Some TV shows really grab your attention with their first season, leaving you eager to see what happens next. Occasionally, a show comes along with a fantastic opening run of episodes that are exciting, emotionally engaging, and completely draw you into the story.
Early in 2025, the first season of HBO Max’s medical drama, The Pitt, premiered. The show offers a compelling, realistic, and emotional portrayal of life inside a Pittsburgh hospital.
It’s common for shows to start strong with a good first episode but then lose steam. However, these dramas and thrillers maintain their quality throughout the entire first season. If you want a show you can really get hooked on, where every episode is excellent, these are the ones to watch.
The Leftovers (2014-2017)
The show The Leftovers is consistently good throughout its three seasons, but the first season is especially powerful and memorable. It beautifully portrays the lives of those left behind in the town of Mapleton after a mysterious event causes many people to vanish, and the unanswered questions only grow more compelling.
The first season of this acclaimed HBO show immediately draws you into the characters’ grief, particularly focusing on Nora Durst (Carrie Coon), a wife and mother grappling with loss and uncertainty about what’s to come. Many consider it one of the best shows of the 2010s, and it all begins with this powerfully emotional introduction.
The Last Of Us (2023-Present)
Even though some viewers weren’t thrilled with season 2 of The Last of Us, and it’s still uncertain how good season 3 will be, we shouldn’t forget how popular and well-made the first season was.
HBO’s new show, based on the beloved video game, gets off to a fantastic start. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey deliver excellent performances, and the series is packed with emotional moments, exciting action, and a gripping story set in a world after a disaster.
I still think about episode 3, “Long, Long Time,” – it’s honestly one of the most gorgeous and well-made episodes I’ve ever seen on television. Watching the end of Frank and Bill’s relationship, played so wonderfully by Murray Bartlett and Nick Offerman, felt like a truly special moment, and I think everyone should experience it.
Six Feet Under (2001-2005)
Everyone is still discussing the ending of Six Feet Under, but the first season is particularly memorable. It beautifully portrays the Fisher family’s initial grief following the unexpected death of their father and husband, Nathaniel Fisher (played by Richard Jenkins), and establishes the long journey they’ll take to heal.
Okay, so season one really hooked me by diving into the lives of David, Nate, and Claire – each of them dealing with their own stuff, from relationships to Claire just being a typical, but wonderfully quirky, teenager. What I loved is how the show used the fact that they run a funeral home to really tackle big questions about life and death. It wasn’t just a gimmick; it felt really thoughtful and let them explore some pretty heavy stuff in a unique way. It really helps you get to know this fascinating family.
As a critic, I was really struck by how deeply Six Feet Under‘s first season delved into real issues. We see this especially with Brenda Chenowith’s brother and his battle with mental illness, and also with David’s journey of coming to terms with his sexuality. It wasn’t just about the funeral home; it was about the lives around it, and the challenges they faced.
Mad Men (2007-2015)
The first season of Mad Men takes viewers into the exciting and innovative advertising scene of 1960s New York. Beyond the glamour, the show explores the challenges faced by women during that era, offering a compelling look at the contradictions of the time.
The series explores the troubled life of advertising executive Don Draper (Jon Hamm), revealing a difficult childhood and marital infidelities. We also meet his wife, Betty (January Jones), who is unhappy as a homemaker, and his new secretary, Peggy Olsen (Elizabeth Moss), who is pursuing a career while unexpectedly pregnant.
Watching Don Draper create ad campaigns is interesting, but the real highlight of Mad Men season one is seeing the powerful female characters find their footing. The early episodes especially lay the groundwork for the fascinating development of Peggy Olson’s character.
ER (1994-2009)
The first season of ER offers a compelling introduction to the series. While every season of this medical drama is strong, the initial 25 episodes remain remarkably impactful. They vividly depict the intense reality of life at County General Hospital, showcasing exhausted doctors and patients grappling with difficult and sensitive issues surrounding mortality.
The early seasons of the show feature the memorable romance between Carol Hathaway and Doug Ross, and introduce us to characters like the young doctor, John Carter. Notably, season one’s episode nineteen, “Love’s Labor Lost,” is still considered a deeply moving and impactful portrayal of pregnancy and loss.
Westworld (2016-2022)
I truly believe the first season of Westworld is incredible, and honestly, nothing that came after really measured up. That first episode was just phenomenal! It perfectly set up this amazing, and sometimes terrifying, theme park filled with these lifelike robots – the Hosts, like Maeve Millay, played by Thandiwe Newton, and Evan Rachel Wood as Dolores Abernathy. It’s a sci-fi series on HBO that really hooked me from the start.
From the moment we’re introduced to Robert Ford (Anthony Hopkins), the park’s creator, a sense of unease develops, and that feeling steadily grows throughout the first season’s ten episodes. Westworld season 1 is brilliantly plotted, full of unexpected turns, and explores thought-provoking ideas about what it means to be conscious, have free will, and be in control.
True Detective (2014-Present)
While seasons 3 and 4 of True Detective are good, season 2 didn’t quite live up to expectations. Still, the first season remains the strongest and most memorable in terms of storytelling, and no other season has really matched its quality.
Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey deliver incredibly powerful and realistic performances as detectives Marty Hart and Rust Cohle, ranking among the best in crime dramas. The show’s eight episodes expertly set up its central idea: intelligent detectives tackling a complex murder case with no simple solutions.
The story’s timeline shifts between past and present, revealing a complex relationship between Marty and Rust, and hinting at difficult personal experiences for both. It’s a remarkably well-crafted story, captivating from start to finish with a surprising conclusion.
Gilmore Girls (2000-2007)
The first season of Gilmore Girls includes many fan-favorite episodes, like the series premiere and “Rory’s Birthday Parties.” These 21 episodes are both funny and touching, and they beautifully introduce viewers to the charming town of Stars Hollow and its memorable characters.
Right from the start, the first season of this popular show dives into the difficult dynamic between Lorelai and her parents. It’s incredible how much story they fit into just one season, covering everything from Rory’s efforts to adjust to the challenging Chilton school, to Lorelai’s budding connection with Luke Danes and her complicated history with Christopher Hayden.
The first season establishes what the show will be like, promising lots of romance, family issues, and challenges with school and careers. It’s enjoyable to watch Rory experience first love with Dean Forester (Jared Padalecki), and this sets the stage for more complicated relationships later on.
Breaking Bad (2008-2013)
Breaking Bad is a consistently great show, and many believe it actually gets better as the seasons go on, with Walter White’s story becoming increasingly complex and dramatic. However, the quality is evident right from the start, with the first season’s seven episodes being exceptionally well-made.
It’s easy to lose track of how brief this season actually was, given everything that happens. Once Walt’s cancer diagnosis is revealed and he starts making meth with Jesse Pinkman, the show quickly becomes filled with intense, shocking, and often violent scenes. The need to hide bodies in the second episode foreshadows the constant danger and trouble that will plague them throughout the season.
As a big fan, I was really gripped by the first season of Breaking Bad. What I loved was how they layered in Walt’s health issues and the strain on his marriage with Skyler – especially with her being pregnant. It made the already compelling story even more intense. Beyond that, the show just does a fantastic job of developing its characters and creating a genuine feeling that anything could happen, and that’s what really hooked me.
The Walking Dead (2010-2022)
The first season of The Walking Dead is a strong six episodes, starting with a gripping pilot that feels like a scary zombie film. As the season progresses, the body count rises, and we’re introduced to compelling characters like Rick Grimes (played by Andrew Lincoln) and Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus), who will become central to the story.
Most fans agree that some seasons of The Walking Dead are stronger than others, and like any long-running show, it has a few weak episodes. However, it began very well, and the first season of The Walking Dead remains a benchmark for post-apocalyptic stories.
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2025-11-12 22:22