A truly great pilot episode is a kind of magic trick. In under an hour, it has to introduce a world, sketch compelling characters, hint at long-term stakes, and still deliver a self-contained story ...

Spoilers follow for the first three episodes of Prime Video’s Invincible Season 4, which debuts on March 18.

Pilot episodes are difficult to perfect, but some fantasy shows successfully juggle strong world-building with gripping hooks, resulting in spotless openers. Pilots have a lot riding on them, ...