History Main / NonIndicativeFirstEpisode

* The first two episodes of ''WesternAnimation/TwelveOunceMouse'' were much [[RandomEventsPlot random]] and frenetic than the rest of the series, being also entirely comedic, giving the impression it was another absurd gag series in the same vein of stuff like ''WesternAnimation/AquaTeenHungerForce''. However, from the third episode onwards, while still keeping the comedy, the series begins to introduce thriller and mystery elements, starting to develop its plot and keeping a sense of continuity between each episode, disregard of its overall weirdness.

* The first two episodes of ''WesternAnimation/TwelveOunceMouse'' were much [[RandomEventsPlot random]] and frenetic than the rest of the series, being also entirely comedic, giving the impression it was another absurd comedy series in the same vein of stuff like ''WesternAnimation/AquaTeenHungerForce''. However, from the third episode onwards, while still comedi, the series begins to introduce thriller and mystery elements, starting to develop its plot and keeping a sense of continuity between each episode, disregard of its overall weirdness.

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]

** In chronological order, which is how most viewers will be viewing the series at this point, similarly hides the show's quirky sci-fi, [[GenreBusting genre busting] nature by painting it was your typical high school club anime.

* ''WesternAnimation/WinxClub'' is an example of "non indicative first ''thirteen episodes''". It appears to be a fantasy adventure series about three magic schools, and the adventures of Bloom, and the four friends she makes. Then Bloom's DisappearedDad comes up...[[note]]It takes a total of [[ArcFatigue three seasons (specifically, 78 episodes) and one movie]] in order for them to finally reunite; something that may or may not have ever happened if the show had been suddenly canceled...[[/note]]

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' had its first two episodes appear to be a ponified version of a MagicalGirl series. Although episodes can have adventure elements (especially when any more 2-parters get thrown in), it's far more of a Slice of Life series instead.[[note]][[DependingOnTheWriter Except when it's not.]][[/note]]

* ''WesternAnimation/WinxClub'' is an example of "non indicative first 13 episodes". It appears to be a fantasy advanture series about three magic schools, and the adventures of Bloom, and the four friends she makes, then Bloom's DisappearedDad comes up...[[note]]It takes a total of [[ArcFatigue three seasons (specifically, 78 episodes) and one movie]] in order for them to finally reunite; something that may or may not have ever happened if the show had been suddenly canceled...[[/note]]

* ''The Melancholy of LightNovel/HaruhiSuzumiya'' starts with "The Adventures of Mikuru Asahina", a painfully low-budget, [[BadBadActing badly-acted]], and terribly directed and edited student film that combines StylisticSuck with as many clichéd anime genres it can think of (MagicalGirl shows, HighSchool comedy, {{Shojo}} romance, etc). However, it's actually {{foreshadowing}} several key plot points in the ''real'' story (which starts with the next episode), with the brief lapses in the {{Masquerade}} serving as plot hooks.
** The chronologically first episode (which you'll likely see first if you're watching them online) is even worse. It's painted out to be a typical high school anime. Stick with it. It gets much better.
*** The series is [[GenreBusting genre busting]] anyway. There ''are'' episodes that feel like a typical high school anime in there.

** The chronologically first episode (which you'll likely see if you're watching them online) is even worse. It's painted out to be a typical high school anime. Stick with it. It gets much better.

* Apparently invoked for ''WesternAnimation/BobsBurgers'': the creators knew that Fox would never pick up the kind of intelligent, progressive SliceOfLife show they were pitching, and deliberately made the pilot more juvenile and ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy''-esque so that Fox would pick it up. Once they did, and it was too late for Fox to back out, they promptly set about making the show they ''really'' wanted to make.

* The first chapter of ''{{Manga/Noragami}}'' was a stand-alone story featuring a different female lead and some other supernatural elements that were [[DroppedAfterThePilot never seen again]]. The anime adaptation therefore [[RetGone skipped the first chapter entirely]] save for one scene and started with Chapter 2.

* The pilot of ''Series/{{Flashpoint}}'' features a case in which Parker is unable to even open negotiations due to a language barrier (the subject only speaks Croatian and the interpreter is stuck in traffic), attempts to communicate through his son never get off the ground, and Ed has to take a sniper shot to save the hostage. ''Flashpoint'' as a show was all about negotiation, with a sniper shot being seen as an option of last resort only; in fact, the following episode features the team getting frustrated with [[EagerRookie newcomer]] Sam Braddock because of his repeated suggestions that they resolve a hostage situation with force rather than giving Parker a chance to negotiate.

* The DVD box art combined with the first episode of the anime ''VideoGame/{{Gungrave}}'' makes you think this will be a GrimDark show about an old lone gunman fighting evil, right? Guess what, the majority of the series from that point on is a giant flashback that shows how two small-time thieves rise up through a mafia-like organization to the point where it reaches the time of the first episode.

* The first episode of ''Anime/TheTowerOfDruaga: The Aegis of Uruk'' is an out and out parody of fantasy videogame and anime cliches. [[spoiler:Turns out it was AllJustADream after the hero got knocked out in the first fight]].

* [[Manga/GakkouGurashi School Live]] begins with a light-hearted story about a young girl who founded a school club which got permission to stay at school from a particularly beloved teacher. As the episode comes to a close, it turns out... The girl is blocking out that a ZombieApocalypse broke out.

* In the ''UpstairsDownstairs'' pilot, a lot of things go just as they go in the show - but Alfred is a creepy, biblically-speaking maid-harassing implied perv. In the actual show he didn't speak any too funnily, and he was made silghtly awkward, non-Bible quoting, secretly {{Gayngst}}ing nice guy who unfortunately was [[ValuesDissonance doomed when he let his deviation out from the closet]].

* The first two episodes of ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' were fairly lighthearted with some SliceOfLife elements, which were dropped after it became DarkerAndEdgier.

* ''WesternAnimation/WinxClub'' is an example of "non indicative first 13 episodes". It appears to be a fantasy advanture series about three magic schools, and the adventures of Bloom, and the four friends she makes, then Bloom's DisappearedDad comes up...[[note]]It takes a total of [[ArcFatigue three seasons (specifically, 78 episodes) and one movie]] in order for them to finally reunite; something that may or may not have ever happened if the show had been suddenly canceled...[[/note]]

* ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' begins with scrolling text about the state of the Maquis, a group of rebels fighting the Federation. The USS ''Voyager'' gets ready to track down a particular group of these bandits and retrieve a Federation officer working undercover. Then both the ''Voyager'' and the bandits get suddenly transported to the literal other end of the galaxy.

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' had its first two episodes appear to be a ponified version of a MagicalGirl series. Although episodes can have adventure elements (especially when any more 2-parters get thrown in), it's far more of a Slice of Life series instead.

* Technically, TearsToTiara (Anime)'s first episode has no indictive of the actual plot. It's a classic hero story until the supposed BigBad becomes the VillainProtagonist in the second episode, and then further from there.