The first episode (the “pilot”) of most dramas isn’t a great measure because they have to do so much work to a setup the world and the characters. So they can b

The first episode (the “pilot”) of most dramas isn’t a great measure because they have to do so much work to a setup the world and the characters. So they can be very workman-like as they’re intended first and foremost to sell executives on the show. I honestly don’t like watching most pilots so I’ve trained myself to at least give shows two episodes to compensate. Comedy is different. If the first episode isn’t funny it rarely improves imho. One doesn’t build a funny character slowly; the human frailties that make them funny are obvious, typically to everyone but them.