15 best TV show pilot episodes, ranked

A TV show's pilot episode is a stand-alone episode intended to pitch the show to a network or distributor. A pilot episode acts as a testing ground to ascertain whether a series would be successful. A successful pilot can serve as the first episode of a new show or the series premiere. However, a series pilot is aired later or never at all.

A good pilot shows captivate audiences with compelling tales of crime, high-stakes adventure, and fantasy, which can lead to long-lasting viewer engagement. The list contains 15 of the best TV show pilot episodes that established groundbreaking introductions to memorable storytelling experiences.

Here is the list of the 15 best TV show pilot episodes (ranked).

Disclaimer: This article is based on the writer's opinion. Readers' discretion is advised.

---

15) Hawkeye: Never Meet Your Heroes (2021)

Never Meet Your Heroes (2021) introduces Clint Barton as a fatigued Avenger superhero and Kate Bishop who emerges as an energetic archer. The show combines comedy with heroic action throughout its 47-minute time length. The episode builds multiple storylines and shows developing conflicts between the new team members and reveals new threats.

---

14) Loki: Glorious Purpose (2021)

In 2021, Glorious Purpose showed us an anti-hero escaping from the time heist that the Avengers were conducting as the MCU fans got their first view of the main character. The 51-minute episode screened how the Time Variance Authority (TVA) and the central agency in charge of time preservation operate the entire timeline.

When Loki glimpses his future, he learns more about his troublesome nature, which deepens his understanding of himself.

This pilot provided the groundwork for time-travel events and Loki's complex growth and blended science-fiction, drama, and humor right from the beginning.

---

13) The Punisher: 3 AM (2017)

3 AM (2017) depicts Frank Castle's path as a vigilante who, driven by grief, seeks revenge. Throughout 58 minutes, the show presents Castle's tragic background and establishes the dark and intense style that characterizes the entire series.

Castle's involvement in dismantling a criminal organization at this point in the story foreshadows future conspiracy components, demonstrating his unwavering dedication to virtue.

The seamless combination of emotional depth with thrilling sequences makes the installment serve as Frank's starting point and capture the audience's attention.

---

12) Silicon Valley: Minimum Viable Product (2014)

This pilot episode from Silicon Valley (2014) presents Richard as an introverted software developer. Richard holds revolutionary compression technology. The episode shows the show's digital satire about Silicon Valley by portraying its excessively competitive atmosphere within 30 minutes.

The two appealing life-altering propositions drive Richard to encounter an ethical dilemma alongside financial pressure. The critical decision made in the initial episode established the series' approach to innovation followed by ambition and ethical dilemmas. As a result, the episode captivated the fans through its witty critiques of tech startups.

---

11) Moon Knight: The Goldfish Problem (2022)

In Moon Knight: The Goldfish Problem, Steven Grant is introduced as a shy employee in a gift shop in the National Art Gallery who begins to show signs of dissociative identity disorder. Throughout the episode, audiences see him black out and witness strange apparitions before he discovers that he shares his human form with mercenary Marc Spector.

---

10) Twin Peaks: Northwest Passage (1989)

Northwest Passage from Twin Peaks presents viewers with the core mystery that involves the death of Laura Palmer. The show creates a spooky yet magical atmosphere in its first episode, identifying key locations and exposing many hidden components. The ingredients of this episode had been shot in a small-town setting.

Dale Cooper's entrance into town develops an investigative storyline while locals behave peculiarly to suggest unexplained forces behind the town's abnormality. The initial segment of the series establishes all the crucial elements that shape its mysterious narrative and dramatic, and supernatural qualities.

---

9) Daredevil: Into the Ring (2015)

Into the Ring reveals how Matt Murdock becomes the blind superhero Daredevil while presenting his unique abilities. As Matt Murdock and Foggy Nelson manage their financially struggling legal practice, he displays his moral character and builds a professional rapport with them.

According to the show, there is corruption in Hell's Kitchen, which gives rise to the criminal threats Matt must contend with. The opening segment demonstrates Matt's dual abilities as an attorney and vigilante. Therefore, it creates a fundamental basis for the show's moral and justice-related themes.

---

8) Ozark: Sugarwood (2017)

The pilot episode of Ozark establishes its high-level plot via Sugarwood. Due to a partner’s betrayal, the financial advisor Marty Byrde must shift his family to the Ozarks for safety reasons. Through this initial installment, the show presents its ominous and suspenseful nature to reveal how Marty demonstrates prompt survival techniques while confronting criminal danger.

The unstable relationships in the family are skillfully introduced in this episode, making the story's beginning captivating.

---

7) Money Heist: Efectuar lo acordado (2017)

Efectuar lo acordado launches the upcoming complex robbery operations directed by the professor. Throughout 47 minutes, the episode reveals the specially trained criminal team members, their individual qualities & the precise plan to infiltrate the Royal Mint of Spain.

The storyline feeds crucial plot points that combine dramatic elements with strategic planning while generating suspense and mystery effects.

---

6) Game of Thrones: Winter Is Coming (2011)

This episode has 1 hour and 2 minutes of screen time, and IMDb users rated it 8.9 out of 10. The initial episode of Game of Thrones introduces the vast medieval world, showcasing the impending dangers of the White Walkers in the north and the Targaryen royal ambitions pursued by Viserys and Daenerys Targaryen.

The fans fell in love with the Game of Thrones pilot episode that expertly combined dramatic intensity with the power struggles and complex characters. The powerful narrative and its ominous atmosphere became the foundation for declaring it a crucial fantasy series to observe.

---

5) Better Call Saul: Uno (2015)

In the pilot episode, Jimmy McGill, a struggling lawyer navigating his turbulent life before becoming Saul Goodman is introduced. Throughout 53 minutes, we see Jimmy develop his goals, moral struggles, and talent for breaking rules while revealing his multifaceted personality.

The pilot episode prepares the audience for the exciting plot that will follow while also revealing his fate as a defense lawyer through comedic and tragic components.

---

4) Black Mirror: The National Anthem (2011)

The pilot episode creates the atmosphere for the show by analyzing the technological manipulations between media systems and humanity. The episode duration is 44 minutes and shows a fictional political emergency that tests the Prime Minister with an unimaginable demand.

This episode introduces the anthology's satirical editorials and moral examination of social forces at the outset, which ultimately becomes its defining style. Through its unconventional story, the show engages viewers with its unique approach that marks this program for its investigations of contemporary technological repercussions.

---

3) Sherlock: A Study in Pink (2010)

Steven Moffat wrote an adaptation of Sherlock Holmes which Arthur Conan Doyle never wrote. The television series A Study in Pink took its inspiration from The Study in Scarlet in creating the very first episode.

Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman brought dynamic performances to their respective roles as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson and solidified themselves as the modern-day Sherlock and Watson.

This 90-minute premiere exceeded normal runtime yet every moment held its worth throughout the episode.

---

2) Lost: Part 1 & Part 2 (2004)

Lost (2004) opens its pilot with a dual episode that portrays 48 survivors who must survive a strange island following an aircraft disaster. The two introductory episodes reach 84 minutes in length and establish how the show combines the characters' memories with mystifying supernatural elements.

The introduction reveals the main characters Jack, Kate, and Sawyer together with strange island phenomena including the mysterious predator. Through these opening episodes, the show establishes dramatic tension and powerful enigmas that define the legendary series.

---

1) Breaking Bad: Pilot (2008)

Breaking Bad introduces Walter White to viewers during its inaugural episode with his transformation into an illegal methamphetamine producer. The episode shows how White showcases his monetary problems alongside his terminal illness before he decides to sell drugs.

The pilot episode sets the tone for Breaking Bad through its moral complexity while creating the iconic relationship between Walter and Jesse Pinkman. The episode manages to gain the audience's attention and establish all the essential elements required for an emotionally compelling story.

---

The best pilots draw viewers who want to see more because of their exceptional utilization of mystery, action, drama, and suspense.

Fifteen episodes had been discussed above as they established enduring entertainment benchmarks while forming the foundation for their respective series. The exceptional direction of debut episodes established innovative storytelling while presenting memorable introductions of characters.