The two-part series premiere of Lost is titled “Pilot.”
The episode introduces the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 after the aircraft crashes on a mysterious island. It establishes Jack Shephard as a central figure and introduces major characters including Kate Austen, John Locke, Charlie Pace, and Sayid Jarrah. The survivors must find shelter, medical assistance, and a way to contact rescue services.
“Pilot” was broadcast in two parts on September 22 and September 29, 2004, on ABC. The first part was directed by J. J. Abrams, who also co-created the series with Damon Lindelof and Jeffrey Lieber. A common mix-up is to call the premiere simply “Episode 1”; its official title is “Pilot,” and it is commonly treated as a two-part opening story. The next episode, “Tabula Rasa,” continues the first season’s immediate aftermath of the crash.