Entertainment
10 Best TV Pilots of the 21st Century
# 10 Best TV Pilots of the 21st Century: The Definitive Ranking The first episode of a television series, the pilot, is a high-stakes gamble. It has...
10 Best TV Pilots of the 21st Century: The Definitive Ranking
The first episode of a television series, the pilot, is a high-stakes gamble. It has the monumental task of introducing a world, establishing characters we should care about, setting a tone, and hooking an audience, all within a single hour. A great pilot is a work of art, a perfectly crafted short story that also promises a sprawling epic to come. In the 21st century, with the explosion of "Peak TV," the art of the pilot has been honed to a razor's edge. From mind-bending mysteries to character-driven dramas, the pilots on this list didn't just kick off a series; they established new standards for television storytelling. They are the episodes that launched cultural phenomena, sparked endless online discussions, and, most importantly, made it impossible for us not to click "next episode." This definitive ranking celebrates the most masterful, compelling, and unforgettable television pilots since the year 2000, each one a testament to the power of a perfect beginning.
10. The Walking Dead - "Days Gone Bye"
The pilot of The Walking Dead is a masterclass in atmosphere and world-building through a singular, isolated perspective. It’s a quiet, desolate, and haunting introduction to a world that has already ended, immediately setting it apart from more action-heavy zombie fiction.
### A World Without Exposition
The episode's greatest strength is its restraint. We awaken with Deputy Sheriff Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) from a coma into a silent, abandoned hospital. The narrative trusts the audience to piece together the apocalypse through visual cues: the decaying flowers by his bedside, the chained cafeteria doors with the ominous warning, "Don't Open, Dead Inside." There are no news reports explaining the outbreak or scientists outlining the "rules" of the zombies. The audience discovers the horror of this new reality right alongside Rick, creating a powerful and immersive viewing experience. This slow, methodical reveal makes the eventual appearance of the undead all the more terrifying.
### The Human Element at the Forefront
While the undead provide the threat, "Days Gone Bye" establishes that this is a story about humanity. The pilot's most memorable and emotionally resonant sequence involves Rick meeting Morgan Jones and his son, Duane. Their cautious, heartbreaking interactions ground the fantastical premise in real-world emotion. We see the toll this world has taken on a family, the impossible choices they face, and the flicker of hope that community can provide. This focus on character over gore is what would define the show's best moments for years to come, promising a series not just about surviving, but about what we survive for.
9. Sherlock - "A Study in Pink"
Bringing a 19th-century detective into the 21st century was a perilous task, but the pilot for BBC's Sherlock accomplished it with breathtaking style and intelligence. "A Study in Pink" didn't just update the setting; it perfectly translated the spirit of Arthur Conan Doyle's creation into the modern technological age.
### The Modern Holmes
Benedict Cumberbatch's introduction as Sherlock Holmes is instantly iconic. This isn't just a man with a magnifying glass; he's a "high-functioning sociopath" whose deductive reasoning manifests as on-screen text messages and floating graphics. The pilot brilliantly visualizes Sherlock's thought process, making his genius accessible and exhilarating for a contemporary audience. The episode establishes his unique blend of arrogance, intellectual superiority, and deep-seated loneliness, creating a complex and compelling protagonist from the very first scene.
### Forging an Unforgettable Partnership
Equally crucial is the introduction of Martin Freeman's John Watson. He is not a bumbling sidekick but a capable, grounded war veteran who becomes the audience's surrogate. The chemistry between Cumberbatch and Freeman is electric from their first meeting. The pilot dedicates significant time to establishing their dynamic, showing why these two very different men need each other. Their burgeoning friendship provides the essential human core of the series, a perfect counterbalance to the cold, hard logic of the crimes they solve.
8. This Is Us - "Pilot"
In a television landscape dominated by high-concept genre shows, the pilot of This Is Us was a quiet revolution. It promised a show about ordinary people and their connections, and then delivered a stunning emotional twist that revealed its true, ambitious scope.
### The Power of Human Connection
The episode introduces four seemingly disconnected storylines: Jack and Rebecca Pearson, a couple expecting triplets in the past; and in the present day, Randall, a successful family man who finds his biological father, Kate, a woman struggling with her weight, and Kevin, a handsome but unfulfilled sitcom actor. Each story is compelling in its own right, tapping into universal themes of love, loss, identity, and family. The pilot excels at making you care deeply for these characters in a remarkably short amount of time.
### The Final Reveal
The genius of the This Is Us pilot lies in its final moments. The reveal that the three present-day characters are the adult children of Jack and Rebecca, and that we have been watching two different timelines, is a beautifully executed narrative surprise. It’s not a cheap gimmick but a profound re-contextualization of everything we have just watched. It immediately establishes the show's unique structure and emotional promise: to explore how the past echoes through the present and how family shapes us over a lifetime. It was a twist that had audiences talking and guaranteed they would be back for more.
7. The Good Place - "Everything Is Fine"
A sitcom pilot about the afterlife is a high-concept premise that could easily fall flat. Yet, "Everything Is Fine" is a near-perfect introduction to one of the most intelligent and philosophically ambitious comedies of the century. The pilot is charming, hilarious, and brilliantly sets up the show's central moral and narrative engine.
### A Flawlessly Executed Premise
The episode introduces Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell), a woman who is told she has died and entered "the Good Place," a secular, utopian afterlife designed by the benevolent architect Michael (Ted Danson). The world is immediately charming and quirky, with frozen yogurt shops on every corner and soulmates assigned at check-in. The pilot efficiently lays out the rules of this universe with wit and clarity, making a complex concept feel effortlessly understandable.
### The Central Conflict: A Case of Mistaken Identity
The core of the pilot is the fantastic twist that Eleanor doesn't belong. She wasn't a human rights lawyer; she was a selfish person who sold fake medicine to the elderly. This revelation, and her desperate attempt to hide her secret from Michael and her soulmate, Chidi, establishes the series' premise perfectly. It creates immediate stakes, introduces the central ethical dilemma—can a "bad" person learn to be "good"?—and sets the stage for four seasons of brilliant comedy and profound philosophical exploration.
6. Mr. Robot - "eps1.0_hellofriend.mov"
The opening episode of Mr. Robot felt like a jolt of pure electricity when it premiered. It was stylistically daring, narratively complex, and perfectly captured a sense of modern paranoia and digital alienation. "eps1.0_hellofriend.mov" is not just a pilot; it's a mission statement.
### A New Kind of Anti-Hero
The episode introduces us to Elliot Alderson (Rami Malek in a star-making role), a cybersecurity engineer by day and a vigilante hacker by night. Through his internal monologue, we are plunged into the mind of a brilliant but deeply troubled individual who sees the world through a filter of social anxiety, depression, and righteous anger at corporate greed. Malek's captivating performance and the show's distinctive voiceover immediately create one of the most unique and compelling protagonists on television.
### Cinematic and Unsettling Style
Creator Sam Esmail established a bold and cinematic visual language from the very first frame. The off-center framing, muted color palette, and unsettling score create a palpable sense of unease and isolation that mirrors Elliot's internal state. The pilot is a visual and auditory experience that feels more like an indie thriller than a basic cable drama. It culminates in Elliot being recruited by the mysterious Mr. Robot (Christian Slater) into the "fsociety" hacking group, presenting him with a choice that perfectly tees up the central conflict of the entire series.
5. Game of Thrones - "Winter Is Coming"
Adapting George R. R. Martin's sprawling fantasy epic was a monumental challenge. The pilot, "Winter Is Coming," had to introduce dozens of characters, multiple locations, and a dense mythology without alienating newcomers. It succeeded beyond all expectations, laying the groundwork for what would become a global phenomenon.
### Masterful World-Building
The episode brilliantly balances its vast scope. We are seamlessly transported from the icy dread of the lands beyond the Wall, where we meet the terrifying White Walkers, to the political intrigue of King's Landing and the familial warmth of Winterfell. The pilot effectively introduces the core noble houses—the Starks, Lannisters, and Targaryens—and establishes their distinct cultures and motivations. It grounds its high fantasy setting in a gritty, realistic tone that made the world of Westeros feel tangible and lived-in.
### The Shocking Climax
"Winter Is Coming" is a masterclass in establishing stakes. The episode methodically introduces us to the honorable Stark family, making us care about their bonds and their code. Then, in its final moments, it delivers a shocking and brutal twist: Jaime Lannister pushing young Bran Stark from a tower window with the callous line, "The things I do for love." This single act instantly communicated to the audience that in this world, no one was safe. It was a ruthless, unforgettable ending that set the tone for the entire series and had viewers hooked.
4. Mad Men - "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes"
"Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" is a pilot that is less about plot and more about character, tone, and theme. It is a slow-burn, immaculately crafted introduction to the world of 1960s advertising and the enigmatic man at its center, Don Draper.
### The Introduction of Don Draper
The episode orbits around Don Draper (Jon Hamm), the creative director of the Sterling Cooper advertising agency. We see him as a master of his universe: handsome, confident, and brilliant at selling not just products, but ideas and desires. The pilot peels back the layers of his carefully constructed persona, showing his creative process, his womanizing, and his deep-seated existential angst. The writing is sharp, the dialogue is pitch-perfect, and Hamm's performance is a revelation of subtle charisma and hidden turmoil.
### The Final, Devastating Twist
Much like the This Is Us pilot, "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" saves its biggest reveal for the end. After watching Don navigate his seemingly bachelor life in the city, the final scene shows him arriving at a suburban home, greeted by a wife and children. This revelation is not a cheap shock but a profound statement of character. It reveals that the man we have been watching is living a lie, and the central theme of the show—the conflict between identity and image—is locked firmly into place. It’s a quiet, devastating moment that redefines the entire episode and promises a deep, character-driven journey.
3. Breaking Bad - "Pilot"
The pilot episode of Breaking Bad is one of the most perfectly executed introductory hours of television ever made. It has a monumental task: to take a sympathetic, ordinary man and believably set him on the path to becoming a ruthless drug lord. It accomplishes this with gripping tension, dark humor, and flawless character work.
### A Man on the Edge
The episode opens with a frantic, pants-less Walter White (Bryan Cranston) driving an RV through the desert before crashing and recording a desperate goodbye to his family. The pilot then flashes back to show us how this meek, under-appreciated high school chemistry teacher reached this point. We witness his cancer diagnosis, his financial desperation, and the soul-crushing indignities of his daily life. Cranston's performance is nothing short of brilliant, making Walt's transformation feel not just plausible, but tragically inevitable.
### The Perfect Catalyst
The pilot perfectly establishes the show's premise and central relationship. Walt's decision to "break bad" by cooking meth is his desperate attempt to seize control of his life and provide for his family. His reluctant partnership with his former student, the small-time dealer Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), creates immediate conflict and comedic friction. The episode is a self-contained story of a man's first disastrous foray into the criminal underworld, ending with Walt discovering a newfound, dangerous part of himself. It is a thrilling, unforgettable, and flawless beginning to one of television's greatest sagas.
2. Alias - "Truth Be Told"
The pilot for J.J. Abrams' spy-fi thriller Alias is a breathless, feature-length thrill ride that sets a new standard for action and intrigue on network television. "Truth Be Told" doesn't just introduce a world; it builds one, tears it down, and rebuilds it again, all in the span of a single episode.
### A High-Octane Introduction
The episode introduces Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner), a graduate student who leads a double life as a secret agent for SD-6, a supposed black-ops division of the CIA. The pilot is packed with thrilling action sequences, exotic locations, and clever spy gadgets. Garner is immediately convincing as both a vulnerable young woman and a formidable action hero, embodying the show's unique blend of emotional drama and high-stakes espionage.
### Twists on Top of Twists
What makes the Alias pilot legendary is its relentless pace and shocking plot twists. Sydney's life implodes when she reveals her secret identity to her fiancé, who is then murdered by SD-6. This leads to the central, game-changing revelation from her estranged father, Jack Bristow: SD-6 is not part of the CIA. It is actually a cell of a global criminal organization, and he is a double agent working from within. This stunning twist completely upends the show's premise, instantly transforming Sydney from a loyal agent into a double agent seeking revenge. It's a masterful piece of narrative structuring that leaves the audience breathless and desperate for more.
1. Lost - "Pilot, Part 1 & 2"
Often cited as one of the best and most influential pilots in television history, the two-part premiere of Lost is an epic, cinematic experience that redefined what was possible on network TV. It is a blockbuster movie delivered to the small screen, expertly blending character-driven drama with high-concept mystery and heart-pounding action.
### An Unforgettable Opening
The pilot begins with a now-iconic shot: Jack Shephard (Matthew Fox) opening his eye in a bamboo forest, followed by the terrifying, chaotic aftermath of the Oceanic Flight 815 plane crash. The scale of the opening sequence is staggering, even by today's standards. Director J.J. Abrams creates a visceral sense of panic and confusion as Jack navigates the wreckage, immediately establishing him as a reluctant leader. The production value was immense for its time, with the pilot reportedly costing between $10 and $14 million.
### Characters and Mystery in Perfect Harmony
Despite the massive scale, the pilot's true genius is its focus on character. Through a series of well-integrated flashbacks—a narrative device that would become the show's signature—we are introduced to a diverse ensemble of survivors, including the resourceful Kate, the haunted rock star Charlie, and the mysterious loner Locke. Each flashback deepens our understanding of the characters' lives before the crash, creating immediate emotional investment. Simultaneously, the island itself is established as a character, filled with mysteries: a polar bear, a 16-year-old distress signal, and an unseen, monstrous "thing" that tears through the jungle. The pilot ends not with a resolution, but with a question from Charlie: "Guys... where are we?" It was a question the entire world would be asking for the next six years, cementing the Lost pilot as the definitive best of the 21st century.
11. Conclusion
A great pilot is more than just a first episode; it's a promise. It's a declaration of intent that establishes a show's voice, vision, and ambition. The ten pilots on this list delivered on that promise and then some, launching series that would go on to define the television landscape of the 21st century. They are a testament to the power of a perfect beginning, episodes that not only hooked us but also elevated the art of episodic storytelling itself.