Copyright Screen Rant
Pilot episodes set the tone for a series in a way that is pivotal for what's to come, but some series have a hard time living up to the hype that their pilots are able to create. With so much riding on a pilot episode, it's imperative to be careful about what kind of world building is done, and what's held for the rest of the series. A pilot needs to create characters that viewers care about, put them in a compelling situation that holds the audience's attention, and sustain interest throughout the episode. Though the pilot is pivotal in introducing the story, it can't tell the whole story itself as it moves through the motions. Instead, the pilot needs to make introductions, then allow the season unfold naturally. When a pilot hits its stride, it features strong performances, a believable, rich world, and a sense of something new you haven't seen before. Transitioning from that strong first impression into a full-blown series, however, is tricky. The challenge goes far beyond maintaining momentum and revolves around a satisfying expansion of the world, taking a leap that makes sense for the situation as it's been laid out. While some pilots are able to build into wonderful shows over the course of their seasons, other pilots have promise and quickly fizzle into a show that can't hold the momentum. Sometimes, the initial hook of a pilot can be undercut by over-complicated details, a muddled tone, or confusing character decisions. Other times, things just fall apart to the wayside. 9 Westworld HBO The pilot of Westworld, which aired on HBO from 2016 to 2022, was one of the most provocative and intriguing that had come along in a long time. Based on the 1973 film of the same name directed by future ER creator Michael Crichton, Westworld depicts a Wild West theme-park populated by highly realistic android hosts with guests indulging in their deepest fantasies. Quickly, however, it was clear that things weren't going to plan. Throughout the pilot, the visuals, performances, and intrigue were impeccable throughout the pilot, but the series struggled to continue to hold its weight as it moved through its first season. By the time it returned for its second, Westworld had lots its way, and continued to fizzle out throughout its four-season run. 8 Lost ABC The pilot of Lost is one of the best of all time. Lost, which aired on ABC from 2004 to 2010, is one of the most mysteriously intriguing series of the modern era, using its rich mythology to create a phenomenal tapestry for their story. With the pilot of the series painting the picture of Oceanic Airlines Flight 815's crash, viewers were thrown into a disaster. Lost's premise was tremendously strong, and while the rest of the series was able to continue to deliver on the story, the show itself often got too heavy for itself. Over time, the series accumulated loose threads that weren't followed through on, escalated plot points that didn't make sense, and failed to deliver on its promised payoff in the pilot. 7 The Morning Show Apple TV Apple TV's The Morning Show, which began airing in 2019 and is still on the air, has a prestigious cast that appears to be ready to bring an iconic premise to life. With Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon heading up the drama, the topical premise revolved around a morning news show shaken by a sexual harassment scandal. The Morning Show's pilot even felt like it was ready for the show's weight, but early episodes of the series couldn't follow up on the high-level drama. While the series had all the makings of a wonderful prestige piece, the execution felt far less satisfying as the first season continued. Often bloated and over-wrought, The Morning Show continues to be less than expected. 6 Riverdale The CW The CW's re-imagining of the Archie comics series was meant to be a teen drama with glossy and dark aesthetics, bringing Archie Andrews (KJ Apa) and his gang of friends in Riverdale to life with a mysterious twist. Archie, Betty Cooper (Lili Reinhart), Jughead Jones (Cole Sprouse), and Veronica Lodge (Camila Mendes) were all bent into a noir style, bringing a fascinating series to life. While the series leaned into its teen drama roots throughout its first season, the mysteries overtook Riverdale as the series moved ahead. Over the course of seven seasons, Riverdale saw serial killers, cults, corpses, witchcraft, and time travel among other tropes that made the series often feel unstable. While Riverdale fans were able to love the series throughout its run, the tonal shift was crushing. 5 Big Little Lies HBO The TV adaptation of Liane Moriarty's novel, Big Little Lies was an HBO series that was likely meant to span just one season. Exploring the luxurious lives of wealthy families in Monterey, California, Big Little Lies starred Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, and Shailene Woodley as a trio of mothers trying to move through their daily lives ahead of a major turning point. The murder mystery series had a phenomenal pilot that built into the world impeccably, bringing the characters and the circumstances to life with ease. Though the first season of the show was often strong, as the series progressed into its second season, things fell off considerably. When the series moved away from the novel, it struggled to maintain itself. 4 Euphoria HBO The pilot episode of Euphoria, which will continue its run on HBO in 2026, made a quick impression with viewers. The edgy teen drama was a raw, stylistic, critical success that featured Zendaya as Rue Bennett, a drug addict trying to fight her demons and failing consistently. With performances by Hunter Schafer, Jacob Elordi, and Sydney Sweeney that rooted the show in its world, Euphoria was euphoric. Throughout the first season, Euphoria stayed strong to creator Sam Levinson's vision, and the acclaim it garnered was understandable. The series returned for a second season that wasn't quite up to par, leaning heavily into the spectacle and shock that was omnipresent on the series rather than any true character development. With low expectations for its third season, Euphoria has seemed to outgrow its audience. 3 Heroes ABC Exploring the lives of everyday people across the country, Heroes' pilot delivered an impeccable narrative when they discovered supernatural abilities, bringing several isolated stories together as the series moved ahead. While the show, running on NBC from 2006 to 2010, had a strong premise that felt like it would be able to sustain itself, the plot often felt too big for its britches. As Heroes continued throughout its four-season run, the show became too convoluted. The plots never felt like they were balanced, the characters felt inconsistent, and it often seemed like Heroes didn't know what exactly it wanted to be. Instead of developing the way it meant to, Heroes' downward trajectory struggled to recapture its original spark after its series-highlight. 2 The Newsroom HBO The Newsroom's pilot offered a clear look at what the show would be throughout its run, and while the series ultimately did follow through on its promise, it wasn't always up to par. The series, Aaron Sorkin's first major TV effort after The West Wing and the short-lived Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip, followed ACN nightly news anchor Will McAvoy (Jeff Daniels) and his ambitious team. While the pilot of the series was a sharp, dialogue-heavy episode dripping in accurate historical events and relevant cultural references, the series struggled to maintain the same pace through its three-season run. Shifting from compelling storytelling to preaching politics, The Newsroom sometimes felt overwhelming during the course of its run as it worked to maintain its originality and nuance. 1 Glee Fox One of the most ambitious, darkly comedic pilots in years, Glee revitalized the musical comedy genre on Fox in 2009. A cultural event with massive impact, the pilot aired months before the show's eventual premiere, which led to massive buzz when the series finally hit the air. While Glee was always meant to be campy and dark, it lost sight of itself in the way Ryan Murphy shows can. While Glee was a critical success throughout its first season for its outlandish comedy and its intense heart, the series went on to lose focus. Feeling uneven and losing focus throughout its six-season run, Glee was plagued by difficulties both on screen and off throughout its time on screen. A pilot with intense promise ultimately became too much, even for such a large premise.
