A pilot episode has the difficult job of setting the tone of a series, introducing the characters and setting, and hinting at what is to come. Depending on the genre of a show, this can look like dropping hints in the lead-up to a big mystery, establishing relationship dynamics, or introducing a show’s unique sense of humor. A great pilot episode will both work especially well within its genre and will also be able to stand on its own as a strong introduction.
There are so many excellent pilot episodes, but the best of the best are both great in regard to their series and work as an example of what a pilot episode should be. These episodes do a good job of showing what the characters and their personalities are like and getting viewers hooked so that they decide to tune in for more episodes. These are the most legendary pilots in television history, ranked on how well they establish their worlds and their legacy both in the show’s context and in the overall world of TV.
10
“Pilot”
‘The Shield’ (2002-2008)
The pilot episode of The Shield makes it clear from the start that this is not a typical crime drama with an obvious idea of which characters are right and wrong. Instead, Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis) is set up as a cop who regularly breaks the law, both in order to solve cases and to serve his purposes. In the pilot episode, the LAPD works to solve a murder and abduction case, while Vic’s captain, David Aceveda (Benito Martinez), conspires to expose him for his crimes.
The Shield‘s pilot episode immediately establishes the show’s dark tone, the complexities of Vic’s character, and the overarching conflict related to Vic’s not-so-secret questionable methods and self-serving motives. Best of all, The Shield‘s pilot is a perfect subversion of expectations. It sets up what looks like it will be a season-long storyline, only for Vic to make a shocking choice that changes everything at the very end of the episode.
9
“Pilot”
‘Gilmore Girls’ (2000-2007)
The pilot episode of Gilmore Girls kicks off with a scene that shows Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory (Alexis Bledel) eating at Luke’s together. Right off the bat, viewers can see that Lorelai and Rory are a mother and daughter who are best friends, and that they live in a cozy small town where everyone knows each other. The pilot then sets up its main conflict, as Lorelai has to work up to asking her parents, Emily (Kelly Bishop) and Richard (Edward Hermann), to pay Rory’s tuition.
Gilmore Girls‘ pilot is the perfect introduction to the show. It sets up the coziness of both the series and Stars Hollow, and it introduces the main characters, their core traits, and the complex nuances of their dynamics early on. Best of all, Gilmore Girls‘ pilot just feels like the show at its best and most unadulterated. It does an excellent job of establishing its unique tone, sharp dialogue, and cozy fall aesthetic from the very beginning.
8
“Love Is All Around”
‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show’ (1970-1977)
In the pilot episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Mary Richards (Mary Tyler Moore) moves to Minneapolis after a breakup and enthusiastically tries to start her new life. Of course, Mary encounters a number of obstacles, like her new neighbor, Rhoda (Valerie Harper), who’s trying to take Mary’s new apartment for herself. Mary also gets a new job with a strange boss, Lou (Ed Asner), who hasn’t yet figured out how to divide up the workload to include Mary.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show‘s debut is an essential pilot episode with silly humor and a genuine message. Mary deals with some funny conflicts among the quirky new people in her life, but ultimately, the pilot builds up to Mary’s decision to choose herself over her ex-boyfriend, Bill (Angus Duncan). It’s an empowering and exciting scene that’s also hilarious, due to Lou overstaying his welcome and witnessing the whole thing.
7
“24 Hours”
‘ER’ (1994-2009)
The pilot episode of ER shows a classic day-in-the-life of the doctors and nurses working in the emergency room of Cook County General Hospital. They struggle to catch up on sleep and deal with personal struggles and complicated dynamics while helping patients with cases that include a terminal illness diagnosis, an ectopic pregnancy, and a baby with suspicious injuries.
ER‘s pilot episode is legendary because of how intense and hectic it is, throwing audiences into the messy and nonstop world of an emergency room. It establishes the tone and major overarching conflict early on, as it is clear that nobody working in the ER is able to maintain a proper work-life balance. Even John Carter (Noah Wyle) feels the toll of the job on his very first day, and Carol Hathaway (Julianna Marguiles) is treated for an overdose in an emotional scene.
6
“Give Me a Ring Sometime”
‘Cheers’ (1982-1993)
In the pilot episode of Cheers, Diane Chambers (Shelley Long) shows up at a bar called Cheers with her fiancé, Sumner Sloan (Michael McGuire), to wait for a while before their upcoming flight. Sumner just has to get his family ring back from his ex-wife first, though, leaving Diane to wait by herself at Cheers. While there, she reluctantly gets to know the staff members and regulars, including bartender and bar owner Sam Malone (Ted Danson).
Cheers‘ pilot is the perfect example of what a sitcom pilot should look like. Light, breezy, and hilarious, it does an excellent job of introducing the characters and the setting, as well as setting up Cheers‘ particular sense of humor. The episode serves the function of getting Diane to work at the titular bar and letting viewers know what to expect from this show and what the atmosphere is like at Cheers.
5
“Pilot”
‘Twin Peaks’ (1990-1991)
The pilot episode of Twin Peaks is perfectly atmospheric in the most unsettling yet compelling way, drawing viewers in immediately with the reveal that a teenage girl named Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee) has been murdered. Throughout the pilot, it becomes clear that while not everyone is the killer, everybody in the small town of Twin Peaks has major secrets that they are keeping from the people around them.
Twin Peaks‘ pilot frames its plot around the investigation into the death of Laura Palmer, setting up what is to come, while also giving a deeper look into the characters and their motivations. It almost feels like a full-length movie, both telling an intentional and revealing story arc, while also leaving viewers with far more questions than answers at the end of the episode. Most importantly, it lets audiences know that the show will be weird; eerie yet magnetic, but certainly not for the weak-hearted.
4
“Pilot”
‘Breaking Bad’ (2008-2013)
The pilot of Breaking Bad is the perfect example of an episode that takes its main character on a transformative journey while still leaving room to tell the rest of a much longer story. At the start of the pilot, Walter White (Bryan Cranston) is a high school chemistry teacher who works hard to support his family financially and do things the right way. After a terminal cancer diagnosis, though, Walt makes a major life change and decides to start making and selling meth.
Breaking Bad‘s pilot is such a fascinating character study that shows a normal person pushed to the brink. At the same time, it plants seeds that Walt does have an interest in power and notoriety that he doesn’t even realize he has, brought to life beautifully by a career-best Cranston. This episode is not just great at setting up the series, but it also makes even more sense in retrospect, proving just how well planned out it was.
3
“Winter Is Coming”
‘Game of Thrones’ (2011-2019)
The pilot episode of Game of Thrones is not just an excellent introduction to the show; it was the perfect way to bring George R.R. Martin’s world to screen, and it resulted in eight seasons of Game of Thrones, as well as multiple spin-off series. In Game of Thrones‘ pilot, a number of separate journeys kick off for each cluster of main characters, and their paths cross in ways that go on to affect the entire series.
Most notably, Ned Stark (Sean Bean) becomes Hand of the King, and the episode ends with Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) pushing Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright) out of a tower window. The pilot episode of Game of Thrones is shocking, immersive, and outright brutal, effective at showing what everyone’s lives looked like before the start of the series, and specifically what the Stark family was like together before they were all separated. It brought Westeros to life in a striking and unforgiving way, introducing a new kind of fantasy world where chivalry was but an illusion.
2
“Pilot”
‘Lost’ (2004-2010)
It’s hard to think of a pilot episode that is better-written or that has been more influential than the two-part pilot episode of Lost. The episode opens with a focus on Jack Shephard (Matthew Fox), before then revealing that he’s one of many plane crash survivors who have all just crashed on a deserted island together. Lost‘s pilot immediately sets up the stakes and setting, making it clear that, even as the survivors still have hope of rescue, they are going to be stranded for a long time.
Unlike the rest of Lost‘s introductory episodes, the pilot doesn’t have any flashbacks to the characters’ lives before they get on the plane. Instead, brief scenes of the plane ride give necessary background details, but the episode’s main purpose is to show how the survivors react to getting stranded. It’s an unforgettable pilot episode that gets viewers attached to the characters by the time it’s over, and it is understandable that Lost went on to have six seasons.
1
“Pilot”
‘The Sopranos’ (1999-2007)
In the pilot episode of The Sopranos, Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) starts seeing psychiatrist Dr. Melfi (Lorraine Bracco) for his panic attacks. The interesting twist is that, due to his position in the local mob, Tony has to lie to even his psychiatrist (although his reputation precedes him). The episode does a perfect job of introducing the characters, establishing Tony’s complex dynamics with everyone in his life, and setting up the stakes while also keeping a darkly comedic tone.
The Sopranos‘ premise is interesting enough on its own, but the specific details and nuances of Tony’s character are what elevate it. He’s one of the most powerful people in New Jersey, but Tony is suffering from anxiety. He also has an odd fixation on the ducks living in his pool because it makes him think of his relationships with his family. The world of The Sopranos and its characters feel so real within just the first episode, and it’s an impressive feat. The episode set the standard for what would ultimately become the new Golden Age of TV, ensuring its legendary legacy.
