7. Sons Of Anarchy, "Pilot"
This is the second pilot on this list, and it's here for a few different reasons. The explosion in recent (read: the last 5-10) years of original programming on cable networks has meant a few different things for viewers. First and foremost, there's more content to choose from. Secondly (and most important here), the freedoms that cable television offers has led to a far greater number of series that embrace the long-form model of storytelling. Sons is one of those shows. Created and executive-produced by Kurt Sutter (The Shield), the show is currently in the sixth of a planned seven seasons charting the lives and times of the members of the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club. So, why the pilot? Sutter has embraced wholeheartedly the creative freedoms that come with having the ability to plan and execute a long term story and that story begins, without question, in the pilot episode. The Anarchy pilot is a different beast from that of (for example) Breaking Bad. There's an engaging cast and interesting story, but Sutter takes his time spooling it out. As such, the pilot functions more as an introduction to the world of the club and its characters than a fast-paced single episode. Patience is the name of the game with this show much of the first season, while certainly engaging and well-done, can be seen as setup for what happens throughout the rest of the series. So why not skip ahead? The show is in many ways...well,.. intimate. Storylines are intricately tied up in the relationships of the characters, and the twists and turns those relationships take. In order to really enjoy and appreciate everything Sons has to offer, you've got to join up with them on day one and follow them all the way through and if you do, the show will reward you handsomely.