12 Most Epic Character Introductions In TV History

5. Neil Caffrey €“- White Collar

Not only is Neil Caffrey's introductory scene epic, it's one of the coolest character introductions in TV history. The pilot episode needed to convince the audience that Neil has the wit, intelligence and charm to be one of the very best white collar criminals and show in turn that Peter Burke is the best of the best in the FBI for managing to catch him. And the opening scene more than delivers.

It's not just how Neil escapes from prison but the manner in which he does it; with absolute style. He has grown a beard just to ensure that when he shaves it off, he won't be recognised by his fellow inmates and prison guards. Dressing in a prison guard's uniform, he doesn't sneak from shadow to shadow; he calmly strides through the prison with the confidence of someone in complete control of the situation. What's even better is that the guards don't even question him and he is able to escape the prison with ease. By the time the episode lists his many lists of offences (securities fraud, counterfeiting, art theft), we're in no doubt that he's capable of it all.

But given how cool Neil is, it doesn't stop there. He targets a bright yellow jacket at a thrift stand, pays for it using the cash he discovered in the glove box of the prison truck he stole. Before you can ask why he would buy something so blatantly unstylish, we realise its sole purpose is to allow him to pretend to be a valet at JFK airport, all in order to drive off with a very stylish Rolls Royce convertible. He even gets a hundred dollar tip from the man he's stealing the Rolls from! As he drives into Manhattan, the wind blowing through his hair with 'Hold On (I'm Comin)' playing, he had won the audience over.