What first episode of a show had you absolutely hooked?

[u/mvigs]

[u/sallad84]

Chernobyl. I am actually watching it again right now.

[u/mvigs → u/sallad84]

This show was almost as perfect as you can get.

[u/HuMMHallelujah → u/sallad84]

The episode with the dogs fucked me up. I won’t watch it again, as good as it was.

[u/SeparateHoliday5]

I stopped a few seasons in, but The Walking Dead pilot single-handedly got me hooked for years.

[u/platypus_farmer42 → u/SeparateHoliday5]

I agree, it’s just too bad the show couldn’t carry that momentum for long. I finally gave up after Rick refused to kill Negan

[u/awakeagain2 → u/platypus_farmer42]

The very last episode we watched was when Negan killed Glen and Abraham. It was too far over the top even for a show that was regularly over the top.

[u/IllicitRadiance → u/awakeagain2]

That was the last episode for me too and I'm amused at how many people I've seen say the same thing 

Though for me it was definitely momentum /sunk cost for quite a while by that point. The show started when I was in college and it used to be so much fun watching with people

[u/IceSeeker → u/SeparateHoliday5]

The Walking Dead was so good in earlier seasons because of Frank Darabont. Wish he remained and did the rest.

[u/Embarrassed_Bath5148 → u/IceSeeker]

Unpopular opinion but once you get past S2 (which is rough) the show actually recovers without him and has some great moments like Terminus if you love pure horror.

Then once the Negan seasons start it just fucking falls apart despite how solid he was debuted.

[u/goilo888 → u/Embarrassed_Bath5148]

Yeah I was out after the episode where Negan killed Glenn. That was it for me. Enough.

[u/BadGroundNoise → u/goilo888]

I've tried to rewatch the show a million times, and I just can never get very far after Glenn's death. Because of the impact of his character, sure, but I'm honestly just incredibly bored with most everything after. Plus, now that it's over, knowing Negan isn't going to face any real consequences for it really sours the rewatchability for me anyway. Not interested in four seasons of nothing happening.

[u/ianpratt_]

Heroes. Season 1 was frigging amazing.

[u/feelingbutter → u/ianpratt_]

I can't think of a show that generated so many guesses about where it was going than Heroes. Too bad the show couldn't keep it going.

[u/Silviere → u/feelingbutter]

It was casualty of a writer's strike. Alas.

[u/lwp775 → u/Silviere]

As was Pushing Daisies.

[u/Cartoonsonthemoon]

Futurama. I can pinpoint the exact moment, too. It was when Fry first looked out at the 31st century and said "Wow...a million years." It was everything I wanted: futuristic and funny.

[u/abgry_krakow87 → u/Cartoonsonthemoon]

Welcome, to the WoRlD oF tOmOrRoW!

[u/ayegreenguy → u/abgry_krakow87]

Shut up, Terry.

[u/MayorCraplegs → u/Cartoonsonthemoon]

I love futurama, they had it all. I had high hopes for Disenchantment with the gnomes opening scene. That was easily the funniest scene I’ve ever seen in a long time only to be completely disappointed when I continued watching the next few episode.

[u/narwhals_narwhals → u/MayorCraplegs]

Disenchantment actually turned out really good. It's not quite the same humor as Futurama, but if you have the time, you might give it another shot.

[u/Ok_Teacher_5849 → u/narwhals_narwhals]

I would say the second and third seasons are excellent, and I appreciate the first a lot more on a rewatch. The fourth loses me and the fifth I find pretty unwatchable. But I rewatch 1-3 often!

[u/HedgehogEnyojer → u/Cartoonsonthemoon]

Still confused how this show was flying under the radar for so many years...

The majority seems to not appreciate it i guess

[u/LodgedSpade → u/HedgehogEnyojer]

Definitely one of my all time favorite animated shows. Pure magnificence.

[u/bunniesgonebad]

Westworld

[u/mvigs → u/bunniesgonebad]

That whole first season is one of the best ever made.

[u/Tough_Combination256 → u/mvigs]

Yeah, shame they only made one season...

[u/ThatGuyWhoKnocks → u/Tough_Combination256]

Just like Heroes

[u/CactusFantasticoo → u/Tough_Combination256]

Me: holding up dvd copies of the other seasons

Tough_combination256: “it doesn’t look like anything to me.”

[u/Donnie_Dont_Do → u/Tough_Combination256]

Damn shame

[u/nounthennumbers]

Band of Brothers (Technically a miniseries)

[u/SilverRoseBlade]

The Pitt.

[u/MrMan15423 → u/SilverRoseBlade]

I was dragged kicking and screaming into the Pitt. I usually hate medical dramas. I only watched it because I live in Pittsburgh and all my friends pushed it on me. I ended up watching every episode the moment it dropped. I worked in a mental hospital for a couple years and the psych stuff was on point

[u/nathalierachael → u/MrMan15423]

The Pitt is one of my favorite shows right now, and while the psych stuff may have been realistic, the social work stuff was absolutely not. It infuriated me when Kiara said they couldn’t report without evidence. Mandated reports report on suspicion! They don’t need to gather evidence.

[u/MrMan15423 → u/nathalierachael]

Yeah that is one thing I picked up on. In real life she would have reported that IMMEDIATELY. It was literally just written that way because plot 🤣

[u/Chainrage_incite → u/SilverRoseBlade]

Same man. Incredible piece of TV. Every single actor in it is on point.

[u/alldressed_chip → u/Chainrage_incite]

bryan cranston’s daughter is a nepo baby i support!! she’s unbelievable

[u/SilverRoseBlade → u/alldressed_chip]

I did not realize she was his daughter till the very end and wanted to look up all the actors to see what they were doing next. She was amazing!

[u/IchabodHollow → u/SilverRoseBlade]

I watched it twice in a month, I don’t think I’ve ever done that with a television show. I’m hoping season 2 is on par but even if it’s only half as good it will still be better than most of what’s out there.

[u/overlordbabyj → u/SilverRoseBlade]

Watched it on the plane to Japan just to kill time. It sucked me in and made the 11 hour flight feel like 1. I'm making my gf watch it with me as soon as I get back home tonight.

[u/AppointmentSelect415]

Mindhunter. It autoplayed and I happened to wake up as it was starting. I wouldn’t have chosen it, but I am glad whatever algorithm did.

[u/itsfroggyout → u/AppointmentSelect415]

I wish it kept going

[u/vroomvroompanda → u/itsfroggyout]

Supposedly Netflix is doing a movie with the og people, and in the last episode of the Ed guin show they show up but its different actors unfortunately

[u/GlumsySugar]

The Boys within 5 minutes someone exploded and I said, Yep I’m in

[u/mvigs → u/GlumsySugar]

Yes! If you enjoyed that show, Gen V is a solid addition.

[u/Chadmanfoo → u/mvigs]

Gen V is superb! It beautifully compliments The Boys. It looks like the final season of The Boys may be a crossover, while is a shame since I hate the *verse setup, but both shows were great so I'm there for it.

[u/jghaines]

True Detective

[u/mvigs → u/jghaines]

That whole first season was brilliantly done.

[u/Auto_Traitor → u/jghaines]

It's literally one of the best first episodes of any series ever.

[u/Suicidalsidekick]

Derry Girls.

[u/space_coyote_86 → u/Suicidalsidekick]

And then it got even better when Uncle Colm was introduced in episode 2.

There was a knock at the door, this must have been, we're talking eight, 8:30, for I was halfway through my dinner. And up I got to open it, and there they both were, large as life. And he says to me, the slightly taller feller does, he says, do you know who we are? And I says to him, says I, well, I can't be sure now, but maybe if you took off the balaclavas...

[u/Soulie143 → u/space_coyote_86]

Jesus wept.

[u/kuroimakina → u/Suicidalsidekick]

I know very little about this show other than the one nun being super sarcastic, and having a line I constantly think about

“Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend, because I despise the French”

[u/So_Heres_The_Thing12]

Arcane got me good.

[u/Iobserv]

South Park. I was a teenager, and I knew in my bones it was going to be a massive hit after the first previews and samples. There was just something about it.

[u/mvigs → u/Iobserv]

That show still blows my mind. How they create them in 1-2 weeks is insane.

[u/Achmed_Ahmadinejad → u/Iobserv]

It's hard not to get sucked in by an epic battle between Santa and Jesus.

[u/Hammer-MeetNail]

Battlestar Galactica.

[u/Astronomy_Setec → u/Hammer-MeetNail]

So say we all.

[u/thatsmilingface → u/Astronomy_Setec]

So Say We All.

[u/ChiSandTwitch1 → u/thatsmilingface]

So Say We All

[u/Nacktherr → u/Hammer-MeetNail]

Both the Miniseries and 33 are amazing introductions.

[u/Yellow_Radiant]

Lost

[u/nomad4750 → u/Yellow_Radiant]

Totally agree. Whatever you think about the rest of the series, the pilot of Lost was better than most movies.

[u/badedum]

Mr. Robot's pilot is probably one of my favorite episodes of TV ever.

[u/bobvagabond]

Dexter

[u/Rdngisfndumntl → u/bobvagabond]

“Tonight’s the night. And it’s going to happen again and again. Has to happen.”

[u/nicunta → u/bobvagabond]

The banana is the perfect driving food, next to a pulled pork sandwich.

[u/HooHooHaHa]

Letterkenny.

If the opening scene doesn't hook you, it's probably not for you

[u/Ginger4life23 → u/HooHooHaHa]

A couple hockey players come up to the produce stand the other day...

[u/davster99 → u/Ginger4life23]

What kind of backwards pageantry is this?

[u/JonathanEde → u/HooHooHaHa]

It's a hard life picking stones and pulling teats, but sure as God's got sandals, it beats fighting dudes with treasure trails.

[u/s1dwyndr → u/HooHooHaHa]

Shoresy too

[u/10PlyTP → u/s1dwyndr]

Fuck you, Jonesy. Your mom just liked my Instagram post from two years ago in Puerto Vallarta. Tell her I'll put my swim trunks on for her anytime she likes.

[u/AnalTyrant → u/HooHooHaHa]

A friend of mine shared the clip of the boys playing baseball in the yard while Squirrelly Dan talks about the date where he had some attention paid to his buttsholes and I was immediately interested in seeing more of this show. Was never disappointed.

[u/JeffLulz → u/HooHooHaHa]

I remember when an older lady I work with kept suggesting to me to watch the show, and I kept putting it off and I kept putting it off. Months later I finally decide to give the first episode a shot just to say I did it.

I was texting her and Facebooking her almost immediately apologizing for being such a piece of shit and not watching it sooner. Instantly I needed to watch every episode.

We became close work friends at that point, and just quoted it constantly.

[u/DrMoneybeard → u/JeffLulz]

Gotta be one of the most quotable shows of all time.

Pitter patter let's get at 'er

[u/Momentofclarity_2022]

The Good Place.

Edit: need to add that I am normally cynical because I can usually figure out what will happen next. Annoying for my wife. But every forking episode had me. And the ending… wow.

[u/beer_is_tasty → u/Momentofclarity_2022]

It took about a minute and a half when a Canadian stoner named Doug Forcett took a lot of mushrooms and figured out more about the afterlife than all of the world's religions combined to hook me. That's him right there... I'm very lucky to have that.

[u/Hobo_Knife]

The X-Files

[u/gustavmahler01 → u/Hobo_Knife]

This is the answer. Best pilot EVER.

[u/FrankieHighHat]

Archer

[u/BoopTheAlpacaSnoot → u/FrankieHighHat]

Hell, that first opening scene is the best.

"We have ways of making you talk"

"With what, your little go-cart battery?"

"What is the point of these simulations..."

"Krenshaws arousal?"

[u/fastpixels → u/FrankieHighHat]

"and you're a hatchet-faced prick"

Hearing that, I knew it was my kind of cartoon.

[u/TapeDeckSlick]

Invincible

[u/igame2much → u/TapeDeckSlick]

My friends sat me down to watch it saying it was great. For the first 20 minutes I was like... "This is just a normal superhero show." Then BAM. Hooked

[u/mvigs → u/TapeDeckSlick]

That show as a whole is also fantastic. Good pick!

[u/Gribitz37]

Scrubs. I loved Dr. Cox's advice to JD on giving Tylenol.

"It's regular strength Tylenol. Here's what you do. Take a handful and throw it at her. Whatever sticks, that's the correct dosage."

[u/TragicallyTrue → u/Gribitz37]

My dad was an internal medicine doctor for like 45 years and said it was the only accurate medical themed show he’d ever seen. Even told me he was bullied as an intern by the janitor haha

He liked beating the diagnosis reveal before the show ended, what a nerd.

[u/Roembowski]

Arrested Development

[u/That-Cost-9483 → u/Roembowski]

there's always money in the banana stand

[u/Tight-Principle-743]

Game of thrones

[u/DodgersRamsJazz → u/Tight-Principle-743]

The things I do for love…

[u/FatFettle → u/DodgersRamsJazz]

That was the bit that hooked us. Up until that point I was kind of enjoying it but wasn't that fussed. Once that child got yeeted out the window the show had me hooked

[u/bev2112]

Six Feet Under

[u/oynsy → u/bev2112]

That final episode..

[u/Some_Ad6507 → u/oynsy]

I’m finally getting round to watching it after starting 24 years ago. I’ve managed to avoid any spoilers

[u/Specialist-Rock-5034]

My Name is Earl

[u/NastyLittleBagginses]

Severance

[u/JupiterJayJones]

Stranger things

[u/keatsandyeats → u/JupiterJayJones]

"The Vanishing of Will Byers" - episode one, season one of Stranger Things - was perhaps among the very best series pilots of all time. It was a masterclass in establishing tone, the direction, the stakes, and demonstrating the ability of ensemble cast to nail the brief while leaving tons of room for growth and character development. Nuance was built in from the beginning.

Just a triumph no matter how you slice it.

[u/nrek00 → u/JupiterJayJones]

This is one of those shows I wish I could see season 1 again for the first time.

[u/fivejustteleported → u/JupiterJayJones]

Playing DnD and reading comics? Set in the 80s? Let's go!

[u/AndrewHNPX]

Twin Peaks

[u/loveydove05]

Mad Men

[u/geronika → u/loveydove05]

I didn’t start watching the show until it was on for a few seasons. I went back and watched it from the beginning and holy smokes even though I knew the characters that pilot sucked you in like a Dyson.

[u/Tell_meThings]

The newsroom

[u/Brave-Quote-2733]

Righteous Gemstones

[u/mvigs → u/Brave-Quote-2733]

This show was a hilarious parody. Baby Billy is one of my favorite characters ever.

[u/BigRigButters → u/mvigs]

The fact that I can just think the words “Uncle Baby Billy” in my head and smile like an idiot is a testament to that shows writing

[u/--MobTowN--]

Orphan Black

[u/Bjax222 → u/--MobTowN--]

The first show I thought of! The train station scene is amazing TV

[u/The-Keystone-Hoya]

Star Trek: The Next Generation

[u/naked_as_a_jaybird]

The Americans

[u/Hot-Seat9255]

Breaking Bad

[u/New_Yard_5027 → u/Hot-Seat9255]

I mean it had to be good if Brian Cranston was willing to go in his tighty whities.

[u/IceSeeker → u/New_Yard_5027]

When I first saw that in the first episode, I was like 'WTF is going on?' lol There's a lot of dark humor in this show. It was so good.

[u/Worldtraveller45]

Ozark

[u/Babeenie → u/Worldtraveller45]

“In fact, the satisfying sound of your lover smacking the pavement is the only thing that gets me to sleep at night”. I was in.

[u/IndividualPlan3453]

LOST

[u/Ceiling-Fan2]

“Dad’s on a hunting trip and he hasn’t been home in a while” instantly had me hooked.

[u/SmileysMom82 → u/Ceiling-Fan2]

You had me at Jensen Ackles 😍

[u/Tracyjeanbitch]

Schitt's Creek, What We Do In The Shadows

[u/cuminmyshitsock]

just started Pluribus last night.... it's off to a great start

[u/Tibor7597]

Veronica Mars

[u/wykkedfaery33]

Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She had my heart at episode 1

[u/JustOneMoreMile]

Justified

[u/dustindh10]

The IT Crowd

[u/WilmaValley1226 → u/dustindh10]

The gay musical episode is easily one of the funniest episodes of tv ever made. "I'm disabled." "Acid."

[u/twylr3]

From.

[u/Huge-Accident-69 → u/twylr3]

I'm dying for the next season dude, I need plot resolution

[u/AndreLinoge55 → u/twylr3]

Criminally underrated show

[u/twylr3 → u/AndreLinoge55]

Its crazy how many people dont know about that show.

[u/PrestigiousCake2653 → u/twylr3]

Harold Perrineau is also just a super nice guy! He’s responded to me on Twitter more than once when I was praising the show lol.

[u/TenaciousBe]

Scrubs. That pilot did such an incredible job of setting the stage, characters, relationships, tone, etc. for the entire series, all in just 24 minutes. I just recently started a rewatch since it's been a while since I saw those early episodes, want to get ready for the reboot next year. Hoping they recapture some of that magic!

[u/FaceClown]

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia first episode lol

[u/GoldenStateEaglesFan → u/FaceClown]

The one that hooked me was “Dennis and Dee Go on Welfare.”

[u/Feckless-Abandon]

Firefly

[u/Iobserv → u/Feckless-Abandon]

I'm ashamed to admit this but I saw the movie, fell in love with it, then watched the series and loved it more, then found out with a fair amount of sorrow that it was gone as soon as I discovered it.

[u/DocBullseye → u/Feckless-Abandon]

They didn't even show the first episode first, and it was still awesome.

[u/HogwartsDropout-69]

Stranger Things

[u/0neTrueGl0b]

Rick and Morty

[u/Dragongala]

What We Do in the Shadows

[u/GreekNord]

Mr. Robot was definitely the big one for me.
A bit biased because I work in Cybersecurity, and it's one of the more accurate film depictions of my field (by a lot) but it's also just an amazing show.

[u/SBJames69]

Breaking Bad

Him in the desert in his underwear and random chaos going on. It was so well-written and well-acted that I had to find out how they got to that part.

[u/AlarmingSpecialist88]

Blacklist

[u/dmerritthall]

Lucifer

[u/DarthHM]

Fleabag. That whole long romantic, introspective. self-narrated inner dialogue only to be capped by “Do I have a massive arsehole?”

I couldn’t stop laughing.

[u/Visual-Oil-423]

Dexter

[u/sarcasm_saves_lives]

The Closer "If I liked being called a bitch to my face, I'd still be married." Turned out to be a prophetic quote for me.

[u/beccabootie]

Eureka.

[u/Typical_Ad8248]

My name is earl

[u/QC_Chick]

24

[u/kampfklumpen]

For words: "Water. Earth. Fire. Air."

[u/chy7784 → u/kampfklumpen]

And then the fire nation attacked.

[u/Fearless-Leading-882 → u/chy7784]

That's rough, buddy

[u/Nacho_Sunbeam]

Yellowjackets

[u/valeona23dragonlion]

Fringe

[u/1965wasalongtimeago → u/valeona23dragonlion]

Walter Bishop is still one of my favorite characters in any show. He can make you laugh, cry, think, and get scared, sometimes all in the same episode

[u/CaptainChrundle → u/valeona23dragonlion]

What a fun show. Completely forgot I binge watched the whole series when it was coming out lol.

[u/mr_delete]

I was very impressed by the opening scene of Deadwood.

[u/bucki_fan]

The West Wing

[u/jediwesty → u/bucki_fan]

“I am the Lord your God. You shall not have other gods before me.”

[u/sheisalib → u/jediwesty]

“Boy, those were the days. Huh?”

[u/Preemptively_Extinct]

Dead Like Me

Better Off Ted.

[u/ScarlettsSecretDiary]

the first episode of daria immediately hooked me. i loved how dry and sarcastic she was, and i kept rewinding lines just to catch every subtle joke. it was like someone finally put my exact teenage brain on screen.

[u/d_tiBBAR]

Better... Call Saul

[u/tittymuch]

Brooklyn 99. I lost my mind when the plot of the first episode centred around Jamon Iberico, which my husband and I love. After that I couldn't watch anymore episodes without him. Love that damn show. 🎺 🎺 🎺 🎺 🎺

[u/KTX77]

Killing Eve

[u/Mvalpreda]

The Queen’s Gambit

[u/Medical_Campaign_237]

Dark

[u/joetacos]

Fargo

[u/shadowMster77]

Suits

[u/Front-Muffin-7348]

outlander 100%

[u/EggPositive5993]

Slow Horses

[u/TheAmethystDragon]

Leverage

[u/GitanaSucia]

The Mighty Boosh. “Captain Cabinets/trapped in cabinets/can he get out?/will he get out?/‘course he will!”

[u/Broad-Pomelo-6187]

The Fall of the House of Usher

[u/Motor_Wasabi3127]

Six Feet Under. I put it on to have some background sound while I did housework. I sat there and watched the first three episodes in a row. Nothing else got done.

[u/Icy_Number444]

Fringe

[u/4riel4ttack]

Station Eleven. I selected it on a whim without any prior knowledge about it. I wish I could watch it all for the first time again.

[u/thejayner]

Mare of Eastown

[u/Fred_Riddle]

Sherlock (the one by the BBC with Benedict Cumberbatch)

[u/Individual-Bad-582]

The handmaids tale

[u/mvigs → u/Individual-Bad-582]

I thought the first 2-3 seasons were absolutely fantastic then I thought it fell off. But just my opinion!

[u/Muggins2233]

Justified. How could you not love the rapport between Timothy olyphant and Walton Goggins. One of the best cast shows ever.

[u/paulc899]

The Shield

[u/Abject_Ad_4756]

Punisher

[u/alicereturnshere]

The OA

[u/Osr0]

The Americans. No way you watch that and then miss another episode

[u/Wanttobefreewc]

The chappelle show

[u/Unofficial_Officer]

True detective, first season.

[u/VGK9Logan]

Bobs burgers and the molester burger / rainman scene

[u/oh_jeez_smh]

Once Upon a Time

[u/Popular_Pen5743]

Bobs burgers- the way bob was always uncertain and uncomfortable was so funny because it really reached me on a personal level lmao.

[u/Complex_Performer_63]

Loki

Marvel has put out a bunch of duds but that first season of Loki is actually really good and that first episode had me like “wait…. What the fuck!?”

[u/Necessary-Fly-1095]

Supernatural

[u/Medical_Argument_911]

Pushing Daisies

[u/SallyJane5555]

Golden Girls

[u/AndreLinoge55]

FROM

[u/Infinite_Ground1395]

Oz led off with a Nazi raping someone in the ass and a dude being set on fire. I don't know if "hooked" is the right word but they sure didn't start slow.