10 Most Legendary Pilot Episodes in TV History, Ranked

A pilot episode has the difficult job of setting the tone of a series, introducing the characters and setting, and hinting at what is to come. Depending on the genre of a show, this can look like dropping hints in the lead-up to a big mystery, establishing relationship dynamics, or introducing a show's unique sense of humor. A great pilot episode will both work especially well within its genre and will also be able to stand on its own as a strong introduction.