21 TV Series That Grabbed Viewers In The First Episode

"It didn't just grab me in the first episode. It grabbed me in the first five minutes."

If you love watching TV, you can probably name at least one show that caught your attention from the very beginning.

Nickelodeon / Via giphy.com

When Reddit user fredyouareaturtle asked, "What TV series grabbed you in the first episode?" it got television fans talking.

NBC / Via giphy.com

We've rounded up some of the best answers to help you grow your TV watch list. Check them out below:

1. Psych

USA Network / Via giphy.com

"I recently binged the whole series in a couple of weeks. I was addicted from the very first episode. Hell, I was addicted in the first 10 minutes! It's the clever kind of silly, if that makes sense."

—u/pokey1984

2. The X-Files

FOX / Via giphy.com

"Oh, man. I was eight when the first episode aired. I was scared shitless and in awe at the same time. I thought it was the most amazing thing I'd ever seen."

—u/whocares023

3. Breaking Bad

AMC / Via giphy.com

"I’ve watched many, many shows, and nothing beats how good Breaking Bad was throughout the entire series."

—u/monicathehuman

4. The Mandalorian

Disney+ / Via giphy.com

"The first episode was and still is one of the best."

—u/HerbertGoon

5. Killing Eve

Laura Radford / ©BBC-America / Courtesy Everett Collection

"The music, the characters, and the atmosphere all perfectly lined up. I was hooked from the beginning!"

—u/CloudStreet

6. The Shield

FX

"I just finished watching that series yesterday. The emotional roller coaster that show took me on... I’m still recovering and will be for a while!"

—u/bluemorphine

7. Ted Lasso

Apple TV+ / Via giphy.com

"I went in knowing nothing about it, and after that first episode, I was ready to stay up all night to finish the entire season."

—u/littleb3anpole

8. Game of Thrones

HBO / Via giphy.com

"Much has been made of its downfall, but when the series premiered, it was clear it was a show of scale and scope rarely seen on television. And the 'things we do for love' moment at the end was a shocking way to hook people into seeing what was going to happen next."

—u/ComebackShane

9. Lost

ABC / Via giphy.com

"They showed the first two episodes in a row on TV, and I was hooked. It's what started my journey of getting hold of TV episodes as soon as they were broadcast, instead of waiting for them to be shown on our broadcast TV."

—u/bruzie

10. Six Feet Under

HBO / Via giphy.com

"And arguably one of the greatest series finales too."

—u/aintthattjusttheway

11. The Boys

Amazon Prime Video / Via giphy.com

"The Boys is a wild ride from start to finish (well, where it's up to now, anyway). The first episode sets the scene but, looking back on it, seems like barely a taste of what's coming."

—u/BeefPieSoup

"It didn't just grab me in the first episode. It grabbed me in the first five minutes."

—u/Durian_Mace

12. iZombie

©CW Network / Courtesy Everett Collection

"I had gone through so many pilots looking for a new show to binge and five minutes in, I knew I had my show."
—u/Brainsonastick

13. Archer

FX / Via giphy.com

"Such a fantastic pilot."

—u/baconpoutine89

14. Hannibal

NBC / Via giphy.com

"This was exactly what I intended to say. I needed more, and I was watching when we had to wait a week."

—u/Poecifer

15. The Good Place

NBC / Via giphy.com

"I put off watching it for so long, then binged three seasons in less than a week and got sad about it."

—u/fortmeines

16. Dexter

Showtime / Via giphy.com

"That first season was, for me, perfect television."

—u/_Mechaloth_

17. Lucifer

FOX / Via giphy.com

"Five minutes into the pilot I was laughing out loud. Hooked."

—u/Aware1211

18. True Detective

HBO / Via giphy.com

"That opening shot sets up the tone and dread of impending doom perfectly. First season was just on another level."

—u/DBHOV

19. 30 Rock

Jessica Miglio / © NBC / courtesy everett collection

"The pilot hooked me immediately with its pacing and tone, and I binged the first two seasons over the course of the next two days. Good stuff."

—u/Cutter9792

20. Shameless

Showtime / Via giphy.com

"That was an intense 6 weeks [and] 11 seasons of binging."

—u/Exedrn

21. Bob's Burgers

FOX / Via giphy.com

"Sucked me right in. I never wanted to try it due to the art style until a friend forced me to watch the pilot, but it’s become my favorite show."

—u/Mcswigginsbar

Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.

What TV show grabbed you from the very first episode? Let us know your favorite in the comments below!