What is your favorite example of a “Lock-in” episode, or the point where a show solidifies in its identity, tone, and feel in a way that confirms it for you as a good show worth watching?

Walkabout episode of Lost

With Succession, I'll probably say that the season finale of S1 >!especially with Kendall's car crash & Logan ordering its cleanup!< is probably the point where it really locks into its tone with capturing the real depths of sleaziness of rich families, but I've heard some others say that S2E3 (Hunting-the Boar On The Floor episode) is where the show hits another level

The Eye (the Aldhani heist) in Andor. While Reckoning (the finale of the Ferrix arc) was also really good, the heist episode is where I realized I was watching something truly different.

Season 1, Episode 7 of Paradise. The show is about how the President is assassinated and one of his secret service members has to figure out how/why it happened. After the first episode you realize that’s only half the premise of the show. Episode 7 is a harrowing, stress-filled episode from beginning to end. The show is really just a pretty good show however that episode should be referenced for any showrunner in future shows on how to do an extremely anxiety-filled episode. Still can’t believe they made an episode like that work so well.

I always thought Avatar the Last Airbender got really good in the two part Winter Solstice episode of the first season. Before that they were working out some things with the tone and how cartoony the show should be. And at the end of the second episode you have a pretty explicit plan for the rest of the series: Aang has to learn all the elements and defeat the fire lord before the comet returns.

Game of Thrones season 1, episode 9. Before that it's a cool witty s*** but still classic high fantasy. When they kill the just and noble main character you understand that this is something new.

Agents of SHIELD, Season 1, episode 17: Turn, Turn, Turn. That's the point where the show caught up to Winter Soldier, and everything finally clicked into place. The show started off a little weak, and was slowly getting better, but that episode really kicked it into gear.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, like most Trek series, has a very uneven first season (albeit kicked off by IMO the strongest pilot episode of the franchise). But it’s the second to last episode of the first season, “Duet,” that truly demonstrates how powerful the core premise can be. It’s also one of the best bottle episodes ever made.

The first two episodes of Lost are really great spectacles. But I'm not sure any episode ever sold me that I was watching something special as episode 3, Walkabout.

"College" from the Sopranos really captures the theme of the show, Tony is a ruthless killer trying to delude himself that he is a family man "Pimento" from Better Call Saul really shifts from a show about a scrappy lawyer to the real conflict of the series (wont spoil it here). Also has a B-plot of Mike getting involved in criminal cartel stuff

Everyone is jumping in with initial episodes, but in the case of The Shield, that is the answer and it is incredible.

Season 1 ending, The Good Place

The plate moment in Breaking Bad

Xena: Destiny (2.12). Like Sam Raimi and Robert Tapert were finally exhaling and saying, "Here's the real show." Guest cast: [Karl Urban (Julius Caesar)]()

HR Trilogy in Person of Interest.

Not sure if its episode 16 or 17 of Agents of Shield, as its been a while, but the turn in the MCU where Hydra was SHIELD was amazing for the show. Gave depth to Agent Ward, who was kind of standard up to that point and destroyed the status quo of SHIELD being everywhere.

True Detective season one episode one.

Invincible, S1E1, last 4-ish minutes. IYKYK.

I liked Breaking Bad from the start but I think the sixth episode, "Crazy Handful of Nothin'" is what sold me as this being something with the potential to be great. It's the first time really where Walt stopped being hapless and agency less and the ruthless "Heisenberg" dangerous criminal side of him really comes out.

The Shield, watch the pilot episode

For a non premier episode. Season 2 episode 9 of star trek the next generation - the measure of a man.

“Two Boats and a Helicopter,” Season 1 Episode 3 of The Leftovers. It’s the first episode all about Matt, and more than the first two episodes it gives you the character driven feeling that will dominate the show. Such a great ep.

Review with Forrest MacNeil- Pancakes, Divorce, Pancakes

The 4th episode of SNL with Candice Bergen as host is where they figured out the formula that would carry it through the next 50+ seasons

The Expanse: Season 1 episode 4 "CQB" The third season really blows the show open, and the 4th is my fav, but that episode is one of my favorites. It really kinda jumps off and we see all of what makes it great; the found family dynamic, the grounded scifi, different ships and battles.... Tons of fans suggest, on your first watch, if you're not digging it give it at least until episode 4.

Season 1 episode 4 of wheel of time.

Better Off Ted "Racial Sensitivity"

The season 1 finale of Babylon 5. All through the first season in the background we've gotten info about the political situation back on Earth. >!The season finale revolves around the crew discovering an assassination plot regarding the Earth President, and that the Vice President is involved. !< >!The crew does everything in their power to alert the president to get him to safety.!< >!They fail and he dies. The show ends with the station commander saying, "Nothing is the same anymore" and the meta-text is that he's talking to the audience there too. This isn't a show that regularly resets to status quo.!<

Community - Debate 109

NOT Episode 1 of Spartacus 😂. First may be the worst episode of the whole show, you only get a glimpse in the last 10 minutes of the vibe the show rolls on with. No telling how many checked out early on it without giving it more of a chance.

“Spartacus: Blood and Sand” Season 1 Episode 4 “The Thing in the Pit.”

Season 1, Episode 7 of Cougar Town: "Don't Come Around Here No More". It's the first episode of what the show becomes, and really sells you on a lot of the characters/shows its heart.

*The Measure of a Man* in season 2 of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Is it the first good episode? Not at all, there are several that came before. But it's the first real contender for "best of the series", and the first one that I felt really exemplified the qualities that would go on to define the show.

GOT right from the first episode that last scene is mind blowing

The Americans nailed it the first episode.

Rick Potion number 7 of Rick and Morty. Until then it just seemed like another raunchy animated series, but this episode made it clear they were willing to go dark and have a overarching plot.

Recency bias but The Pitt is a really solid recent example. First episode immediately locks in.

Taskmaster UK

Family guy where Stewie and Brian are locked in the Safety deposit box vault.