Ep 1. Pilot

Enlisted Season 1 Episode 1, titled Pilot, introduces the viewers to three brothers who have joined the United States Army. The eldest brother, Sergeant Pete Hill, played by Geoff Stults, is a highly skilled soldier who has recently been demoted to a rear detachment unit and assigned to lead a group of military misfits. Randy Hill, the middle brother portrayed by Parker Young, is a loyal soldier and a bit of a hothead. Lastly, Derrick Hill (Chris Lowell) is the youngest brother who has a tendency to shy away from conflict.

The episode begins with the Hill brothers arriving at the Fort McGee army base in Florida. We see a brief glimpse into their personalities as they make their way through the base, Randy talking to anyone who will listen, Pete trying to keep his brothers focused, and Derrick being overwhelmed by the whole experience. Their reunion is short-lived as Pete is assigned to lead the rear detachment, the group of soldiers who are left behind when their unit is deployed. This is a tough pill for Pete to swallow as he sees it as a punishment for an incident that occurred during his previous deployment.

As the new leader of the rear detachment, Pete meets his team of soldiers, and things get off to a bumpy start. Pete is frustrated with the lack of discipline and motivation from his new team, and they are equally dismissive of his rigid military style. However, despite their initial reluctance to work together, Pete’s team comes to respect him when he saves them from fresh air poisoning.

The episode takes us through the brothers' experiences at Fort McGee. We see Randy's difficulties with keeping his temper in check while being bullied by a fellow soldier. He is eventually pushed to his breaking point and gets into a physical altercation. Derrick, on the other hand, struggles with the physical demands of army life. He doubts his ability to be a capable soldier and, through his interactions with some of the other soldiers, learns that he is not alone in his self-doubt.

Pete's journey continues as he tries to gain the respect of his team and become a better leader. His efforts are put to the test when his team is tasked with preparing a surprise welcome party for the returning soldiers. Their preparations go awry, but with Pete’s guidance, they are able to improvise and put together a successful party.

The episode ends with the brothers sharing a moment of camaraderie as they celebrate a successful day. Pete begins to see the rear detachment as more than just a punishment and starts to develop a sense of pride in leading his team. Randy finds an unexpected ally in the soldier who was bullying him, and Derrick gains confidence in his abilities as a soldier.

Overall, the Pilot episode of Enlisted sets up the premise of the series and introduces us to the Hill brothers and their journey in the army. The episode touches on themes such as leadership, teamwork, and self-doubt, providing an engaging and relatable storyline. It also provides a glimpse into the challenges faced by soldiers in the army and the importance of teamwork and trust in overcoming those challenges.