Best TV Pilots
These are TV Pilots I’d rate a 9/10 [WIP] (Honorable Mentions: GOT, BCS, Succession, Mad Men, Dexter, True Detective, Boardwalk Empire, Utopia, HACF, House MD, all really great but didn’t quite make it for me. Will add more later) Some highly rated pilots like Lost’s I may have not mentioned cause I didn’t find them to be that good, or This Is Us because I don’t want to watch that show.
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- DirectorVince GilliganStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulDiagnosed with terminal lung cancer, chemistry teacher Walter White teams up with former student Jesse Pinkman to cook and sell crystal meth.One of the best pilots setting up the plot and characters so perfectly and being already intense and exciting from the get-go. Also the best episode of the first season by far.
- DirectorClark JohnsonStarsMichael ChiklisCatherine DentReed DiamondWhile Dutch and Claudette investigate the murder of Nancy Reborg, they discover that her daughter is missing and has been sold by her addict father to a child molester. David tries to crack corruption in the Barn by recruiting Terry to help him take down Vic.One of the most important pilots, everything spawns from the ending and it’s important till the finale of the series. Also sets up the plot and characters very well, with a surprisingly performance from Chiklis that gained him an Emmy, put FX on the map, and pushed many TV boundaries at the time. One of the best even if by today’s standards it doesn’t work as amazingly.
- DirectorOnur SaylakStarsHaluk BilginerCansu DereMetin AkdülgerAgâh Beyoglu is upset by his initial diagnosis of Alzheimer. Agâh recognizes that forgotten is an opportunity to commit a murder that he has planned for years but is constantly delaying.One of the best pilots, similar to Breaking Bad’s.
- DirectorRobert ValleyJeff AllenStarsSteven YeunSandra OhJ.K. SimmonsWhen Mark Grayson finally inherits powers from his superhero father, it's a dream come true. But there's more to being a hero than just choosing a name and costume.THE ENDING
- DirectorNiels Arden OplevStarsRami MalekCarly ChaikinPortia DoubledayA notorious hacker takes an interest in cyber security engineer and vigilante styled computer hacker Elliot, while an evil corporation is hacked.Super unique and interesting
- DirectorPhil AbrahamStarsCharlie CoxDeborah Ann WollElden HensonMatt Murdock and Foggy Nelson open their law firm, and take the case of a woman accused of murder who Matt believes is innocent.The montage at the end brings it up
- DirectorDavid ChaseStarsJames GandolfiniLorraine BraccoEdie FalcoA mobster passes out at a family barbecue and seeks therapy to understand why.For its influence
- DirectorJonathan NolanStarsEvan Rachel WoodThandiwe NewtonJeffrey WrightThe park staff begin to notice strange behavior from the hosts; A mysterious Man in Black roams the park, wreaking havoc.Haven’t watched
- DirectorFrank DarabontStarsAndrew LincolnJon BernthalSarah Wayne CalliesDeputy Sheriff Rick Grimes awakens from a coma, and searches for his family in a world ravaged by the undead.Started
- DirectorAdam BernsteinStarsBilly Bob ThorntonAllison TolmanColin HanksA ruthless, manipulative man meets a small-town insurance salesman and sets him on a path of destruction.Haven’t watched
- DirectorDarnell MartinStarsErnie HudsonTerry KinneyHarold PerrineauIn the 'Emerald City' experimental unit of Oswald State Penitentiary, we meet some of the diverse inmates who exist in a pecking order of Gangbangers, Latinos, Muslims, Westies, Aryans and Wiseguys.Bonus for its influence
- DirectorGavin O'ConnorStarsKeri RussellMatthew RhysMaximiliano HernándezPhillip and Elizabeth Jennings are two seemingly normal Americans who are really undercover KGB agents. After kidnapping a Soviet defector they discover their new neighbor is an FBI agent assigned to their case.Super good job setting up the plot and characters, very entertaining, works pretty well on its own. Just really like it and hooked me from the start.
- DirectorJosé PadilhaStarsWagner MouraBoyd HolbrookPedro PascalChilean drug chemist Cockroach brings his product to Colombian smuggler Pablo Escobar. DEA agent Steve Murphy joins the war on drugs in Bogota.Very well made and well structured setting up many things at once, effective use of time jumps, and just satisfying and entertaining on its own.
- DirectorAlan BallStarsPeter KrauseMichael C. HallFrances ConroyWhen the funeral director is killed in an accident, the family comes together to mourn and decide the fate of the funeral home.Unironically one of the best episodes of the show and sets up the characters so well. Very entertaining, great drama, surprisingly funny, and hooked me on what was a disappointing show.
- DirectorNathan FielderStarsNathan FielderGigi BurgdorfK. Todd FreemanNathan Fielder helps a Brooklyn-based trivia aficionado come clean to his teammate about a long-held lie.Super cool, unique, interesting, works on its own but also sets up the rest of the show.
- DirectorBarry LevinsonStarsDaniel BaldwinRichard BelzerAndre BraugherThe team investigate a woman who appears to be murdering her husbands for the insurance money.For its influence
- 2023– 1h 21mTV-MA9.1 (111K)TV EpisodeDirectorCraig MazinStarsPedro PascalBella RamseyNico ParkerTwenty years after a fungal outbreak ravages the planet, survivors Joel and Tess are tasked with a mission that could change everything.Haven’t watched
- DirectorSteven ZaillianStarsJohn TurturroRiz AhmedBill CampShy college student Nasir Khan spends the night with a quirky, mysterious girl, and is horrified when he awakens to find she has been murdered.Haven’t watched
- DirectorMasahiko MurataStarsJacob HopkinsReiji KawashimaKenjirô TsudaA sphere that absorbs shapes around it is thrown into the world so you can watch what happens in it. It's slow metamorphoses provide him with remarkable experiences.Haven’t watched
- DirectorJohan RenckStarsJared HarrisMichael ShaefferJessie BuckleyPlant workers and firefighters put their lives on the line to control a catastrophic April 1986 explosion at a Soviet nuclear power plant.Strong first chapter to an amazing miniseries.
- 2013–202326mTV-MA9.1 (34K)TV EpisodeDirectorTetsurô ArakiHiroyuki TanakaStarsYûki KajiYui IshikawaMarina InoueAfter 100 years of peace, humanity is suddenly reminded of the terror of being at the Titans' mercy.Super strong and tense start that sets up the plot and characters surprisingly well and already has some foreshadowing for the future. However the ending will make parts of this episode dumb unfortunately.
- DirectorGreg MottolaStarsJeff DanielsEmily MortimerJohn Gallagher Jr.Will's professional idealism is put to the test with his new news team when they are first to cover the Deep Horizon platform oil spill.Haven’t watched
- DirectorDan TrachtenbergStarsKarl UrbanJack QuaidAntony StarrWhen a Supe kills the love of his life, A/V salesman Hughie Campbell teams up with Billy Butcher, a vigilante hell-bent on punishing corrupt Supes -- and Hughie's life will never be the same again.Awesome surprisingly and shocking start subverting all we thought about a superhero show. Super effective and surprisingly eventful for a first episode.
- DirectorGlen WinterStarsDiane GuerreroApril BowlbyAlan TudykAfter a severe accident, Cliff Steele wakes up, a changed man, in the house of Dr. Niles Caulder and his Doom Patrol.An amazing pilot that introduces us to every character effectively, and still manages to give some great development. It has shocking moments, funny moments, and truly emotional moments as well. One of my favorites.
- DirectorEvan GoldbergSeth RogenStarsDominic CooperJoe GilgunRuth NeggaA preacher heads out on a journey to combat the supernatural evil that just decimated his Texas hometown.Gotta rewatch