#agent wells

I think a good pilot episode can make or break a show. If the first episode isn’t good, there’s no reason for people to keep watching. It needs to set up the overall premise of the show, introduce the characters, and give us a feel for what to expect in future episodes. And it’s much easier said than done. There are hundreds of shows that barely get through the first few episodes on air before it gets canceled. So a good pilot is extremely important to keep a show on the air. Here are some of my favorites.

Parenthood

Parenthood is one of those shows that make you emotional every time you watch it. And the pilot episode is no different. It introduces us to the entire Braverman clan, and there are a lot of them. But because this is a show about a family, it also tells us why it’s starting now. Sarah’s out of money so she drives her kids back home to her parents’ house. And that’s what sets us up for the rest of the show. The show overall goes in waves. There’s the hectic family dynamic when they’re all together. But then, there are the quieter moments, the ones that open the watergates. And that’s truly why the show works. And the pilot episode is good enough to get you through the rest of the show.

Gilmore Girls

Most Gilmore Girl episodes have very little plot. And it’s part of what makes the writing so brilliant. But this is a pilot episode so there has to be something other than the fast talking to hook people. So it sets up the rest of the show when Lorelai asks her parents for money. Which is the last thing she wants to do. But Amy Sherman-Palladino said it best when she said “I knew from the dinner scene in the pilot that dinner table scene in the pilot, we had the show”.

Sherlock

Sherlock is a popular show for a reason. And just to be clear, I’m not talking about the unaired pilot (because truth be told, I haven’t seen it). The actual first episode of the show does a brilliant job establishing the overall tone of the show and introducing us to Sherlock Holmes. And the plot of a serial killer playing games with his victims is incredibly intriguing. When Sherlock comes face-to-face with him, it’s an intense scene. And one that really makes this pilot episode.

They let themselves be seen by the human boy - well, that one is kind of understinable since they were performing research in the night. Who wanders through the woods in the night?

Well, this kid with his dog.

Still, I remember that in TNG the archelogists/ethnologists had cloacking device for this very reason. Was it not invented yet?

And then the Vulcan guy performs mind-meld to erase Wells's memory, but gets beamed up before he can finish. But that one is probably on the transporter operator.

Designated Survivor: ‘Fallout’ Recap & Review

Last night on Designated Survivor, the FBI, with the help of Dr. Frost, chase down a dirty bomb, which kills six federal agents. Meanwhile, Emily and Kendra butt heads over how to deal with the Moss investigation. By the end, President Kirkman unofficially declares war by attacking the country behind the dirty job. Full Recap After last week’s episode, Aaron informs President Kirkman that…