10 TV Shows Where The First Episode Was The Best

Рет қаралды 39,032

Күн бұрын

These shows all peaked right at the start.
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@ThatWeirdCreator Ай бұрын

It’s crazy how good the first season of heroes is and if you watch anything after that, you’re gonna be disappointed.

@chamlo11 Ай бұрын

I didn't realize there were FOUR seasons of Heroes. After Season 2, all hope was lost for me that the show I fell in love with could return back to its greatness.

@rorylynch7775 Ай бұрын

The decline in quality of Heroes needs to be studied

@polreamonn Ай бұрын

The writers' strike absolutely killed that show.

@Ceares Ай бұрын

The writer's strike may or may not have influenced their decision not to focus on a new group of heroes every season, but staying with the same group because people loved them so much stagnated the fantastic idea of Heroes. Just like Prison Break and probably Lost, it should have been more along the lines of American Horror Story. Same universe, different characters, different stories, with the occasional cross-over where it made sense.

@skipper4126 Ай бұрын

@@Ceares Story lines that basically didn't go any where and characters who remained insanely childish throughout just made everything post the first season, pointless.

@Zett76 26 күн бұрын

It's pretty easy. Common reasons, but with Heroes, it was practically ALL of them combined. a) it clearly was designed as a mini series, Tim Kring had no story arc to go beyond the first season, so much so that I'm pretty sure he's changed the finale - for the worse - only to be able to continue. b) you can watch it in the music business all the time: the band/singer has YEARS for the debut album, it becomes a smash hit, and suddenly the label wants a second masterpiece within months... c) the A Song of Ice and Fire (or Lost) effect, in later seasons: too many variables made the whole thing an unsolvable mess. d) Plus there were some grave mistakes. Claire's "resurrection juice", for example, which nullified almost all stakes. Almost all the stars from S1 got ridiculous plot armour. In S1, we feared for their lives, as some of them DID get killed. (which - duh - made Sylar so effective as a serial killer, in the first place) I disagree, by the way, with the theme of the video: the best episode wasn't the pilot. It was a perfect first season, minus the finale, and peaked near the end. My personal favorite was the "future" episode.

@trinaq Ай бұрын

It's a shame that Heroes declined in quality after its first season, after a promising pilot, and overall premise.

@onair6652 Ай бұрын

Absolutely right

@WarTheory Ай бұрын

Heroes was a huge disappointment after the first season hundred percent due to the writer strike…. the real ending was the virus was supposed to be released

@cmorton1002 Ай бұрын

Roswell, with Shiri Appleby and Jason Behr..

@jetla22 Ай бұрын

I still watched the show. It was a guilty pleasure.

@jayfiggs4656 Ай бұрын

I've always wanted the show to return as a redemption season to make up for past wrongs. One could only dream though.

@KayDiddle Ай бұрын

The first episode of Hannibal is my favorite pilot of all time. It was brilliantly written and directed by Bryan Fuller, perfectly and creepily introducing our characters. After that, it was never bad, but it just became a procedural that couldn't match the feel of that first one.

@beatrixdobson4795 Ай бұрын

Walking Dead and Lost had much better episodes than the pilot.

@paulcanning4702 Ай бұрын

Agreed....

@chamlo11 Ай бұрын

Agreed....though the pilot was excellent, it wasn't the BEST episode (the First Flashforward, for instance, was bartime (not watercooler) conversation at my workplace.

@KoolKeithProductions Ай бұрын

@@chamlo11Exactly. The season 3 finale featuring the first flashforward might be the best ep in the entire series. THIS very channel voted it as the either the best season finale, or best cliffhanger EVER, so they clearly don't know what they're talking about from video to video. Hell, the first John Locke Ep in season 1 that revealed his injury is better than the first ep of Lost too.

@johnpoffenbarger5103 Ай бұрын

The pilot episode of ALIAS could stand alone as a movie. It's fantastic.

@kenthehobo Ай бұрын

They're not saying these shows were not good, just that the first episode is the best

@ericthompson3982 Ай бұрын

Exactly.

@jamesfalkner2713 Ай бұрын

It's been a bunch of years, but, 24, with Kiefer Sutherland , broke ground with the undiscovered talents and value of same time elapsed episodes to map out a compelling cliffhanger every week. But the immediate impact of each minute in the first show, using every minute in the first show, was my favorite early on. The whole series, was like mini movie every week.

@martinboyle9163 Ай бұрын

Loved it until they went the "she has amnesia" route. Felt like a daytime soap and I was just waiting for the evil twin or demonic possession to happen.

@djmattblack Ай бұрын

The first season was so disjointed, the first half was excellent but the second half wasnt as strong, this will probably due to the fact originally there was only going to be 12 episodes so they had to kind of bolt on the second half

@kevintheprf6132 Ай бұрын

How is "The Shield" not on this list? The pilot was phenomenal and remained the primary plot point for all 7 seasons.

@anacronix4193 17 күн бұрын

The whole TV show is perfect from first chapter until the end

@kevintheprf6132 17 күн бұрын

@anacronix4193 disagree. The show was fantastic through season 4. Started to lose steam in season 5 and 6, and by seven it was nothing like the show we started out with. I tell everyone on first watch just pretend the show ends at season 4. Lol

@anacronix4193 13 күн бұрын

@@kevintheprf6132 different point of view , different tastes

@notoriousbmc1 Ай бұрын

Lost had MANY better episodes than the pilot. Ep4 alone was the one that got me hooked.

@wladyslawaaron1443 Ай бұрын

No doubt, I agree 100%. I think ppl forget how massive impact on TV shows culture this series had

@Gibbo168 Ай бұрын

definitely The Constant and LaFleur just to name a few.

@albertelnen9144 Ай бұрын

I watched 10 minutes of lost. Never watched it again.

@wladyslawaaron1443 Ай бұрын

@@albertelnen9144 you lost XD

@precious_muse Ай бұрын

One show I would add is “Fringe.” Just about the whole series was good, but the first episode was phenomenal, on the caliber of a full-length feature to me. I watched it over and over.

@MattSaysHello Ай бұрын

Prison Break is one of the best first seasons of TV I’ve ever watched.

@ChaoticYak1 Ай бұрын

It probably should have been a single season show... maybe two seasons at most.

@MattSaysHello 17 күн бұрын

@@ChaoticYak1 agreed!

@The_Dudester Ай бұрын

Left out: Tales of the Gold Monkey (1982) The first episode was basically an action adventure movie and so good. Five stars out of five. Thing is, they told the entire story with that episode and there was a serious drop off (think, falling off of a cliff) with subsequent episodes.

@toolittletoolate3917 Ай бұрын

I cannot tell a lie - one look at Hayden Panetierre in that cheerleading outfit reduced my IQ by 50 points and turned me into an obsessive Heroes watcher.

@batgurrl Ай бұрын

Lost Pilot was mesmerizing and while mystery’s were constantly introduced, no episode was more exciting than The Pilot

@melaniemanning2462 Ай бұрын

Hard disagree about yellow jackets. Season two was awesome and really brought it to the next level. Can't wait to see where it goes.

@Ioannis-malewitch Ай бұрын

It's amazing how satisfying the pilot of "once upon a time" is to me. I could watch it all the time. Another show whose first season is the best.

@Donna-nu8ul Ай бұрын

I dunno. The Battlestar Galactica episode where they find the Pegasus and Admiral Cain takes control of the fleet more than gives the pilot a run for its money. Between Michelle Forbes performance, and Bear McCreary's music, it gave the series a huge infusion of tension as the Galactica faces a new type of threat. The scene between Cain and Adama, where he's confronting her because she's sentenced his crew members to death, with McCreary's 'Prelude to War' playing in the background, is some of the best television ever produced.

@HariSeldon913 Ай бұрын

While a great series, I'd put Burn Notice on the list. You get to see Michael just prior to getting burned, completely in his element then the burn comes and he starts from zero and has to establish his new self. Even though he's still figuring things out, he pretty much has his support network in place by the end of the pilot.

@trippyboi91 Ай бұрын

Def don’t agree about Yellowjackets. I’ve loved every ep so far.

@jacobdrolet4262 Ай бұрын

Amazing video what culture,fantastic job.

@peterlenihan5712 Ай бұрын

Lost doesn’t belong on this list, the first episode is amazing but there are better episodes in the series

@dicarpio2177 Ай бұрын

The decline of heroes started in the season 1 finale - the ending was such a cop out compared to the build up

@chillgentleman Ай бұрын

The 1st episode of The Shield was epic, especially killing the other detective was brilliant

@melaniemanning2462 Ай бұрын

Nathan for You has tons of hilarious episodes.

@Tlotoxl Ай бұрын

The UK 1970s series Survivors has an incredible first episode, a woman has recovered from a plague that has a 99% mortality rate, after 30 odd minutes of not seeing anybody else her cry of “am I the only one”[left alive] is brilliant.

@xandercrews4729 Ай бұрын

Woah, woah, the Night of was good all the way through and the finale was really good

@KCaldwellBlue Ай бұрын

I checked it out a couple years back. Still holds up

@xandercrews4729 Ай бұрын

@@KCaldwellBlue yeah, the finale shows what really happens when being falsely accused of a murder. Your life doesn’t go back to sunshine & happiness.

@cameroncimmerius1203 Ай бұрын

I'd argue that the whole him sleeping with his lawyer plotline is pretty dumb and while I enjoyed it the whole way through but it never again matches the tension of watching the trap slowly but inevitably close around Naz during that first hour.

@joetoscano6376 Ай бұрын

Insane that the rehearsal is on here.

@tonysmith4250 Ай бұрын

Lost me at the walking dead. That show was amazing up til the neagan introduction

@jeffreycarman2185 Ай бұрын

I think one thing that US-produced TV shows could do to make them solid for their whole run is to actually write the whole series before the show actually begins production. A Heroes, Lost, and so many other shows had infinite potential, but just didn’t have material to make it through, and there were just so many disappointing things in the later seasons, not to mention so many loose threads that don’t get tied up.

@liamdude5722 21 күн бұрын

Honestly, I don't think Last Man On Earth really hit its stride until Season 2

@RandomTChance Ай бұрын

Claire wasn't invulnerable, she just regenerated. 🤷‍♂️

@Nedski42YT 7 күн бұрын

"Under the Dome" a 2013 TV series adaptation of a Stephen King novel. I thought the pilot episode was very good, it seemed to capture the feeling of one of his books. It went downhill so fast that I didn't finish the first season. The cast was pretty good.

@douglasbunch3313 Ай бұрын

Please refrain from ever saying “way back in 2010” again. I need to take some ibuprofen and lie down now

@anthonyalles1833 Ай бұрын

Indeed, perhaps all the folks at WhatCulture were still in elementary school then?

@EyesOfByes Ай бұрын

The Event

@StanHalen1936 Ай бұрын

I'm still better it never got more than what, one season?

@Ella-Bee96 Ай бұрын

Personally I think Lan Man on Earth was and is, wholly underrated- and there were definitely better episodes than the first. Part of its charm came from the running gags in jokes, which are only able to exist further along in the show.

@johnmorris7815 Ай бұрын

I completely disagree with you about Battlestar Galactica, the series started well and ended better. In my opinion it remains as the benchmark for how a TV series should be produced with a beginning middle and end, something most TV series forget as they grind on and on while the money rolls in and then stop suddenly as interest reduces.

@kbwaterbug29 Ай бұрын

I think designated survivor is another one that has quite a pilot

@corbz273 Ай бұрын

I love Ash vs. Evil Dead, but the series' best episode (for me at least) was certainly the first one. Probably because it was the only episode Sam Raimi directed

@GroundhogJay Ай бұрын

Saying Lost was weaker than its first episode is as lazy as saying it's ending was terrible. It had several amazing episodes, just as great as it's opening instalment. From the finale that saw Charlie's death to the several flashback diversions from the present day stories that flesh out previously mysterious characters.

@salliewagenblatt5188 Ай бұрын

Sliders and all of the first series but it started to falter after that.

@TheDougalbobo Ай бұрын

The Last of Us could have been on this list. Although I knew the games before the TV show, and still believe the games offered better story telling, the first episode was still incredible and emotional. The rest of the series didn't live up to that one episode unfortunately

@Deithv Ай бұрын

Strongly disagree with "The night of" summary. It's a great tv series from the beginning to the end, and resolution isn't at all disappointing.

@Lionize728 Ай бұрын

To be fair the pilot episode of "LOST" was one of the most expensive in history costing more than $14 million. The per episode budget dropped to $4 mill afterward.

@RH1812 Ай бұрын

I would dispute The Newsroom being in this list. Also Galactica.

@darienwithers2033 Ай бұрын

The walking dead especially season 3 to 6 are amazing. The season 5 first ep is way better than then the pilot. The pilot, gives too much 28 days later vibes making it overshadowed

@notoriousbmc1 Ай бұрын

Completely agree with The Night Of. Should've been a movie.

@spaceo8568 Ай бұрын

I think allowances should be made for shows that took a nose dive cuz of the writers strike in 2008. Heroes being a prime example.

@matthiesoliveira2458 Ай бұрын

Legion

@tariqabdulkarim8724 Ай бұрын

Oh! I have all of these (except for hero) on the list… oh well

@mjstory1976 Ай бұрын

The mid season finale of TWD was far superior than the first episode and there were plenty of equally good episodes after the pilot.

@philobrien8920 Ай бұрын

The Librarians imo. The pilot was fucking amazing! The rest? Meh

@countsdooku 13 күн бұрын

I have to disagree with BSG. There definitely were episodes that surpassed 33. Pegasus comes to mind. I agree that season 1 was the best over all season, but there were great episodes through out the series.

@TheIronMarshall Ай бұрын

Big disagree with True Detective and Yellowjackets. Those shows were good.

@fitfatty211 Ай бұрын

Desperate Housewives should have been part of this list.

@beanbean78 Ай бұрын

You missed Samjay and Craig. Dr. Brad Venom was a rad awesome butt doctor

@Vim-Wolf 10 күн бұрын

Sorry, Night Country is awesome, and can be watched in multiple ways depending on how you want to take it.

@mundaneamazing Ай бұрын

I FULLY disagree that the rehearsal shouldn't have taken the turn it did. If you think that, you must not understand the focus of Nathan Fielder's work, examining the human psyche through visual entertainment and blurring the lines of comedy, grotesque fascination, and utter discomfort.

@MelchVagquest Ай бұрын

The season finale for season 1 of Heroes was better than the pilot episode. You’re full of it, if you think otherwise

@jetla22 Ай бұрын

What???? TWD highest rated episode was in season 6. "No Way out" . The first episode probably not even in the top 5 best episodes tbh.

@projectpat8807 Ай бұрын

There was this dubbed horror show I watched on Netflix where the first episode was the best. I watched it because it was one those horror movies/shows where it was too scary and stuff to finish and everyone shut it off after the first episode. I forgot what it was called. I watched it back in 2023, but it’s been Netflix for a few years now. Pretty much the first episode was the only interesting episode and the most scariest (even then it was pretty meh on being scary and something a horror veteran could easily sit through). After that, the show goes off in a direction I didn’t care for and it wasn’t all that scary. All the horror is definitely scattered throughout and isn’t worth it. Or it’s more action-horror than horror. So I’d put that show on the list if I could remember it. I think the main character was some writer/author. That should help out people figure out the name. The main character is a writer/author (and female) and it’s a horror dubbed English show (meaning it was filmed and stuff in a different country but it’s dubbed in English/has a English dubbed version).

@theachaplin3276 Ай бұрын

Where is twin peaks? 🤔

@sarahblunden4372 Ай бұрын

I loved the first series of Heroes. The 2nd was ok but they ruined the character of Mohinder and I only watched half series 3 as it went downhill majorly

@alexius23 Ай бұрын

Newsroom was a very good series

@silmarafradico Ай бұрын

The Sinner

@kelleyk28 Ай бұрын

I agree. That was a great show and the first episode was epic. Hooked me right in the first 10 minutes. Haven't seen the other seasons. I know the first was based on the book, but I think the others were made up.

@ShaneMoss 26 күн бұрын

I loved Battlestar Galactica. I will agree though that 33 was the best episode ever and the last episode was the worst. I tell people all the time to watch the series but not to bother with the last episode.

@neryhernandez8275 Ай бұрын

Sorry, but The Newsroom was amazing from start to finish. Its blasphemy that it’s on this list.

@tomwhite3089 Ай бұрын

Whatculture

@deeeshep23 Ай бұрын

Fosters home for imaginary friends.

@georgedunnells50 9 сағат бұрын

If the first episode of the walking dead is the best, that show sucks, I’ve tried to watch the pilot 4 times and gotten about 20 minutes in

@maxx6526 Ай бұрын

Yet again, they couldnt be more wrong about TWD 🤦every season they took it higher n bigger. Of course the first episode is iconic, every great show starts off like that. And being the greatest tv series in recent history, theres just no way to narrow it down to the first ep being its peak. Ricks recent spin-off, TOWL, 100% surpasses the 1st one. A pointless list about first reactions. Its almost like telling a joke and then expecting to get the same reaction twice. If anything, the entire mcu shows needs their own list. bunch of bias channels these days smh

@Dorv Ай бұрын

5/1, I’ll Try to Fix You and Boston are all better than the pilot. And I don’t even know what scene in 5/1 is the “infamous Bin Laden scene.”

@davidhoward4715 Ай бұрын

I recall the bin Laden scene. It was far from infamous. It was poignant.

@Eyelooker11 Ай бұрын

Whoo! Speaking the truth about Night Country. What a mess.

@thewolfmankindlyrequests Ай бұрын

I know right? First episode showed promise and then it descended into a total mess. I have no idea how it ended up so critically acclaimed.

@mikehoffler4097 Ай бұрын

Yeah, The Newsroom. That ending speech. Then it becomes a loop of people looking frazzled and tension-filled while carrying papers around

@AionShanks Ай бұрын

The last of us

@Anubis7169 Ай бұрын

as much as i likeed mr robot, the first episode held so much more potential than what actually ended up happening imo

@nellurban7826 25 күн бұрын

heavily disagree with Yellowjackets being here

@grandmotherproductions9380 Ай бұрын

The first episode of Letterkenny was great. The rest of the show is fine but nowhere near as good as the first ep.

@briano6115 Ай бұрын

The Newsroom was a metaphor for Ted Turner

@fredricclack7137 23 күн бұрын

Yep 🚶☠️ 1st 🆗

@Fred_L. Ай бұрын

While The Newsroom started very strong I for one think it stayed strong for two seasons. Only the third season felt behind.

@albertelnen9144 Ай бұрын

I saw a few episodes of heroes. I didn't like it.

@rohay86 28 күн бұрын

What nonsense putting BSG on here!

@anthonyalles1833 Ай бұрын

_Lost_ was the most ground-breaking and influential TV series ever made, and yet you seriously maintain that it went downhill after the very first episode? I have a suspicion that most of you folks are too young to have been around when it first aired. Ditto for _Battlestar Galactica_ . Are all of you part of the generation that just lacks the attention span to go beyond the first hour?

@susanjane4784 Ай бұрын

Back in the Paleolithic... Babylon 5. The preview was dark, gritty, and realistic. The hallways were full of trash and violence, and the police only accentuated the hopelessness. This was not Star Trek with its sanitary sets. But they cleaned Babylon up, and up some more as the first season progressed. The command staff got nicer and less military. So disappointing.