MovieChat Forums > General Discussion > Which series had the best Pilot episode?

Which series had the best Pilot episode?

posted 3 years ago by tcrum (31533)
40 replies | jump to latest

I started rewatching Grimm (2011) this week, and I think it has one of the top Pilots to start off a series.

[–] MonStar (12937) 3 years ago

I would agree with The Walking Dead and Person of Interest.

Since yesterday was the 20th anniversary of the Sept 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, it brings to mind the excellent pilot for Designated Survivor, 2016–2019. The first season was good but then it went into the toilet, and I stopped watching. It just got more and more ridiculous. (I made a post four years ago in its forum here.) After it was cancelled, it got picked up by Netflix for a year.

Maggie Q's role in Designated Survivor likely helped get her the lead in The Protege (2021), an independent film with Michael Keaton and Samuel L. Jackson, still in some theaters.

[–] horrorfan000 (2309) 3 years ago

The Walking dead
The X files
Kung fu - Walked into this blind with very low expectations as someone who's not a fan of old tv westerns and was hooked by the pilot.
Justified

[–] Wint3rFir3 (7172) 3 years ago

Resident Alien is probably the most recent one I can think of. Solid pilot.

[–] tcrum (31533) 3 years ago

I have this on my watchlist but haven't gotten around to watching it. I'll bump it up on the priorities list😀

[–] Wint3rFir3 (7172) 3 years ago

It's my type of humour, so I can't say it's subjectively good. Let me know what you think when you get to it.

[–] sslssg (34239) 3 years ago

I'm not sure these are the best of the best, but they are ones that got me hooked right off the bat.

Twin Peaks (1990)
Heroes (2006)
Fleabag (2016)
Orphan Black (2013)
You (2018)

[–] tcrum (31533) 3 years ago

Twin Peaks pilot hooked me too. I wish they'd been able to keep that quality for its entire run. I was pretty disappointed.

[–] sslssg (34239) 3 years ago

Yeah. It should have been 15 episodes, or less.

[–] lud (5930) 3 years ago

Person of Interest is great one..

[–] bobbydallas (8529) 3 years ago

The X-Files pilot was absolutely beautiful

it could've worked as a short film right there and then.

[–] BillySlater (4241) 3 years ago

I am a big X-files fan but I think the pilot has aged badly and the story was a bit weak compared to some of the others in the series.

[–] AndyKing1967 (38180) 3 years ago

Airwolf had lots of pilots.

[–] WhimsicalSloth (85) 3 years ago

I was really impressed by the first episode of Mr Robot. Obviously there was a lot more to come but it captured the overall tone of the show really well I think.

[–] keybored (2660) 3 years ago

This.

[–] WhimsicalSloth (85) 3 years ago

👍 Glad I’m not the only one.

[–] keybored (2660) 3 years ago

Watched that one episode loads of times.