It's an unspoken understanding amongst viewers and critics that we shouldn't judge a show by its pilot episode. Some series, like the US version of The Office (2005), change so drastically that if people judged by its first episode, it wouldn't have made it to nine seasons. There are even some pilot episodes that viewers can skip if they really want to. For instance, every time I rewatch The Office, I start from Season 2. But there are a select few shows where the pilot episode is so exemplary and such a strong setup that skipping them should be considered sacrilegious.
From The X-Files (1993) to a comedy like Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013), here are 10 of the best pilot episodes in TV history that fans should never skip (even during a rewatch), and where you can watch the series on platforms such as Disney+, Netflix, and more.
"Pilot" - The X-Files (1993-2018)
It's not every show from the early '90s that holds up, but it's especially not every pilot episode that effortlessly packs in as much as The X-Files does. How the episode sets up the dynamic between Dana Scully and Fox Mulder is no small feat in showcasing not only where their slow-burn romance will go, but how their partnership will become an iconic and renowned archetype within the procedural genre.
Striking the perfect balance between a pilot episode that lays down the plot while simultaneously ensuring that the characters are worth following isn't an easy task. It's why many of them fail to become memorable years later when better episodes have aired. But The X-Files does this in a manner that's genuinely noteworthy. It's surprisingly sincere, vulnerable, and thoroughly gripping from the first frame to the last. The X-Files is a must-watch for fans of procedurals, but it's especially perfect for viewers who loved the sci-fi narrative and character dynamics in The Expanse (2015).
"Good News About Hell" - Severance (2022-Present)
The thing about Severance is that the pilot episode isn't nearly enough to show us where the show's going, but it's an especially compelling arc to look back on later down the road. It's one that grows even more enticing when you already have a clearer sense of what's happening because the setup from the beginning is thoroughly meant to flip us on our axis.
And yet, part of the reason it's so good is that it's one of the rare instances where viewers experience everything right alongside the character in a completely refreshing way. Yes, most characters are experiencing things for the first time in most pilots, but the distinct mind-bending directorial choices in Severance's "Good News About Hell" are what make the viewing experience completely different from others. Severance is a must-watch for anyone who wants a compelling case study on grief and human complexities.
"Pilot" - Lost (2004-2010)
While TV fans can go back and forth arguing about whether the Lost series finale is satisfying or not, few can argue about how riveting the pilot episode is. It's one of the few beginnings that does an impeccable job of setting a complicated stage so seamlessly that it's hard to imagine anyone not pressing play afterward. It also features one of the most heart-pounding opening scenes that even the viewers who generally forget pilots remember Lost's.
There are very few properties like Lost and its glowing attention to the character dynamics that have become integral to pop culture spaces. It's one of the rare mysteries that's in a league of its own, and an episode like its pilot is a large part of the reason why. How the series ends and where it all began are connected in a way that's always a blast to analyze and discuss. It's a must-watch for anyone who loves mysteries and the forced proximity trope.
"Pilot" - Breaking Bad (2008-2012)
When it comes to discussing the greatest episodes of all time, Breaking Bad's "Ozymandius" is often on every list. It's the blueprint for how to create a jaw-dropping fallout in the show's final season, but what also deserves praise is the show's pilot. So wildly different from where the rest of the series goes, the episode is a must-watch to understand what it means to consistently leave characters in the driver's seat and allow them to make the choices throughout the story.
It sets up the series' plot expertly, but more importantly, it carefully shows viewers that the series will heavily rely on how these characters will change from this point onward. For viewers who love dark family dramas like Peaky Blinders (2013), Breaking Bad is a must-watch. It's also imperative for anyone who wants to build any sort of career in television as a worthy example of a series that nails a unique plot brilliantly from start to finish.
"Chapter One: The Vanishing Of Will Byers" - Stranger Things (2016-2025)
Stranger Things not only delivers an astounding pilot episode, but it's a rare series that features an incredible debut within the sci-fi genre. There's no way to skip it when it not only shows us the very beginning of all the terror that's coming to Hawkins, but also how it stands as proof of the exemplary growth that characters go through as the season progresses. The episode might be titled after Will Byers' disappearance, but it's a hidden gem when it comes to giving us bits and pieces of other key players.
More than anything, Winona Ryder delivers an incredible performance right from the start, proving why she's a spooky icon to so many people who grew up loving films like Heathers (1988) or Beetlejuice (1988). With its careful attention to strong friendships and '80s nostalgia, Stranger Things is also a must-watch for anyone who loved The Goonies (1985) growing up.
"Pilot" - The Americans (2013-2018)
The Americans is unlike any other spy drama, and it's entirely because of how thoughtfully and captivatingly character-driven it is. From the first episode to the last, it's a testament to the actors that audiences are invested in the journey of Russian spies living undercover in America. And it's not until you revisit the pilot that you realize what a triumph it is in setting up how the series will highlight the marriage between Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell's Phillip and Elizabeth Jennings.
The series is a must-watch for fans who love the arranged marriage trope, but also for viewers who are currently loving Russell in The Diplomat (2023). No one plays a complex, flawed woman as brilliantly as Russell, and from the very beginning of The Americans, she delivers an indescribable performance that sets the stage for how far the character will go. Yet, it's not just her but really every cast member, and so brilliantly, too, that when we look back at the series finale, it's proof that few shows wrap things up in a manner as satisfying.
"7:00 A.M." - The Pitt (2025-Present)
With its first season taking place during the span of a single day, The Pitt becomes a unicorn when it comes to medical dramas. And sure, while maybe viewers don't exactly have to revisit the pilot episode during a rewatch, with the amount of greatness it delivers, there's a high chance you'll notice something new with every viewing. Like any great first episode, it introduces viewers to all the important characters while subtly setting up what's to come.
The episode isn't just well-written, well-acted, and well-paced, but it makes it incredibly easy to press play on the next episode, which isn't always the case with procedurals. The Pitt is a must-watch for viewers who loved ER (1994) and Noah Wyle, but its characters are so compelling that even if you aren't a fan of medicine (or a hypochondriac like me), the show will be easy to invest in.
"Pilot" - Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013-2021)
Comedy pilots rarely deliver an episode that feels unique, but from beginning to end, that's exactly what Brooklyn Nine-Nine set up. It's especially compelling to rewatch the pilot and look back at how far the characters have come. In more ways than one, it acts as a sincere love letter to Captain Holt, played to perfection by the late Andre Braugher, and it effectively showcases how the characters are about to become a true found family.
Similar to many of Mike Schur's shows, Brooklyn Nine-Nine handles inclusivity with the most brilliant sense of humor and self-awareness to showcase why it's imperative not just in TV and film, but in the world. With Holt's character stepping in as the new captain, everything changes like a domino effect in the precinct, and while most comedies take at least a season to find their footing, Brooklyn Nine-Nine nails it right from the start.
"3 AM" - The Punisher (2017-2019)
Despite it being a Marvel property, The Punisher is unlike any of the series or movies released by the company. In fact, its pilot episode, "3 AM," is so compelling that even non-superhero fans tuned in to watch what Jon Bernthal would deliver from the antihero. The pilot sets the stage so perfectly that you can tell right from the start that the show's about to be a character-driven spectacle that centers around righting wrongs.
The episode effectively sets up what's ahead by highlighting the character's motives in a way that makes him compelling enough to follow. You don't have to be a fan of the comics to find yourself eager to follow along with the setup because the episode carefully shows everything we need to know to care about what else to come. It's gritty, heavy at times, and undoubtedly intriguing. If you love dark antihero stories with excellent performances, then The Punisher is the show for you.
"Pilot" - This Is Us (2016-2022)
Dan Fogelman's This Is Us delivers the type of pilot that's hugely impactful but may be too saccharine for some viewers. Still, the show is an absolute must-watch for fans who appreciate the family connections that a comedy like Modern Family (2009) features but want a drama version instead. The series' first episode is undoubtedly in its top five as a brilliantly hopeful twist that shows us who the characters are and why it'll be so easy to follow along on their journey.
In addition, how later episodes draw effortless parallels to the pilot touches on the idea of how significant beginnings are and why the show's so beloved as a series. The beginning and the end are what make the drama series so intriguing. Not to mention that every performance sticks the landing to make the execution of a relatively whimsical plot to feel believable instead.
