1. Alias "Truth Be Told"
This feels right to me being placed at number one. I came to this show pretty late, getting all the box sets about 3 years ago. I was at first unsure whether or not I'd like the show but I can honestly say I have never been more entertained by a pilot episode in my life. It was actually shockingly good- exactly what i wanted from a television series at the time. Edge of your seat, jaw dropping action with a phenomenal cast and truly intriguing concept and set up. This is Alias's best episode ever and Alias had many great ones. Though I will admit the series, like all of Abrams' get worse and worse from season 2 onwards (in fact, like most TV shows in general), and the shows mythology (again like all of Abrams') kind of makes absolutely no sense, I find it to be an overall more exciting TV series than Lost, and it certainly makes more sense. J J Abrams wrote and directed this 70 minute episode which shows Sydney Bristow (played by Jennifer Garner in her best role ever) finding out that the intelligence agency she is working for, SD-6, is actually not part of the CIA like she has been told it is, and is actually an illegal, ruthless and murderous organization, after SD-6 brutally kill her fiancee. She also finds out her father, who also works for SD-6 is a mole within the company, working for the CIA. Sydney, shocked and devastated by this information and by the loss of her fiancee, is recruited by the CIA to also work undercover for them within this dangerous organization. Sounds great and it really really really is great. This single episode is one of the most thrilling things I have ever watched in my life, and when I think of great TV pilots, this one is always the first one that comes to mind. How about you? Have I missed your favorite TV pilot from this list? Are any of my choices unbelievably stupid? Sound off in the comments section below... I really am interested to hear your suggestions, if only to give me more things to watch...