Man, that pilot is amazing. I watched it live a few years ago and just watched it again and it still shoots a hole through me. I have never watched a pilot that got to me more than this show. It's a shame America's TV watching population suck ass.
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The Wire is a great show, but when you only consider the pilot I'd say The Black Donnellys did a better job. Amazing pilot which got me hooked on the show from episode 1.
Totally agree about the pilot. The first time I watched it it sent shivers up my spine and I've told everyone since that they must watch the Black Donnellys (the pilot especially).
Uhl: Then why are you doing this?
Eisenheim: To be with her.
Just for discussion sakes, I would put this in the top three best pilots alongside "The Wire" that was mentioned. but i would put "Friday Night Lights" at the top
shareright on. I watched the pilot of TBD and "The Departed" back to back nights for the first time...and I have to say that I thought the pilot of TBD was more fun, fast paced, and kick *ss than The Departed - not that I did not like The Departed, but watching TBD first sort of made that movie a little boring and disappointing.
ALSO, I would contend that TBD had the best opening credits ever. Even the credits were bad *ss.
Definitely Friday Night Lights was a great pilot. But I definitely think the episodes just got better and better. TBD was a AMAZING pilot because they fit so much stuff into 45 minutes. And it was like you knew all the characters before the show even started.
shareI had to watch the pilot for The Wire three or four times before it truly drew me in. Now it's my favorite show ever. But when I saw the Black Donnellys pilot when it first came out I was instantly attached. This show is so good it makes me vomit seeing all the shows that took its place. It truly is a shame we only got one incredible season. Also, the Friday Night Lights pilot (like someone already said) was amazing. I told all my friends to watch that one, and I'm about to tell them all to watch TBD right now.
shareThe only shows I think of the Pilots being awesome are Firefly, Six Feet Under Battlestar Galatica (Edward James Olmos), and the X-Files.
shareI have to say that the best pilot I've ever seen was Twin Peaks'. I wasn't five minutes in and I couldn't stop crying, which is not something that happens very often with TV shows.
sharePaul Haggis does amazing pilots. The tv pilot for "Due South" is still one of the best action movies I've ever seen.
shareI saw the pilot when it aired live and thought it was one of the greatest pilots ever. Just watched it again on Netflix and it definitely is! I never finished the series but I'm going to watch it now that it's online. That pilot really stuck with me though.
shareThis was a good show with the potential for being great. The relatively few kinks could've been ironed out, if only there'd been anybody at the network with artistic judgment and a long-term view. But I mean, thank God we've got The Voice, and Ice-T and Coco, and sh$% like that.
shareThe pilot is definitely the best pilot of any show I have seen. Unfortunately since they accomplished so much in that first episode it was difficult for the show to keep up with that momentum. Also having the interviews at the beginning of the episodes made it seem that many situations were already set in stone spoiling what may happen later in the show. Unfortunately I lost track of the show since they changed time slots and the appeal from the first episode was dwindling. Still the pilot blew my mind unlike any other show.
shareBeen a while since I watched it, but that's a really interesting take. It may be that as good as the acting, atmosphere, cinematography, etc. were, the way the story was structured may have contributed to its own demise by making it mostly a matter of working out types rather than having the more meandering quality of real life. Hadn't thought about that, but if I ever see it again (and I intend to), I'll have to watch it with that in mind. You may be on to something.
shareSame here I saw the pilot when it aired. I loved it...just never managed to catch the rest of the show. I just finished it on netflix. I loved it!
Another great pilot was the show Kings. The series is not bad but I loved the pilot. Keep in mind this is not the same type of show...just a good pilot. Just ignore the religious overtones. :) You can find it here on hulu.
http://www.hulu.com/watch/62546#s-p3-so-i0
Having just watched the pilot I have to completely agree. Ending on Open Your Eyes was perfect as well. Could have made a really good film to be honest.
shareJust watched the pilot and was blown away. I can't remember the last time I saw a pilot so strong! It could stand alone as its own little short film. Great shots, great acting, perfect pacing. Even the editing was dead on--perfect. Wow! I don't know how the rest of the show can hold up, but I'm glad I got to watch that even if it's the only episode I ever see.
Till the gossamer thread you fling, catch somewhere, O my Soul.
I watched the Pilot last week and loved it. I watched it again with my wife and it was even better the second time. I would put it up there with the pilot for Friday Night Lights which is amazing. I watched episodes 2 and 3 today and while they don't quite live up to the pilot I think they are still good.
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