The Pilot Principle

A murder occurs in the residence of the White House, and Cordelia Cupp (the best detective in the world) is on the case. Will episode one of The Residence convince you to stick around and discover whodunnit?__________________________Network: NetflixGenre: Cosy CrimeEpisode Length: 51 minutesAs always, chat with me over on Instagram and Twitter @pilotprinciple or go wild and email me: [email protected] Website: JustJenReviews.comLetterboxd: JustJen02

A family is torn apart when 13-year-old Jamie is arrested on suspicion of murder. Will the pilot convince you to follow this gripping one-shot drama to its conclusion?______________________________Network: NetflixGenre: DramaEpisode Length: 65 minutesAs always, chat with me over on Instagram and Twitter @pilotprinciple or go wild and email me: [email protected] Website: JustJenReviews.comLetterboxd: JustJen02

With a stalker under their feet, this pilot gives the term 'nightmare neighbours' a new meaning. However, despite a series length of three episodes, will the pilot episode convince you to keep watching?________________________Network: Prime VideoGenre: Suspense DramaEpisode Length: 55 minutesAs always, chat with me over on Instagram and Twitter @pilotprinciple or go wild and email me: [email protected]

If you don't have it - take it. These are the words to live by on Steven Knight's gritty East London streets. However, will you stick around to find out if this motley crew of thieves and dreamers get what they deserve?______________________________________________________Network: Disney+Genre: Historical DramaEpisode Length: 50 minutesAs always, chat with me over on Instagram and Twitter @pilotprinciple or go wild and email me: [email protected] Website: JustJensReviews.comLetterboxd: JustJen02

Robert Di Nero plays an ex-president tasked with unmasking those behind a nationwide act of cyberterrorism. Will this latest political conspiracy thriller have you wound up in its mysteries, or switching off after episode one?________________________________________________________Network: NetflixGenre: ThrillerEpisode Length: 49 minutesAs always, chat with me over on Instagram and Twitter @pilotprinciple or go wild and email me: [email protected] my film reviews over at JustJensReviews.com

Some letters bring fond memories. Others reveal secrets best left forgotten. However, will you stick with Cassandra and find out what her sister, Jane Austen, wrote to her friend Eliza? ___________________________________________________________ Network: BBC One Genre: Period Drama Episode Length: 50 minutes As always, chat with me over on Instagram and Twitter @pilotprinciple or go wild and email me: [email protected]

Xavier Collins has one job, and let's just say it's not going well. As the last person to see the President alive, can Collins figure out what happened before the clock runs out? And will this mystery convince you to watch past the pilot episode? __ Network: Disney+ (UK), Hulu (US) Genre: Thriller/Drama Episode Length: 50 minutes As always, chat with me over on Instagram and Twitter @pilotprinciple or go wild and email me: ⁠[email protected]

In 1857, while Mormon men fight over Utah Territory, one woman begins a perilous journey in search of safety for her and her son. Will they make it across treacherous terrain with their monosyllabic guide? ____________________________________________________________ Network: Netflix Genre: Gritty Western Episode Length: 50 minutes As always, you can chat TV, Film and Books with me over on Instagram and Twitter @pilotprinciple or go wild and email me: [email protected]

A new police procedural comes to Prime Video. A lot goes down on day one in the field, but will the adventures of Officer Traci Harmon and Training Officer Alex Diaz convince you to keep watching until the training wheels come off? Network: Prime Video Genre: Police Procedural Episode Length: 30 minutes ____________________________________________________________ As always, chat with me over on Instagram and Twitter @pilotprinciple or go wild and email me: [email protected]

Detective Inspector Kat Donovan has plenty of mysteries to unravel: Why was her father murdered? Why did her fiancé vanish without a trace? Will you tune into Harlan Coben’s latest Netflix thriller to uncover the truth?

Whether you're a TV superfan or just looking for your next binge-worthy show over the festive period, this episode is jam packed. We talk film, TV and book recommendations as well as going over the latest award-season buzz. ____________________________________________________________ If you want more in depth thoughts on any of the films or books mentioned then find me over on... JustJensReviews.com Letterboxd: JustJen02 Goodreads: JustJen02

Adapted from the novel One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez. Episode one shows a glimpse into the life of the Buendia family. However will the start of their story entice you to keep watching? Netflix's new sprawling tale filled with magical realism.

All this spy wants for Christmas is revenge. Will you stick around past episode one to find out if they get it? Netflix's new thriller series stars Kiera Knightly, Ben Whishaw and Sarah Lancashire.

Dune: Prophecy, the prequel series that rewinds the clock to destiny's original children, the Bene Gesserit. This self-serving sisterhood plant the seeds for big plans in the pilot episode, however, will you stick around and find out if those plans bear fruit?

Set during The Troubles in Northern Ireland and based on real events, can the story of Dolours Price and the mystery of Jean McConville convince you to watch the entire series?

A high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse unfolds as an elusive elite assassin gets on the radar of a tenacious British Intelligence Agent. A suspenseful espionage thriller starring Eddie Redmayne and Lashana Lynch. Will you be tuning into this Sky Atlantic series after the pilot?

In Tyler Perry latest drama, Beauty in Black, we meet Kimmie, a woman hoping to escape the bad hand life has dealt her through millionaire mogul, Malory Ballarie and her Beauty in Black salon school. Will you stick around past episode one and find out if both women get what they deserve? Joining us is TV Producer and Content Creator Satema Tarawally to unpack Uncle Perry's individual storytelling style and offer a handful of recommendations of the latest film, TV and Podcasts you should have on your radar.

High society drama based on Dame Jilly Cooper’s best-selling novel Rivals. Meet Lord Tony Baddingham and Rupert Campbell-Black, two posh and powerful neighbours locked in an intense rivalry in the idyllic town of Rutshire. Their feud heats up in episode one, but will you stick around for the series and find out who comes out on top in their battle for dominance?

Rhiannon's life goes from bad to worse. Tired of being pushed around and ignored, this unassuming 'sweetpea' shows she's got claws. Will you stick around to find out if she settles the ultimate score?

In the second season of BBC One's sociological anthology, a new legal case raises an ongoing debate: how do you defend someone already convicted by public opinion? Will you stick around to see how the courts rule or have you condemned the series after just the pilot episode?

Based on a true story, in 1985 a down-on-her-luck single mother, tired of waiting for life to throw her a break, decides to write her own rules. Will you stick around after episode one to discover whether this series is a hidden gem?

The second anthology in Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan's Monsters project explores the tragic and horrifying Menendez brothers, Lyle and Erik. Will you stick around to uncover the dark secrets that drove them to murder, or will you be putting this one to bed before the truth gets too disturbing to bear?

Let's dive into Nightsleeper, the BBC’s latest real-time drama. A sleeper train hurtles from Glasgow to London, and the clock is ticking for the passengers trapped onboard, and for us. Is episode one thrilling enough to keep you hooked beyond the pilot episode?

On this Pilot Special, we pay tribute to the 20th-anniversary of the pilot that introduced us to Veronica Mars—the ultimate sass queen and teen sleuth. Whether you are a die-hard fan or new to the series, join us as we rewind the clock to the early 2000s and head back to Neptune, California to see if episode one of this cult classic show still holds up.

Based on the play by Colin Bateman, Bag For Life. Cathy slowly becomes obsessed with Michael, the man responsible for her brother's death. Available on BBC Northern Ireland and BBC iPlayer.

Welcome to The Pilot Principle, the podcast that dives deep into the very first episodes of TV shows to uncover whether they’re worth your time. With so many shows and so little time, we break down what makes or breaks a pilot, helping you decide if the series is a must-watch or a hard pass. Join us as we explore the hits and misses of TV’s biggest premieres, offering insights, laughs, and plenty of recommendations.

Join me as we look back at the 27 TV pilots I've reviewed from the first half of 2024. Discover which shows perhaps deserve a second chance and which ones you'll be glad you skipped. Finally, before I head OOO until September, I'll crown the best show and pilot reviewed for season one of The Pilot Principle.

Pippa Fitz-Amobi can't let sleeping dogs lie. Five years after the Andie Bell case was supposedly closed, she suspects there's much more to the story. Based on Holly Jackson's best-selling novel "A Good Girl's Guide to Murder," watch new episodes on BBC One and stream on BBC iPlayer.

Meet Michael, Andre, Tazer, Sabrina and Rod, five ordinary South Londoners who unlock inner super abilities. Will the pilot episode convince you to watch how their superhero journeys unfold? Available to watch now on Netflix UK

Discover the story behind the 2013 LA Clippers scandal. However, will the pilot episode hook you into the drama, or will you choose to tune into the original podcast that this new FX series is based, for the full scoop?

High school isn't in a playground for wealthy kids in the top 0.01%. They operate by a different set of rules, one where the stakes are as high as life and death. Welcome to Jooshin High but will you be sticking around after listening to the pilot review for this new Korean Drama?

Episode One: The Prodidgal Grandaughter Returns Queenie is just trying to get through the day, but the obstacles keep piling up and it's getting harder to see the light on the other side. Based on the popular novel of the same name by Candice Carty-Williams

In 80s New York, a boy goes missing and questions about who's to blame and why he could have been taken arise in Netflix's new drama thriller series from the mind of Abi Morgan.

Gymnastics and jealousy go hand in hand for two teens from different sides of the tracks in Channel 4's new drama. However, flips and tricks aside, can the pilot episode convince you to continue with the series and find out exactly what went down at that gathering...?

It's time to pay the piper, or in Charlie Croker's case, the bank. However, has episode one convinced you to stick around and find out if this Atlanta tycoon charms his way out of the red?

An officer and an outsider is determined to pry open the secrets of the bizarre island of St. Jory. After watching the pilot, will you stick around to find out the big mystery or will you be heading back to the mainland and leaving the islanders to it?

It's time to catch flights and solve mysteries on a plane from London to Beijing. The clock may be ticking for Jing Lusi and Richard Armitage who star in ITV 1's new action thriller series, but will you be flying in its business or will you be remaining on the runway after episode one?

Welcome to a new world, set 219 years after the one we all know. Lucy, Maximus and The Ghoul are three very different individuals on the precipice of starting a journey into the unknown of a post-apocalyptic world. From the mind of Jonathan Nolan.

It's 1981 and Birmingham is tethering on the edge of an uprising. In the eye of the storm, oblivious, is Dante, a young poet with a broken heart and a head full of birdsong. Steven Knight takes us back to familiar cobbled streets, but will you keep watching beyond episode one?

Nell Jackson stirs up trouble with the local bully and toff, when she arrives home to Tottenham after the war. But will the pickle she puts herself in have you turning up for episode two, or turning your back after episode one? Louisa Harland is Nell Jackson in Disney Plus' new fantasy drama series.

The clock is ticking, but what is it counting down to and what is at stake? Episode one of Netflix's new science fiction drama based on the novel by Cixin Liu will leave you with many questions. However, will you intrigued enough to continue or befuddled enough to quit after the pilot episode?

Comedy, satire, and crime come knocking on the door of the English Aristocracy in Guy Ritchie's, The Gentlemen. However, does the pilot episode end on a high or will you be going cold turkey?

Mary Villiers challenges norms as a second son's fate takes an unexpected turn in the 1600s. With Mother knowing best, George faces a new reality. Has the pilot episode convinced you to tune into Sky Atlantic's latest series?

In the year 1600, we are swept up into the start of Japan's leadership shift and trade with Europe. The pilot episode teases what could be an epic, transformative era with historically shaping events. However, will you stick around to see how it unfolds?

Whether you're a fan of the original animated series or are new to the world of Avatar - Will the pilot episode convince you to join the 'GAang' on their live-action adventure?

July 15th 1988, marks the beginning of a new chapter for Emma and Dexter. Will you continue with their voyage or wave them off after episode one?

What will be harder for our newly weds to navigate - marriage or espionage. It may be till death do they part, but will you be sticking around after the pilot episode?

Something witchy this way comes... but will you be following the mystery surrounding Domino Day beyond the pilot episode?

Griselda Blanco transforms from a woman running from her past to a woman choosing to take a stand. However, will you be standing with her or taking flight, after episode one?

Will this reimagined continuation of the classic Dicken's tale spin a convincing narrative to keep you watching past episode one - or will you be artfully dodging this series altogether?