The first episode of a series should be the beginning of a wild or fascinating ride, but despite these TV pilots being well crafted, their shows don’t continue to live up to them. There are some universally beloved pilots, like the start of Lost, that leave us in awe of a distinct setting or make us want to spend time with clever characters.
Then, there are the shows that start off in an interesting place but become dull shadows of their former selves, making us wonder what happened. There are even times when a show’s pilot is the only good episode, with it being canceled after just one season.
From a sitcom that is more awkward than hilarious to a Stephen King adaptation that is nowhere near as great as the novel it’s based on, these shows have amazing pilots but aren’t impressive later on.
Flash Forward
2009-2010
Sometimes a sci-fi series has a big idea, but the execution isn’t there. When Flash Forward premiered in 2009, many thought it sounded like Lost, since it’s also about characters thrown into a wild situation that they don’t understand.
When you tune into the first episode, you see an unimaginable worldwide event from October 6, 2009: people black out for just over two minutes and have a vision of six months from then. This is thrilling and thought-provoking, since you assume you’ll get answers to why this happened and how the characters can make changes based on what they saw.
And sure, we eventually learn why this event took place — but the rest of Flash Forward’s first and only season isn’t as mysterious and riveting as the pilot. The season 1 finale also suggests the show would have gone in an overly complicated direction.
2 Broke Girls
2011-2017
A new sitcom from Sex and the City creator Michael Patrick King should be as clever and special as the famous 1990s show, but that’s unfortunately not the case for 2 Broke Girls, even though it gets off to a strong start.
The pilot finds Caroline Channing (Beth Behrs) and Max Black (Kat Dennings) living together and deciding to start a cupcake company, which sounds charming. There are some added layers, since Caroline is in a rough spot financially with her formerly rich father in prison. This rounds out her character and sets up an interesting story.
Despite the compelling pilot, which suggests a relatable show about two young women forming a close relationship and learning about business, the show is more raunchy than funny, and ultimately disappointing.
Pan Am
2011-2012
This ABC drama was canceled after one 11-episode season, which suggests that the concept of Pan Am simply wasn’t compelling or deep enough to last. While a series about flight attendants in the 1960s sounds intriguing, and cast members included the talented Margot Robbie and Christina Ricci, only the first episode was interesting.
The beginning of Pan Am sets up the major setting of this new and exciting airline, along with Maggie Ryan (Ricci), a feminist who you immediately connect with and root for. The show has a lot of potential to tell captivating and inspiring stories about strong women on a unique career path.
Unfortunately, the rest of Pan Am season 1 focuses too much on melodramatic romantic plotlines, and none of the other characters are as well drawn as Maggie.
How To Get Away With Murder
2014-2020
Shonda Rhimes has made some compelling and popular long-running series, but this six-season thriller that she executive produced isn’t as consistently entertaining as Scandal or Grey’s Anatomy. It’s a shame since the first episode of How to Get Away With Murder is so strong and draws you into a promising and creepy story set at a college.
The pilot introduces two murders: that of law professor Annalise Keating’s (Viola Davis) husband, Sam (Tom Verica), and that of a young woman named Lila Stangard (Megan West). It also suggests that the five law students enrolled in Annalise’s class will solve both these cases and that their lives will likely get worse in the process.
It’s an excellent start, as the characters have different personalities, from outgoing to studious to bold, but How to Get Away with Murder becomes messy and convoluted before too long. The episodes also become cluttered with random cases that are tough to care about.
Smash
2012-2013
It doesn’t get much more fun than the Smash pilot, which finds Karen Cartwright (Katherine McPhee) and Ivy Lynn (Megan Hilty) trying to make their Broadway dreams happen while auditioning for a new musical about Marilyn Monroe. Based on this, you hope the show will reflect on the relatable struggles of trying to live a creative lifestyle.
Sadly, the well-crafted pilot, which includes the memorable song “Let Me Be Your Star,” doesn’t lead to a great show. Smash ran for two uneven seasons, and it never quite settled into the right tone. Sometimes, you’re watching a serious show about the world of musical theater. Other times, it feels more like a silly soap opera.
Revenge
2011-2015
The ABC drama, Revenge, has a solid and perfectly dramatic pilot. Amanda Clarke (Emily VanCamp) starts her journey and pretends to be Emily Thorne, a woman who wants to hurt the Grayson family for the death of her father. The rich Hamptons setting makes the story even more enjoyable.
The show’s beginning has a lot of great mystery elements, from the discovery of a body to a fancy party where Emily meets Daniel Grayson (Joshua Bowman), which sets up their love story. However, Revenge’s later seasons fall into the trap of many thriller series and feature unnecessary deaths and unrealistic storylines.
Under The Dome
2013-2015
An unpopular Stephen King TV adaptation, Under the Dome has one of the coolest concepts but doesn’t deliver on it effectively at all. What should be a fantastic show about characters whose town is somehow covered in a dome is boring, confusing, and doesn’t give any real answers.
Before that becomes apparent, though, the pilot is fun. You get to know the people living in Chester Mill, including spunky Angie McAlister (Britt Robertson), and are fascinated by their strange situation. Before long, the show becomes more silly than scary, and King’s impressive writing and world-building are nowhere to be found.
Terra Nova
2011
Another one-season show that crashed and burned after its pilot is Terra Nova. This show had a lot of hype, and many were excited to see the Stephen Spielberg-produced sci-fi series. A time-travel show about dinosaurs sounds fascinating and original, but tragically, only the pilot is great.
The story would have arguably been better suited to a movie than an entire show, and it was canceled after one season. None of the characters stand out enough, and it’s hard to remember much about the storylines. There are too many other shows about fighting characters trying to survive in a new place, and this one isn’t unique.
This Is Us
2016-2022
The big twist at the end of the pilot of This Is Us is so fantastic and unexpected, it will have you hitting play on the next episode right away. However, the twist is also arguably more interesting than many facets of the show, including Kevin’s (Justin Hartley) life as a famous actor.
Unfortunately, this twist also means that the rest of the episodes in this six-season drama feel disappointing by comparison. The reveal about Jack Pearson’s (Milo Ventimiglia) fate and the beautiful story of how Rebecca (Mandy Moore) and Jack adopt Randall (Sterling K. Brown) is perfectly crafted.
But while the show starts off as heartwarming, later seasons feel emotionally manipulative rather than moving. The explanation of Jack’s death is corny, which is a shame considering the hopeful and uplifting pilot.
Lone Star
2010
Often celebrated for its excellent TV pilot that never went anywhere, Lone Star only had seven episodes, and then Fox canceled it. Even so, the first installment sets up a fun, action-packed story about a con man.
The reveal of Bob Allen’s (James Wolk) juggling two serious love interests is memorable, and although it’s hard to support someone who lies so much, the character’s clever charm draws you in. It would have been great if Lone Star had told a compelling tale about one man’s quest for happiness while being haunted by his terrible choices.
While the premise didn’t lend itself to a show spanning a few seasons, this is still one of the most captivating TV pilots you can watch. It’s worth seeking out.