Top 10 Best Teen Drama Pilot Episodes of All Time
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Date: 2023-11-20
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Comments and reviews: 30
P. W.
Ok wow appreciate the work as always but theres some faults here first off Dawsons Creek and Pretty Little liars should replace Shadowhunters and Degrassi in the HM, they capture the tone and intrigue of what both shows will be about too well. And as much as many were surprised at how good Vampire Diaries turned out to be in its first season with its twist and turns, the pilot has no business being on this list, a lot of interactions are forced and it even features some awful elements that were soon dropped (like that thing with the mist what was that) it should be replaced with One Tree Hill. As a series One Tree Hill wouldnt rank higher than any of them but the pilot is a thing of beauty in the teen drama genre. If you say Friday Night Lights makes the whole sports team more endearing well yeah, its supposed to as opposed to OTH; youre supposed to root for shy but confident Lucas (which CMM actually portrays pretty well) and root against the privileged kids and his half brother on the team hes reluctant to join. The whole family dynamic is explained and foreshadowed very well, the game between him and Nathan for a place on the team could be a series finale but instead launches the whole story, and his has great (should be iconic) foreshadowing lines like when he says Ill be seeing you to Peyton. Or the poem he recites at the end when he finally walks into the gym and all eyes are on him. As a series OTH doesnt match up with a lot of the series on this list dont get me wrong, but if youre ranking pilots, then rank the quality, intrigue and setup of the pilots, not the series they turned out to be.
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Ok wow appreciate the work as always but theres some faults here first off Dawsons Creek and Pretty Little liars should replace Shadowhunters and Degrassi in the HM, they capture the tone and intrigue of what both shows will be about too well. And as much as many were surprised at how good Vampire Diaries turned out to be in its first season with its twist and turns, the pilot has no business being on this list, a lot of interactions are forced and it even features some awful elements that were soon dropped (like that thing with the mist what was that) it should be replaced with One Tree Hill. As a series One Tree Hill wouldnt rank higher than any of them but the pilot is a thing of beauty in the teen drama genre. If you say Friday Night Lights makes the whole sports team more endearing well yeah, its supposed to as opposed to OTH; youre supposed to root for shy but confident Lucas (which CMM actually portrays pretty well) and root against the privileged kids and his half brother on the team hes reluctant to join. The whole family dynamic is explained and foreshadowed very well, the game between him and Nathan for a place on the team could be a series finale but instead launches the whole story, and his has great (should be iconic) foreshadowing lines like when he says Ill be seeing you to Peyton. Or the poem he recites at the end when he finally walks into the gym and all eyes are on him. As a series OTH doesnt match up with a lot of the series on this list dont get me wrong, but if youre ranking pilots, then rank the quality, intrigue and setup of the pilots, not the series they turned out to be.
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G.
Interesting picks. Two comedies make the list of top teen drama pilots (Gilmore Girls and Glee; being an hour long doesn't make them dramas, but the top notch pilots for My So-Called Life, Party of Five, Felicity, Pretty Little Liars, and The Fosters don't even qualify for an honorable mention.
My So-Called Life, Party of Five, and Felicity were a couple of decades back, and were never big hits, so I suppose it's a combination of recency bias and popularity that bump them back, but. .. no Pretty Little Liars? Yeah, it eventually fizzled under the weight of fan service and focusing too much on the soap opera elements at the expense of horror/thriller elements, but that was later. The pilot was awesome.
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Interesting picks. Two comedies make the list of top teen drama pilots (Gilmore Girls and Glee; being an hour long doesn't make them dramas, but the top notch pilots for My So-Called Life, Party of Five, Felicity, Pretty Little Liars, and The Fosters don't even qualify for an honorable mention.
My So-Called Life, Party of Five, and Felicity were a couple of decades back, and were never big hits, so I suppose it's a combination of recency bias and popularity that bump them back, but. .. no Pretty Little Liars? Yeah, it eventually fizzled under the weight of fan service and focusing too much on the soap opera elements at the expense of horror/thriller elements, but that was later. The pilot was awesome.
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armie
I disagree with this list. Buffy imo is one of the best TV series of all time but its pilot wasnt too engaging - some of these pilots beat it by a long shot. Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill, and Glee arent even my favorite shows, but I can admit to the fact that their pilots were engaging especially the ones only mentioned as honorable. OTH and GG had so much conflict and interesting characters that I wanted to see more! Idk if its just me, but I couldnt get through the first 10 minutes of Friday Night Lights - maybe I should rewatch.
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I disagree with this list. Buffy imo is one of the best TV series of all time but its pilot wasnt too engaging - some of these pilots beat it by a long shot. Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill, and Glee arent even my favorite shows, but I can admit to the fact that their pilots were engaging especially the ones only mentioned as honorable. OTH and GG had so much conflict and interesting characters that I wanted to see more! Idk if its just me, but I couldnt get through the first 10 minutes of Friday Night Lights - maybe I should rewatch.
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Joshua
I demand a recount. Gossip Girl has one of the BEST pilots in Teen Drama history: It perfectly sets up its 6 teen protagonist and establishes the rules of this world all while introducing the concept that theyre all being closely monitored by this anonymous blogger.
And One Tree Hill had so much amazing backstory that the pilot felt like you already knew those characters and so you understood the weight of their decisions.
Im sorry but Never Have I Ever and On My Block dont deserve to be on here.
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I demand a recount. Gossip Girl has one of the BEST pilots in Teen Drama history: It perfectly sets up its 6 teen protagonist and establishes the rules of this world all while introducing the concept that theyre all being closely monitored by this anonymous blogger.
And One Tree Hill had so much amazing backstory that the pilot felt like you already knew those characters and so you understood the weight of their decisions.
Im sorry but Never Have I Ever and On My Block dont deserve to be on here.
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Buffy8Fan
_Welcome to the Hellmouth/The Harvest_ wasn't the _Buffy the Vampire Slayer_ pilot. The network saw a half hour version of those two episodes referred to as the Unaired Pilot to decide whether or not to greenlight the series or not. It's why _Welcome to the Hellmouth/The Harvest_ are titled. Because they were rewritten, renamed, and reshot for the audience as a two hour event and considered the first two true episodes, but not an actual pilot.
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_Welcome to the Hellmouth/The Harvest_ wasn't the _Buffy the Vampire Slayer_ pilot. The network saw a half hour version of those two episodes referred to as the Unaired Pilot to decide whether or not to greenlight the series or not. It's why _Welcome to the Hellmouth/The Harvest_ are titled. Because they were rewritten, renamed, and reshot for the audience as a two hour event and considered the first two true episodes, but not an actual pilot.
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arturocas90
I rooted for Dawson's Creek as it's my favorite show but I feel like its memory overall it fades and comes only slightly, is like. people forget it existed and hasn't carried on to newer generations (my perspective.
I'd like to add though the pilot of Felicity is pretty good! I don't know if it counts as teen drama because is set in college but it falls on this category, right? there's no young adult drama category.
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I rooted for Dawson's Creek as it's my favorite show but I feel like its memory overall it fades and comes only slightly, is like. people forget it existed and hasn't carried on to newer generations (my perspective.
I'd like to add though the pilot of Felicity is pretty good! I don't know if it counts as teen drama because is set in college but it falls on this category, right? there's no young adult drama category.
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Reese
Why the hell are Degrassi: The Next Generation, One Tree Hill, and Gossip Girl just honorable mentions? And where the hell is Pretty Little Liars? This list is rigged. The only ones I agree with on this list is Euphoria and Glee. Literally most of these are fantasy/supernatural shows. They should've made a separate list for that genre.
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Why the hell are Degrassi: The Next Generation, One Tree Hill, and Gossip Girl just honorable mentions? And where the hell is Pretty Little Liars? This list is rigged. The only ones I agree with on this list is Euphoria and Glee. Literally most of these are fantasy/supernatural shows. They should've made a separate list for that genre.
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Trekapedia
No offense but Vampire Diaries had a good pilot, but it wasnt near as good as Smallville, Beverly Hills 90210, Felicity and Dawsons Creek. Also, Degrassi: The Next Generation shouldve been on the list, NOT an honorable mention. Replace On My Block and Vampire Diaries with 90210 and Smallville and thats a real list.
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No offense but Vampire Diaries had a good pilot, but it wasnt near as good as Smallville, Beverly Hills 90210, Felicity and Dawsons Creek. Also, Degrassi: The Next Generation shouldve been on the list, NOT an honorable mention. Replace On My Block and Vampire Diaries with 90210 and Smallville and thats a real list.
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marietta
The pilot episode of the OC is excellent and having it here so low is honestly mind-boggling. It is top 2, along with Friday Night Lights.
Also, I love Gilmore Girls and Buffy is literally my favorite show, but they dont have really strong pilots. Buffy in particular Id say didnt really know what it was in s1.
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The pilot episode of the OC is excellent and having it here so low is honestly mind-boggling. It is top 2, along with Friday Night Lights.
Also, I love Gilmore Girls and Buffy is literally my favorite show, but they dont have really strong pilots. Buffy in particular Id say didnt really know what it was in s1.
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Silvern7552
I really disagree with one of these. I think the Vampire Diaries had one of the worst pilots for a tv drama, and first half or so of the first season. If it was just the pilot trying to get me watching the show, and not my friend showing me an episode from season 2 first, I never would have watched it.
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I really disagree with one of these. I think the Vampire Diaries had one of the worst pilots for a tv drama, and first half or so of the first season. If it was just the pilot trying to get me watching the show, and not my friend showing me an episode from season 2 first, I never would have watched it.
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newageBoundhippie
No PLL, Smallville, Veronica Mars, Cloak & Dagger, Runaways or The Lying Game ( still pissed at Freeform for cancelling that gem as well as 9 Lives of Chloe King, Cloak & Dagger and PLL: The Perfectionists? I'm disappointed. at least Buffy and Gilmore Girls got mentioned, I love those shows.
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No PLL, Smallville, Veronica Mars, Cloak & Dagger, Runaways or The Lying Game ( still pissed at Freeform for cancelling that gem as well as 9 Lives of Chloe King, Cloak & Dagger and PLL: The Perfectionists? I'm disappointed. at least Buffy and Gilmore Girls got mentioned, I love those shows.
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Darlaine
Vampire Diaries had the very best best BEST soundtrack. It's almost like all the songs from the late 2000s to the early 2010s were written for this show. From Ed Sheeran's Give Me Love, Birdy Skinny Love to Wait by M83. The songs made the moments, the moments made the story and the story was epic.
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Vampire Diaries had the very best best BEST soundtrack. It's almost like all the songs from the late 2000s to the early 2010s were written for this show. From Ed Sheeran's Give Me Love, Birdy Skinny Love to Wait by M83. The songs made the moments, the moments made the story and the story was epic.
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RedLightning17
Solid list. But if I could add an honorable mention, it would be Riverdale. I know the show's gone way down in quality and plausible story. But that first episode really pulls you in with a lot of intrigue and lore that makes you wanna tune in for Ep2.
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Solid list. But if I could add an honorable mention, it would be Riverdale. I know the show's gone way down in quality and plausible story. But that first episode really pulls you in with a lot of intrigue and lore that makes you wanna tune in for Ep2.
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tech2017
#4 This show sucked from the minute it aired and never got better.
#3 One of the best Pilots and TV shows of all time. Fun Fact: Ryan Reynolds was originally cast as Xander but dropped out a week before the pilot filmed.
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#4 This show sucked from the minute it aired and never got better.
#3 One of the best Pilots and TV shows of all time. Fun Fact: Ryan Reynolds was originally cast as Xander but dropped out a week before the pilot filmed.
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Tamires
Woah, woah, woah, woah, woah. How come The OC only got 7th position? It deserved number 1 for sure, or maybe, at least top 3. And One Tree Hill and Gossip Girl really did deserve more than just a honorable mention each.
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Woah, woah, woah, woah, woah. How come The OC only got 7th position? It deserved number 1 for sure, or maybe, at least top 3. And One Tree Hill and Gossip Girl really did deserve more than just a honorable mention each.
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Katerina
Friday Night Lights a great tv pilot that made everyone fall in love with Taylor Kitsch (and Coach and Tammy Taylor too. Never got the BFD about Gilmore Girls, would rather have seen OTH or PLL on the list.
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Friday Night Lights a great tv pilot that made everyone fall in love with Taylor Kitsch (and Coach and Tammy Taylor too. Never got the BFD about Gilmore Girls, would rather have seen OTH or PLL on the list.
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Leeland
You all must have forgotten that 6 month media campaign in 1997 before Dawson's creek premiered. Still one of the best pilots to set the stage for what the show was, as I've ever seen for any genre of show.
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You all must have forgotten that 6 month media campaign in 1997 before Dawson's creek premiered. Still one of the best pilots to set the stage for what the show was, as I've ever seen for any genre of show.
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yodels17
Part of Season 1 was filmed at my high school in Pflugerville Tx ( home of the Panthers) my sophomore year. Some of my friends even got to be in a couple of episodes and the redid the locker room
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Part of Season 1 was filmed at my high school in Pflugerville Tx ( home of the Panthers) my sophomore year. Some of my friends even got to be in a couple of episodes and the redid the locker room
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Hillary
Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Friday Night Lights are both based on movies, and FNL is a true story. Why can't you say anything about shows created in 70s or 80s or early 90s.
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Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Friday Night Lights are both based on movies, and FNL is a true story. Why can't you say anything about shows created in 70s or 80s or early 90s.
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Barbara
HellOOOO! The Fosters? Smallville? Veronica Mars? DAWSON'S CREEK? FREAKIN' BEVERLY HILLS 90210?
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: YOU HAVE A MAJOR RECENCY BIAS.
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HellOOOO! The Fosters? Smallville? Veronica Mars? DAWSON'S CREEK? FREAKIN' BEVERLY HILLS 90210?
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: YOU HAVE A MAJOR RECENCY BIAS.
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12Chris6
The OC will always be one of my favorite shows of all time and it being this low is outrageous. The pilot was superb that lead to a near flawless 1st season.
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The OC will always be one of my favorite shows of all time and it being this low is outrageous. The pilot was superb that lead to a near flawless 1st season.
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Gabriela
The fosters is an amazing show with an amazing pilot that perfectly presents the essence of the show. shocked me that wasn't even mentioned
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The fosters is an amazing show with an amazing pilot that perfectly presents the essence of the show. shocked me that wasn't even mentioned
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RajaReign78
For me I was hooked from the pilot episode of My So-Called Life and a show called Get Real. I also liked Freaks & Geeks and Undeclared.
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For me I was hooked from the pilot episode of My So-Called Life and a show called Get Real. I also liked Freaks & Geeks and Undeclared.
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Katy
I would have been so mad if glee wasnt on here. I watched the pilot when it aired and the 4 month wait until the next episode was TORTURE.
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I would have been so mad if glee wasnt on here. I watched the pilot when it aired and the 4 month wait until the next episode was TORTURE.
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Esra
everytime i see the word tv pilot i think of friday night lights, its so amazing and perfect that it should be on top of every list
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everytime i see the word tv pilot i think of friday night lights, its so amazing and perfect that it should be on top of every list
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Margaret
YES to so many of these but especially DEGRASSI! I always tell people about how intense the pilot is! They dove in right away.
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YES to so many of these but especially DEGRASSI! I always tell people about how intense the pilot is! They dove in right away.
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marivaleria
I stopped watching the moment TVD and Glee were higher on the list than The O. C. that's like the perfect teen drama pilot.
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I stopped watching the moment TVD and Glee were higher on the list than The O. C. that's like the perfect teen drama pilot.
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Pino
If it was overall shows then friends would be on #1. With the iconic entrance of Rachel in her wedding dress, like come on!
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If it was overall shows then friends would be on #1. With the iconic entrance of Rachel in her wedding dress, like come on!
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cami
for me it's young royals! i was hooked on july 1st from the very first minutes and am still obsessed to this day.
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for me it's young royals! i was hooked on july 1st from the very first minutes and am still obsessed to this day.
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Michel
I love the vampire diaries but the pilot episode is awful and it doesnt really represent what the show is about
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I love the vampire diaries but the pilot episode is awful and it doesnt really represent what the show is about
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