20 TV Show Pilots That Are Totally Flawless

Much like Deadwood, the pilot for Matthew Weiner's period drama Mad Men initially stands out because of the detail that can be found in its 1960s setting. Featuring gorgeous set pieces, era-appropriate costume design and a fiery script rife with twists, Smoke Gets In Your Eyes is first and foremost a visual feast.

But the best part of the pilot doesn't come from how great it looks, but from the way it introduces series protagonist Don Draper, a genius ad executive who has the world at his feet, but is hiding a series of devastating and gasp-inducing secrets, the best of which appears in the final moments of the episode.

Bringing Draper to life in the performance of a lifetime, Jon Hamm instantly shines, as does frequent scene-stealer Elisabeth Moss. It's an hour of set-up that introduces its characters one way, and ends by showing them in an entirely new light, and pulls it off without making the episode feel crammed.