Ep 1. The Informer

In the first episode of Hogan's Heroes, titled "The Informer," viewers are introduced to the main character, Colonel Hogan, a crafty American officer who leads a group of Allied prisoners of war in a German camp during World War II. The show is a comedy that satirizes the Nazis and lampoons their arrogance, while also highlighting the ingenuity and bravery of the prisoners of war who use their wits to undermine their captors.

The episode opens with Hogan receiving a new inmate, a British intelligence agent named Flight Lieutenant James Richard Dunbar. Dunbar has been captured by the Germans while attempting to infiltrate their ranks, and Hogan offers to help him escape. Dunbar informs Hogan that he has vital information that could turn the tide of the war and that he needs to get back to England as soon as possible to deliver it. Hogan agrees to help him, but he quickly realizes that one of his own men may be working as a spy for the Germans.

Hogan orders his men to investigate each other to discover who might be the infiltrator. The group soon discovers that one of their members, a French resistance fighter named LeBeau, has been sending messages to the Germans in exchange for food and medicine. Hogan confronts LeBeau, and they come to an agreement where LeBeau will continue to work as an informant for Hogan, but this time, he will be passing on false information to the Germans.

Meanwhile, Hogan comes up with a plan to get Dunbar out of the camp. He decides to have Dunbar impersonate a German officer and escape during a visit from Major Hochstetter, a high-ranking Gestapo officer who is investigating the prisoners' activities. Hogan's cunning plan involves a fake uniform, a lot of quick thinking, and a little bit of luck. Will Dunbar make it out alive, and will Hogan manage to uncover the true identity of the informant before it's too late?

Overall, the first episode of Hogan's Heroes is a lighthearted, entertaining romp that introduces viewers to the absurd world of a German prisoner of war camp. The characters are charming, and the humor is witty and often slapstick, with plenty of physical comedy and one-liners. The show does not take itself seriously, and it pokes fun at the German army's bumbling and incompetent leadership. While the show may not be for everyone due to its comedic take on a serious historical period, it provides an enjoyable escape from reality and is a must-watch for fans of classic sitcoms.