Pilot (Iron Man)

"Pilot" is the first episode of the first season of Iron Man, and the first episode overall. It aired on September 21, 2011.

Synopsis
Tony Stark is a playboy billionaire genius who runs Stark Industries, after inheriting it from his dead father. After an operation in Afghanistan goes wrong, Stark is kidnapped by a group of terrorists named the Ten Rings. Stark recreates a high-tech armor he had programmed at Stark Industries, and escapes using it. Upon his return, he learns Obadiah Stane has attempted a coup and taken Stark's second-in-command Whitney Frost. As Stark battles to keep his company, he also deals with his new desire to help out the people of New York City, including his personal assistant and longtime crush Pepper Potts, best friends Lieutenant James Rhodes and Zeke Stane, and younger sister Olivia Stark.

Main Cast

 * Pedro Pascal as Tony Stark/Iron Man
 * Cassidy Freeman as Pepper Potts
 * Malcolm Barrett as James Rhodes
 * Colin Donnell as Zeke Stane
 * Britt Robertson as Olivia Stark
 * Wynn Everett as Whitney Frost
 * Cary Elwes as Obadiah Stane/Iron Monger

Trivia

 * The pilot received critical acclaim from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, 96% of critics gave the series a positive review, based on 75 reviews. The critical consensus states "Led by an electric performance by Pedro Pascal, Iron Man gets off to an explosive start, with plenty of action and visual effects to spare, without sacrificing the plot or the cast."
 * The episode was viewed by 9.32 million U.S. viewers, and attained a 3.5 in the 18-49 demographic, making it the biggest premiere in ABC's timeslot in years. After seven days of delayed viewing, 13.27 million viewers had watched the pilot, and a 5.3 rating was achieved.