10 TV Shows With Great First Episodes

BBC's Sherlock is unlike most other shows, in that each episode is almost like its own movie. Adapting and twisting classic Holmes stories, it breathes new life into beloved tales. The first story adapted was the very first Holmes adventure, A Study in Scarlet, reimagined here as A Study in Pink.

It's a fantastic interpretation of its source material, bringing the story into the modern era while still maintaining its spirit. Benedict Cumberbatch instantly won over audiences as the brilliant yet aloof Sherlock, while Martin Freeman is typically endearing as John Watson. The story unfolds much as it did in the original novel, but with some clever twists and turns: Sherlock analyses John's mobile phone rather than his pocket watch, he uses nicotine patches instead of smoking a pipe, and the villain drives a taxi rather than a hansom cab.

A Study in Pink introduces the killer wit, stellar performances and clever use of the Holmes mythos that the series would become acclaimed for, but also manages to stand on its own as a fantastic 90 minutes of television. One could watch A Study in Pink, never watch another episode, and still be satisfied. However, by giving us interesting characters and a fascinating world, as well as the first hints of the villainous James Moriarty, it's unlikely anyone would stop at just one episode.