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 <em>How to Get Away With Murder</em> 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
20122013
A new sitcom from creator Michael Patrick King should be as clever and special as the famous show from the ’90s. However,This is unfortunately not true forLone Star.
The pilot introduces us to two young women who decide to start their own cupcake business while living together. This setup sounds charming at first glance. However,The show quickly devolves into raunchiness rather than humor.
Pan Am:
This ABC drama was canceled after one season due to its lackluster premise. Although it had potential with its focus on flight attendants during the ’60s,The first episode was its only highlight.
How To Get Away With Murder:
This six-season thriller produced by Shonda Rhimes had an engaging pilot but struggled to maintain its momentum throughout its run.The initial episode was captivating enough to draw viewers into its complex narrative.
Smash:
The pilot for this musical drama was entertaining but ultimately failed to deliver consistently throughout its two seasons.The initial episode showcased relatable struggles within the world of musical theater.
Revenge:
This drama had an intriguing premise but fell prey to unrealistic plotlines as it progressed.The pilot effectively set up mystery elements that drew viewers into its world.
Under The Dome:
This adaptation of Stephen King’s novel had great potential but ultimately failed to deliver.The pilot introduced an interesting concept but quickly became confusing.
Terra Nova:
This show had high expectations due to its sci-fi premise involving dinosaurs.The initial episode was promising but did not sustain viewer interest over time.
This Is Us:
This drama’s pilot featured an unexpected twist that captivated audiences.The subsequent episodes struggled to maintain that level of intrigue.
Lone Star:
This series had an engaging pilot showcasing an intriguing character dynamic.The show failed to capitalize on its initial promise due to its early cancellation.
