I thought **Northern Exposure** completely blew it away so I did not even include it in my second category. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-series-was-the-best-from-the-beginning/486101/13 "2009-02-16T16:38:11Z")
Watching the first season of _Malcolm in the Middle_ on DVD reminded me how strong and satisfying that first season, and the pilot were, and how many of the great moments I remember were in that first season. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-series-was-the-best-from-the-beginning/486101/14 "2009-02-16T16:39:01Z")
**Queer as Folk** From the very first episode, the show started strong with the scene between Brian and Justin. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-series-was-the-best-from-the-beginning/486101/15 "2009-02-16T16:57:30Z")
I’ll second (third, whatever) _Lost_, _Buffy_, _Arrested Development_ and _Pushing Daisies_. I’ll also throw out there: _ **Battlestar Galactica** _ (the new one), _ **Freaks and Geeks** _, _ **Scrubs** _, and _ **Wonderfalls** _. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-series-was-the-best-from-the-beginning/486101/16 "2009-02-16T17:07:20Z")
_Brimstone_ had me hooked from the first episode. I was really annoyed when they cancelled it. _Flying Blind_ probably was not as good as I remember; but I was in exactly the same demographic as the show’s star, and I really wished that I could land a babe like Tea Leoni. ---
**Author:** ![Creaky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e68b1a/32.png) [@Creaky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Creaky)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-series-was-the-best-from-the-beginning/486101/17 "2009-02-16T17:13:41Z")
I so totallly loved “In Plain Sight” from the beginning. Pure fun, plus well-developed characters and good acting. I like it so much that I still go to the USA Network homepage and watch episodes I have already seen, which is pretty unusual for me. Now I got to wait until April to see the new season. I’m not a patient person so this sucks. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-series-was-the-best-from-the-beginning/486101/18 "2009-02-16T17:33:30Z")
Six Feet Under. Nothing like starting off with someone who appears as if he might be a main character getting killed. ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Bongo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a9adbd/32.png) [@Winston\_Bongo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Bongo)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-series-was-the-best-from-the-beginning/486101/19 "2009-02-16T17:39:24Z")
I’ll second _Battlestar Galactica_. I put off watching it for a long time, despite everyone raving about how great it was, because I just couldn’t get past the memory of the horribly cheesy original series. Why would anyone want to remake that? How good could it possibly be? Then, finally, I got the mini-series/pilot on Netfix, and within the first 15 minutes I was a drooling BSG fanboy. Still one of the best pilots I’ve ever seen. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-series-was-the-best-from-the-beginning/486101/20 "2009-02-16T17:54:18Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > Six Feet Under. Nothing like starting off with someone who appears as if he might be a main character getting killed. I missed the entire first season of Six Feet Under (and therefore never saw the pilot), but I was still going to suggest it. I just assumed it was probably a good episode. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-series-was-the-best-from-the-beginning/486101.md?page=2)