Pilot episodes are difficult to perfect, but some fantasy shows successfully juggle strong world-building with gripping hooks, resulting in spotless openers. Pilots have a lot riding on them, regardless of genre. They determine whether viewers will stick with a series or let it fall to the wayside in favor of more interesting options. And while perfection isn’t required to win viewers, it does help.
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A series with a sturdy premiere will stand out over one laden with inconsistencies and issues. This is especially true in a genre like fantasy, which depends on smaller details to prove its quality. A good fantasy story needs more than a compelling premise and well-placed twists; it requires a cohesive setting and magic system, along with characters and story beats worth investing in. Starting with these strengths bodes well for TV shows, and some of the best fantasy pilots deliver on all these things before the credits roll.
7) Avatar: The Last Airbender
Avatar: The Last Airbender touches on serious subjects with its high-stakes plot, but it walks a careful balancing act. Humor and hope are never far off in the Nickelodeon series, and that’s a line that it walks from its very first installment. ATLA‘s pilot doesn’t shy away from the dangers of imperialism and colonialism, introducing the threat of the Fire Nation right away.
However, Avatar: The Last Airbender also establishes its signature humor from the pilot, with lines like “Will you go penguin sledding with me?” embedding themselves into the pop culture zeitgeist. The Last Airbender‘s first episode uses this charm to sell us on the world and characters, all while setting up a conflict and magic system that promise a great fantasy narrative. In this way, “The Boy in the Iceberg” does more in 20 minutes than some shows do in multiple episodes.
6) Percy Jackson & The Olympians
The Percy Jackson movies are divisive adaptations of Rick Riordan’s bestselling books, and the Disney+ series proves it’s leagues ahead of them from its first installment. Percy Jackson & the Olympians‘ pilot delivers a more faithful take on the opening of Riordan’s story, and the changes it does make serve to modernize and improve the narrative. Like the early chapters of The Lightning Thief, “I Accidentally Vaporize My Pre-Algebra Teacher” leaves an impression with its lighthearted narration, intriguing approach to Greek mythology, and gutting ending.
Percy Jackson & the Olympians‘ pilot has almost everything you could want in an opener; there’s action and suspense, particularly at the end, but there’s also an emphasis on characters you’ll immediately want to root for. And the promise of Greek legends hidden in everyday life pushes viewers to press play on the next installment. Percy Jackson & the Olympians‘ pilot presents enough intrigue to get viewers on board, and it packs an emotional punch.
5) The Good Place
The Good Place blends fantasy and comedy with impressive results, and it strikes that balance as early as its pilot. Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell) waking up in the titular version of heaven presents the perfect opportunity for world-building, and because of that, the show’s early exposition never feels forced. It helps that the dialogue and performances lean into absurdity. The show draws laughs, even as it spends half of its pilot establishing its setting and premise.
Upon a rewatch, viewers can also pick up on allusions to The Good Place season 1’s iconic twist. The Good Place‘s pilot clearly has a vision, and this makes it more impressive in hindsight. Of course, its strengths go beyond that. Eleanor’s admission that there’s “been a big mistake” makes for a great turn halfway through, immediately ramping up the tension. This secret between Eleanor and Chidi (William Jackson Harper) ensures that viewers want to know what happens next, and their back-and-forth promises incredible dynamics in the episodes to come — a promise the NBC show fully delivers on.
4) Arcane
Arcane is a near-perfect fantasy show overall, so it’s not surprising that the League of Legends series benefits from a strong opening. The series’ pilot, “Welcome to the Playground,” accomplishes everything it needs to in its 40-minute run. It introduces Arcane‘s main characters, establishes the inequality and suffering that’s so prominent throughout Zaun, and lays the groundwork for the later tragedies that unfold. “Welcome to the Playground” may not be the most memorable episode of Arcane, but its focus on character dynamics makes the show’s emotional beats possible.
When it comes to fantasy stories steeped in tragedy, it’s important to show the characters’ lives before everything falls apart — and Arcane does an excellent job of this. The touching moments between Vi, Powder, Vander, and the rest of the gang make their later fates that much more heartbreaking. And their interactions in “Welcome to the Playground” provide plenty of information about the world they live in, as well as their individual motivations.
3) Supernatural
Supernatural‘s changes significantly throughout its 15-season run, but its best qualities are evident in its pilot. The show’s first episode impressively characterizes the Winchester brothers and their motivations using the disappearance of their father. Opening with their backstory makes the introduction to hunting feel natural, and the pilot sets up the CW show’s monster-of-the-week adventures and larger story arc in one go.
The chemistry between Supernatural stars Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki is obvious from their first scene together, giving the actors a solid foundation to build on. Their banter establishes the humor that comes to define the series, balancing the tragedies that bookend the premiere well. The lingering questions surrounding the mysterious yellow-eyed demon may not be answered right away, but Supernatural‘s pilot makes viewers determined to know more.
2) Stranger Things
There’s a reason Stranger Things became a cultural phenomenon after just one season, and its near-perfect pilot is what sold viewers on the series. Like Supernatural, the Netflix show establishes high stakes, a charming tone, and lovable characters all in its first installment. “Chapter One: The Vanishing of Will Byers” fully immerses viewers in the nostalgic ’80s setting and promises dark conspiracies lurking within Hawkins.
The mystery of Will’s (Noah Schnapp) disappearance serves as an ideal hook, giving viewers a reason to care about what’s unfolding in the fictional Indiana town. Everyone from the young cast to Winona Ryder and David Harbour give impressive performances, further investing us in their characters’ plights. This makes a strong case for continuing, as does the pilot’s indication that the show will be a love letter to horror and the ’80s.
1) Game Of Thrones
If any fantasy show has a perfect pilot episode, it’s Game of Thrones — and not just because of its wild ending. Of course, Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) throwing a child out of a window does drive home what a brutal and violent world Westeros is. This promises fidelity to George R.R. Martin’s books that the show delivers on, at least for a few seasons.
The pilot’s opening is just as thrilling as its final scene, teasing the threat of the White Walkers long before they arrive on Winterfell’s doorstep. The first episode sets high stakes when it comes to the supernatural and political narratives, and Game of Thrones‘ cast does an incredible job of introducing memorable characters. They leave an impression, even with so much else to take in. In general, Game of Thrones‘ opening excels at making high fantasy accessible even to newcomers.
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