A slow opening to a series is certainly not by any means a marker of its success.
Take for instance the first episodes of two breakout hits from this year in The White Lotus and Severance, countless viewers were put off by the lack of action and seemingly meaningless dialogue.
However, by the conclusion of each, fans were left drooling for more after intricately plotted webs weaved together perfectly to create a beautiful, twisted crescendo of drama.
It’s actually fair to argue that slow burners are more satisfying than a brash and heavy opening 30 minutes that fails to deliver later down the line.
But, if you’re like me, and you’ve found yourself at the end of your tether after scouring through every streaming site to find your next watch, there’s a certain delirious happiness you get when in the opening few frames a show sticks out its hand and commands your attention immediately.
So, if you’re after something that burns brightly but might not always finish the strongest, here is an exclusive list of seven series that will have you addicted right from the get go.
Justified
I’ll have to admit, I had never heard of the show Justified before.
Starring Timothy Olyphant as Raylan Givens and The White Lotus star Walton Goggins, the show follows deputy U.S. Marshall Raylan as he enforces his own brand of justice in eastern Kentucky.
But, after watching the thrilling opening shootout scene on X, it’s no wonder that the series has got comments such as @staringindis who said: ‘Fantastic series. Fantastic. Rewatch this instead of ANYTHING recently made. Olyphant and Goggins were epic characters.’
@TheCinesthetic added: ‘The opening scene of justified wastes no time — a tense standoff, a quick draw, and raylan givens defined in a single moment. a masterclass in character introduction and tone-setting.’
In addition, @Senor3ringsWitt wrote: ‘One of my favorite shows of all time.’
Killing Eve
Killing Eve, on the other hand, is certainly a show I have heard of before.
Written by Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller Bridge, the BBC series follows Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh) who is tasked with tracking down Villanelle (Jodie Comer), who is a psychopathic assassin.
Despite fans sharing their fury over the finale, Eve’s pursuit of Villanelle leads into a complex cat-and-mouse thriller as they develop a fascination with each other.
Commenting on Reddit, maribel-moggie said: ‘Killing Eve! Sooooo good.’
Crybaby_0512 added: ‘Watched this! Kind of lost interest at the end but was sooo good in the beginning!’
Fresh-Meat3213 also said: ‘They took too long releasing the last season, i kinda forgot what it was all about. I love Eve and Villanelle though.’
House of Cards
Another series that grabbed viewers attention right from the start is Netflix’s House of Cards.
Following the ruthless political maneuvering of Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey), the series takes a look at the slimey corridors of power in The White House in Washington D.C.
Exploring themes of betrayal, corruption and manipulation, the show’s opening scene features a devilish voiceover from Spacey’s character that just compels you to continue watching.
Commenting on X,@Nostalgia150360 wrote: ‘Kevin Spacey as Frank Underwood in House of Cards was devilishly brilliant.
‘The was this very first clip with the introduction of Spacey from the first pilot episode as he had me hooked from this scene until his departure from the show.’
Lost
There’s a strong argument to be made that the first season of Lost is one of the most thrilling series that has ever been made.
Following the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 after their plane crashes on a mysterious island in the Pacific Ocean, it’s impossible not to be gripped by this terrifying situation.
Towards the end of the series, fans of the show have long debated whether it completely derails, but if you’re looking for a high impact start then look no further than JJ Abrams’ twisted creation.
Writing on X, @TheCinesthetic said: ‘Lost remains one of the greatest TV series ever—its intricate storytelling and unforgettable characters left a lasting impact, even if its polarizing finale still sparks debate.’
@Iilithsternin added: ‘I just think that LOST is the best show ever made and I really hope all upcoming new watchers can understand that or I will be sad.’
Meanwhile, negcap commented on Reddit: ‘Rewatching it now for the first time since it originally aired and it’s still so good. I’m jealous that my wife can’t remember anything so it’s all new to her.’
Mr Robot
Mr Robot has another fascinating premise that immediately thrusts you into its dark world of hacking and tech.
Charting the journey of Elliot Alderson (Rami Malek), who is a young cybersecurity engineer in New York, Sam Esmail’s series manages to balance an emotional mental health struggle with a thrilling vigilante hacker storyline.
It also follows Elliot as he is recruited by Mr Robot to join his hacktivist group.
Discussing the show online, fans did point out how it lost its way towards its conclusion, but seasons 1 and 2 were as thrilling as anything they had watched.
Writing on X, @mrsxkati said: ‘Mr Robot has hands down the best representation of mental illness.’
Meanwhile, @ks_moody added that Mr Robot has one of the best starts ‘and then it did a slooooooow steady decline into nothing.’
Mad Men
Unlike Mr Robot, Mad Men certainly does not falter towards the end.
Created by Matthew Weiner, its seven seasons are an utter joy to watch.
Centering on Don Draper (Jon Hamm), the show treats us to a look at advertising agencies in 1960s New York.
Exploring the social and cultural issues in this era as well as Draper’s secret affairs and pressures to maintain a successful image, it’s fair to say the show had fans hooked from the start.
Writing on X, @Nostalgia150360 wrote: ‘Mad Men with the greatness of Jon Hamm but everything from the brilliant writing to the cast to the period piece was perfection.
‘I was a little late to the Mad Men party but once I saw this pilot episode and this scene I’m particular… I got it.’
‘But the scene with the nostalgic Wheel aka Carousel was when this show became my personal all time favorite show.’
Dead to Me
Last but not least, Dead to Me is this list’s final choice for instantly gripping you from the start.
Starring Christina Applegate as Jen Harding and Linda Cardellini as Judy Hale, Dead to Me has received high praise since it initially aired in 2019.
The series follows Jen who grieves the death of her husband and seeks support in a grief group.
However, after befriending Judy, the pair’s messy personal lives become intertwined and secrets about both their husband’s deaths start to spill out.
Taking to Reddit, Macncheesesounds wrote: ‘I became addicted after the first episode. Just enough thrill, comedy & mystery that I like. I binged all three seasons within a few weeks.’
G01ngDutch also added: ‘Excellent suggestion, it’s so funny too.’
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