Ep 1. Pilot

In Trial & Error season 1 episode 1 titled "Pilot," viewers are introduced to a small Southern town called East Peck. The episode opens with a black screen and a voiceover of a female stating the town's motto: "If you're lucky enough to live in East Peck, you're lucky enough." The camera then pans to a painting of a dead man in the courtroom before the judge informs the jury that they are ready to begin the trial of Larry Henderson.

Larry is a beloved member of the town, who is known for running a local store and being an avid birdwatcher. He is accused of killing his wife Margaret with a hatchet and has chosen eccentric New York lawyer Josh Segal to represent him. Josh is thrilled to have his first lead on a case but is surprised when he arrives in East Peck to find out that he is the entire legal team.

The episode follows Josh's attempts to familiarize himself with the case and meet the residents of East Peck, who are all more than a little odd. The local sheriff who arrested Larry, Sheriff Cannon, is more interested in selling his homemade hot sauce than the case's details. Josh also meets Anne Flatch, Larry's assistant, and the only witness to the murder. She communicates mainly through drawings, and Josh has a hard time understanding what she means.

As Josh conducts his investigation, he uncovers several oddities in the case. For starters, the crime scene is in the couple's bedroom, which is decorated entirely in clown paraphernalia. Also, the autopsy report reveals that some of Margaret's missing limbs were not present at the crime scene, adding suspicion that a wild animal might have been involved in the killing. Moreover, Anne's account of what she saw differs significantly from the Sheriff's original report.

Josh enlists the help of his investigative team, which includes a private investigator named Dwayne Reed and a research assistant named Anne's adopted son, young but brilliant researcher Lavinia Peck-Foster. Together, they work to unravel the mystery of Margaret's death before Larry is found guilty and sentenced to death.

Throughout the episode, the humor is constant, as the locals of East Peck engage in amusing behavior and make amusing statements. Some of the strange characters include a man who fakes his own death to avoid paying his bills, a woman who speaks with a southern twang, a judge who falls asleep during the court proceedings, and a man who is a compulsive bike rider with limited vocabulary.

The Pilot episode of Trial & Error is an excellent mix of quirky characters, absurd situations, and clever humor that will leave audiences eager to watch the next episode. The episode sets the tone for an entertaining and satisfying season as it sets the stage for Larry's trial while also uncovering amusing details about the case. It does an excellent job of introducing the quirky characters of East Peck while planting the seeds for ongoing storylines.