Pilot episodes are crucial for establishing a show’s overall feel and direction, but sometimes a series struggles to live up to the promise of its strong start. Because so much depends on that first episode, creators need to carefully consider how much of the show’s world and story to reveal right away, and what to save for later.
A strong TV pilot needs relatable characters and a captivating situation to immediately grab viewers. While the pilot is crucial for launching the story, it shouldn’t try to tell everything at once. Its main job is to introduce the characters and premise, then let the rest of the season develop organically.
A pilot often starts strong, with great acting, a detailed and convincing setting, and a fresh, original feel. But turning that promising start into a full series is difficult. It’s not just about keeping the initial energy going; it’s about building on that foundation in a way that feels natural and expands the story world in a satisfying manner.
Some TV pilot episodes successfully develop into great series, but others start strong and then lose steam. Often, a promising pilot is weakened by storylines that are too complex, an inconsistent feel, or characters who make confusing choices. Sometimes, the show simply doesn’t maintain its initial appeal.
9. Westworld
HBO
Image via HBO
As a huge movie and TV fan, I was completely hooked by the first episode of HBO’s Westworld, which ran from 2016 to 2022. It was one of the most thought-provoking pilots I’d seen in ages. The show is actually based on a really cool 1973 movie of the same name, directed by Michael Crichton – you might know him as the creator of ER. Basically, Westworld is about a super-realistic Wild West theme park filled with android ‘hosts’ who let guests live out all their wildest dreams.
It soon became apparent that the show wasn’t going to live up to its initial promise. While the pilot episode was visually stunning, well-acted, and captivating, the series lost momentum during its first season. By season two, Westworld had lost its direction and continued to decline in quality over its four seasons.
8. Lost
ABC
The first episode of Lost is widely considered one of the greatest pilots in television history. Lost, which originally aired on ABC from 2004 to 2010, is a remarkably captivating and mysterious show, building a complex and fascinating world for its story. The episode immediately plunges viewers into the chaos of Oceanic Airlines Flight 815’s plane crash.
Lost started with a fantastic idea, and for a while, the show kept that promise. However, as the series went on, it became overly complicated. Many storylines were started but never finished, some plot twists didn’t add up, and ultimately, the show didn’t quite deliver on the intriguing setup it presented in the beginning.
7. The Morning Show
Apple TV
©Apple TV+ / Courtesy Everett Collection
Apple TV+’s The Morning Show, which premiered in 2019 and continues to be a popular series, boasts a talented cast and a compelling story. Starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, the drama centers on a morning news program thrown into turmoil by a sexual harassment scandal.
The first episode of The Morning Show showed promise, but the series struggled to maintain that initial momentum. Although it had the potential to be a high-quality, dramatic show, later episodes didn’t quite deliver. The series often felt drawn out and overly complicated, ultimately falling short of expectations.
6. Riverdale
The CW
The CW’s Riverdale took the classic Archie comics and transformed them into a stylish, dark teen drama. The show brought Archie Andrews and his friends to life with a mysterious edge, presenting characters like Archie, Betty, Jughead, and Veronica in a noir-inspired setting, creating a captivating series.
During its first season, Riverdale focused on typical teen drama, but quickly became more about solving mysteries. Over seven seasons, the show featured everything from serial killers and cults to supernatural elements like witchcraft and even time travel, which often made it feel chaotic. Although fans continued to enjoy the series, this dramatic change in tone was a major disappointment for many.
5. Big Little Lies
HBO
HBO’s series, Big Little Lies, based on Liane Moriarty’s novel, was originally intended as a limited run of just one season. The show followed the lives of affluent families in Monterey, California, focusing on three mothers – played by Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, and Shailene Woodley – as they navigated their everyday challenges leading up to a significant event.
The murder mystery series started incredibly strong with a fantastic first episode that beautifully established its world, characters, and central situation. While the first season was generally good, the show declined significantly in its second season. The series really began to falter once it deviated from the source novel.
4. Euphoria
HBO
I remember when the first episode of Euphoria dropped on HBO – it instantly grabbed my attention. The show is just so raw and visually striking, and it quickly became a critical darling. Zendaya is phenomenal as Rue, a teenager battling addiction, and honestly, it’s heartbreaking to watch her struggle. But it’s not just her; the whole cast – Hunter Schafer, Jacob Elordi, Sydney Sweeney – they all create such a believable world. It really lived up to its name – Euphoria was, well, euphoric! I’m eagerly awaiting the next season in 2026.
The first season of Euphoria was a clear reflection of creator Sam Levinson’s artistic vision, and it received well-deserved praise. However, the second season felt weaker, focusing more on dramatic moments and shocking scenes than on building its characters. Now, heading into its third season with lowered expectations, Euphoria appears to have lost touch with what its original audience enjoyed.
3. Heroes
ABC
The pilot episode of Heroes introduced a compelling story about ordinary people discovering they had superpowers. It skillfully wove together multiple individual stories, promising a grand narrative. Although the show, which aired on NBC from 2006 to 2010, started with a strong and potentially long-lasting idea, its storyline often felt overly ambitious and difficult to manage.
Throughout its four seasons, Heroes became increasingly complicated. Storylines felt uneven, characters acted inconsistently, and the show lost a clear sense of direction. After a strong first season, Heroes struggled to regain its initial appeal and never quite lived up to its early potential.
2. The Newsroom
HBO
The first episode of The Newsroom immediately showed viewers what the series would be like, and while it largely delivered on that promise, the quality wasn’t always consistent. Created by Aaron Sorkin – his first big television project since The West Wing and Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip – the show centered on Will McAvoy (Jeff Daniels), a news anchor, and his driven team at ACN.
The first episode of the series was strong, filled with smart dialogue, historical details, and cultural insights. However, over its three seasons, the show lost some of that initial momentum. It moved away from captivating stories and increasingly focused on political messaging, which sometimes made it feel heavy-handed as it tried to stay fresh and insightful.
1. Glee
Fox
Wow, the Glee pilot back in 2009… that was something special. Seriously, it was one of the most daring and darkly funny TV beginnings I’ve seen in ages, and it single-handedly brought musical comedy back to life on Fox. It became a total cultural moment – they actually aired the pilot months before the show even started, which created this incredible anticipation. But, and this is a familiar story with Ryan Murphy shows, what started as intentionally over-the-top and a little edgy eventually lost its way.
The first season of Glee was a hit with critics, praised for its humor and emotional depth. However, the show gradually lost its way over its six seasons, becoming inconsistent and facing problems both in front of and behind the camera. What started as a promising pilot ultimately proved too ambitious to sustain.
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2025-11-12 06:51