It’s common for Sci-Fi TV shows to take a few episodes to really hit their stride. This isn’t unique to the genre, but it often happens with science fiction because these shows frequently involve complicated storylines and thought-provoking ideas. It can take time to understand where the plot is headed, and some series require-and ultimately deserve-patience, which can be challenging in today’s streaming landscape. However, occasionally a Sci-Fi series starts strong, immediately captivating you and leaving you wanting more. It’s a great feeling when that happens!
I still remember exactly when I first discovered Westworld. It was a Sunday night, nine years ago, when HBO launched this ambitious Sci-Fi series. Although the show is now probably more talked about for its cancellation after four seasons, I was completely captivated by the potential it showed, particularly with that incredible pilot episode. I heard it cost around $25 million to make, and honestly, it felt worth every penny. The series is based on the 1973 film of the same name, and the first episode immediately pulls you into a futuristic, Western-themed park. It’s a place where people can pay a lot of money to indulge in their wildest dreams with incredibly lifelike “hosts”-or, as we quickly learn, robots.
5 More Great Sci-Fi TV Show Pilots
- Battlestar Galactica – “33”
- Farscape – “Premiere”
- Lost – “Pilot: Part 1 & 2”
- Orphan Black – “Natural Selection”
- Stargate SG-1 – “Children of the Gods”
If You Love Sci-Fi, Watch Westworld’s Pilot
I followed the show when it first aired, even wrote about it, and I really thought it would become HBO’s next hit – and the network seemed to agree. While that didn’t happen, revisiting the pilot episode now, it still has all the qualities of something that should have been much more successful (and, honestly, better made). The pilot immediately drew me into its world, starting with a premise that made you question what was real and hinted at “infinite possibilities.”
The entire experience was full of surprises: this particular part featured unexpected plot twists, exciting and intense gunfights accompanied by a dramatic orchestral version of The Rolling Stones’ “Paint it Black,” beautiful scenery, and numerous unanswered questions that kept me guessing about the true story.
We saw the Man in Black, the show’s instantly compelling villain, looking for a “deeper level,” and that immediately signaled to the audience: keep watching to discover all the mysteries. Enjoy the exciting action, and try to understand where it’s all leading. By clearly laying out its main ideas and themes, showing us who to support and oppose, and hinting at even greater things ahead-all while being a captivating first episode-it was basically everything you could ask for in a science fiction TV pilot.
I feel like most episodes of Westworld Season 1 didn’t quite live up to the amazing quality of the first episode. While the show still remained very good, it fell into a pattern. However, the last two episodes were truly exceptional – some of the best science fiction television we’ve seen in the last ten years. After that, the series faced some challenges. The writers attempted to outsmart the audience with their twists, which unfortunately made the storyline overly complex and confusing.
The show didn’t really fall apart, and there’s still a lot to appreciate even in the less popular Seasons 3 and 4. Westworld arguably deserved to finish its planned five seasons-and its removal from HBO Max was disappointing-but the show’s decline in viewership played a role. It was an unfortunate end for the series, but it doesn’t diminish how fantastic the original pilot episode was, and it’s a must-watch for any science fiction enthusiast.
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2025-10-02 14:42