Ep 1. Pilot

Pilot is the first episode of season one of the television series Notorious, an American drama television series which aired from September 22, 2016 to December 8, 2016 on ABC. The series follows the professional and personal relationship between a charismatic defense attorney and a powerhouse television producer as they attempt to control the media, the justice system, and ultimately each other.

In the premiere episode, viewers are introduced to Julia George (Piper Perabo), an executive producer of a popular news show, and Jake Gregorian (Daniel Sunjata), a renowned criminal defense attorney. The two are introduced through an exclusive deal they have made with each other - Julia will provide Jake with access to her show and in turn, he will provide her with inside information on his clients. The episode starts with Julia arriving at Jake's office and making a grand entrance by announcing her exclusive deal with him to the press. This sets the tone for the rest of the episode, which is filled with power struggles and manipulation.

Jake is tasked with defending Oscar Keaton (Kevin Zegers), a handsome young man accused of killing his socialite girlfriend, Sarah Keaton. Sarah's parents are willing to drop the case in exchange for a $10 million settlement, but Oscar insists on proving his innocence. Jake takes on the case, and together he and Julia start strategizing ways to turn the trial into a media circus in order to increase their show's ratings.

Meanwhile, as Julia's producers work to set up interviews and coverage of the trial, she is faced with accusations of rigging stories to increase ratings. The accusations come from one of her former interns, who claims that a story about a female CEO's harassment scandal was fabricated to boost ratings. This subplot adds an additional layer of tension to the episode and complicates Julia's already complicated personal and professional life.

Throughout the episode, viewers are shown glimpses of Julia's friendship with her childhood best friend, Louise Herrick (Kate Jennings Grant). Louise is a successful lawyer who is heavily involved in politics. Her involvement in politics and the fact that she is married to the Chief of Staff is sure to shake things up in upcoming episodes.

As the trial begins, we see Oscar's defense strategy unfold. Jake and his team aim to prove that Sarah's death was not a murder, but an unfortunate accident that occurred during a BDSM session. However, the prosecution does a good job of making Oscar look guilty, presenting evidence that paints him as an emotionally abusive partner who ultimately killed Sarah in a fit of rage. The drama of the trial is heightened when Sarah's father takes the witness stand and presents a damaging testimony against Oscar.

As the first episode comes to a close, viewers are left with an array of questions and cliffhangers. Will Julia be able to maintain her journalistic integrity while also increasing her show's ratings? Will Louise's involvement in politics throw a wrench in Julia's plans? And most importantly, will Jake be able to save Oscar from a life sentence, or will Sarah's father win the case and put him away for good?

Overall, Pilot does an excellent job of setting up all the major plot points for the rest of the season. It introduces viewers to the main characters and their relationships, and sets up the major conflicts that will drive the story forward. The drama is well-balanced with humor and the performances by the cast are excellent, making for an engaging and exciting premiere.