What is the best pilot/first episode ever?

Last edited by Madness on Wed Jul 04, 2012 10:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I just watched the pilot of Once Upon a Time (it was alright) and this got me thinking - which show has the best pilot?

In my opinion it's Lost - it sets up the show brilliantly and is perfectly paced (unlike the rest of the show lol)

But what do you all think? Let's get some debate going.

PostRe: What is the best pilot ever? by **Igor** » Wed Jul 04, 2012 10:21 pm

Pilots aren't necessarily the first episode of a show. Pilots are things used to sell a show to a network. They are often the same, or very similar, to the first episode of the show if it makes it to air, but not always so.

So, in the interest of accuracy, change the thread title to 'best first episode', mofo.

Indeed, there's no way the first episode of Lost was the pilot. Unless it was an extraordinarily expensive pilot, which it probably was and I'm probably wrong.

Breaking Bad's first episode nailed everything about the series.

PostRe: What is the best pilot ever? by **Madness** » Wed Jul 04, 2012 10:27 pm

Igor wrote:Pilots aren't necessarily the first episode of a show. Pilots are things used to sell a show to a network. They are often the same, or very similar, to the first episode of the show if it makes it to air, but not always so.

So, in the interest of accuracy, change the thread title to 'best first episode', mofo.

Indeed, there's no way the first episode of Lost was the pilot. Unless it was an extraordinarily expensive pilot, which it probably was and I'm probably wrong.

You pedant. I'm fairly sure most pilots that make it to series end up broadcast as the first episode (which is why Scrubs is in an entirely different looking hospital for its pilot) but I will change the first post to reflect that this isn't always the case.

Breaking Bad is a good shout, Cutty.

Igor wrote:
Indeed, there's no way the first episode of Lost was the pilot. Unless it was an extraordinarily expensive pilot, which it probably was and I'm probably wrong.

It was and at the time it was the most expensive pilot ever made. I don't know if it still holds that record.

EDIT: Apparently it cost about $12 million, Boardwalk Empire's pilot cost $18 million.

YouTube

Favorite first episodes for me are -
The Unearthly Child - Doctor Who
Days Gone Bye - The Walking Dead
Currahee - Band of Brothers
Serenity - Firefly

Arrested Development has the best comedy pilot ever, usually comedies take a couple of episodes to get to grips with the characters and stuff but AD nails it from the start.

Breaking Bad
ER
Rescue Me
Lost
The Shield
Action
Odyssey 5
Dead Like Me
Arrested Development
Freaks & Geeks

My favourite first episodes of a show that I've seen.

Six Feet Under?

Lost.

Star Trek: TNG had a pretty good first episode.

Last edited by Lagamorph on Wed Jul 04, 2012 11:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I loved the first episode of Stargate SG-1.

The uncut version. With the nudity and boobs.

Although the actual pilot isnt as good as the first ep :shifty:

Also Futurama (Space Pilot 3000) and Sherlock (A Study In Pink). Black Books starts of pretty well to.

Rose deserves an honourable mention as the first episode of new Doctor Who, as well.

I thought Rose was a terrible episode.

Breaking Bad
Twin Peaks
Samurai Jack
The Amazing Screw-on Head (I can't believe this didn't get picked up for a series).

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the remake of Battlestar Galactica yet.

Samurai Jack :wub:

Recently, The Walking Dead. Slippery slope downhill after that.

Two more, Prison Break and Supernatural. Both have incredible pilot eps.

Yeah, forgot about Battlestar Galactica, too. Both the mini-series and first episode of season 1 are outstanding television.

The 10th Kingdom had a pretty good first episode. Started off normal enough, then it gradually got more and more fantastical.

What is the best pilot/first episode ever?

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