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An opening episode of any new show is a highly important one, especially if the show isn't based on any pre-existing franchise, so the audience has no idea what to expect. If the first episode isn't compelling enough, the viewers will most likely not finish watching it or won't return to the series to watch the next episode because they have so many options to choose from.
With the rise of streaming services, it's even more crucial for the shows to hook in the audience right from the start. While not every science fiction show managed it, some of them have truly excellent opening episodes that don't disappoint even during a re-watch!
5 Black Mirror
Science fiction anthologies have both the disadvantage and advantage of working with a different story in each episode. That means that each episode can be better than the previous one but also that a great opening episode doesn't necessarily guarantee that the rest of the stories will be as good. Fortunately, Black Mirror maintains high quality over all five seasons.
The first episode, National Anthem, doesn't paradoxically contain that many science fiction elements, and it's possible something like this could happen in real life. That only makes the story more chilling. Britain's Prime Minister is forced to do something unspeakable when the Princess is kidnaped, or she'll die. His actions change his life forever, and not for the best. The episode is brutal and fascinating and has the power to make the audience consider how much importance is put on social media and television broadcast.
4 Futurama
Animated science fiction TV shows usually aren't as prominent as the live-action ones, but Futurama is one of the few exceptions to this rule. It became a popular show shortly after its release, and as a result, was renewed even after its cancellation after the fifth season. The show brings the audience to year 3000 where Philip J. Fry wakes up after he's been accidentally frozen and slept for a thousand years. Fry builds a new life and starts working as a delivery boy as he and his crew go on many adventures.
The series is full of humor and memorable characters, such as Fry's new best friend, the stealing, drinking and everything-bending robot Bender. The first episode introduces the audience not just to the main characters but also to the wonderful world of the future and is just as hilarious as the future episodes, making it easy to get invested in the show right from the start. It helps that Matt Groening, the creator of The Simpsons, had his rich experience with his previous show to rely on when he began working on Futurama.
3 Heroes
These days, superhero TV shows are a common occurrence, but that wasn't always the case outside of realm of animated stories. In the mid-2000s, Heroes presented a major breakthrough on TV for the live-action superhero genre. The first episode introduces many of the main characters but does so in an understandable and intriguing way. It never becomes too complex or slow-paced even though it jumps between various characters.
It also manages to hint strongly at the fact that something bad will happen unless the powered people don't stop it. Combined with the solid acting performances, the opening episode is enough to hook the viewers and keep them interested until the end of season one - that many fans of the show consider the best one. Heroes got even more traction when the villainous Sylar played by Zachary Quinto showed up but even before that, the show was already doing well - much better than its sequel Heroes Reborn that was canceled after just one season in 2016.
2 Misfits
Heroes weren't the only superhero show that managed to become successful even before the MCU, the DCEU and the Arrowverse made it big. Unlike in other superhero series, the characters in Misfits didn't want to be heroes, they just wanted to survive their community service and move on. But when they got special powers during a strange storm, things changed forever for them, and not always for the better.
The first episode introduced the characters, all of whom were very different, gave them their powers and also had them fight for their lives. The charged dynamic between the characters as well as the fast pace helped Misfits make a fun watch right from the start, and the fact that the protagonists could be considered villainous also added an extra lawyer to the show that other superhero series don't have. As a dark comedy, Misfits had the power to make the viewers laugh in the opening episode and after, as well as look on in terror as it wasn't clear which character would survive and which one would die.
1 Red Dwarf
Another British science fiction show that fans of this genre shouldn't miss is the now-iconic sitcom Red Dwarf. Dave Lister is the third technician, the lowest ranking officer on the ship. Yet he also remains the last surviving member of the crew when everybody else dies in a catastrophe. When Lister wakes up from the stasis three million years later, he discovers that his only company is the holographic version of his annoying colleague and roommate Arnold Rimmer and Cat, the creature that evolved from Lister's cat.
Together, the unusual crew starts their long journey back to Earth. The opening episode doesn't shy away from dark humor (such as when Lister discovers that everyone else died) but it's accessible to a wide audience thanks to its intelligent story and compelling characters. The clashes between them are some of the funniest moments in the series, and Red Dwarf continues in similar fashion for the rest of the show that currently has twelve seasons in total.