Ep 1. Pilot

Hunter is an American crime drama television series that revolves around the life of a Los Angeles Police Department detective named Rick Hunter, who is determined to bring criminals to justice. Though he may have his own unorthodox methods, he always gets the job done and his number one priority is keeping the people of Los Angeles safe.

The pilot episode of the show is aptly titled "Pilot" and it premiered on September 18, 1984. It introduces us to the main character, Rick Hunter, and sets up the premise for the rest of the series.

The episode opens with Hunter and his partner, Detective Dee Dee McCall, in hot pursuit of a drug dealer who has just shot and killed two people. The chase leads them into a shopping mall, where Hunter corners the suspect on the roof. In the ensuing struggle, the suspect falls to his death, but not before taunting Hunter, "You're going to wish you never came on this job...Hunter!" This sets up the primary conflict of the series- a bitter feud between Hunter and the criminal underworld.

As Hunter returns to his precinct, he learns that the drug dealer he killed was a suspect in a series of murders of prostitutes. Hunter makes it his mission to solve the case and bring the killer to justice.

Meanwhile, we are introduced to one of the recurring characters of the show, Hunter's former partner, Charles "Charlie" Devane, who has been promoted to lieutenant. Charlie is a by-the-book cop who disapproves of Hunter's methods and doesn't want him anywhere near the case. However, Hunter ignores Charlie's orders and begins to investigate the murders on his own.

As Hunter delves deeper into the case, he becomes convinced that the killer is a man named Vernon Terwilliger, a wealthy businessman with ties to the drug trade. Hunter manages to get a search warrant for Terwilliger's estate and, after a tense standoff, Terwilliger is arrested.

However, the case takes a startling turn when a woman comes forward claiming to be the real killer. She provides evidence that clear Terwilliger and implicates herself in the murders. Hunter and McCall are shocked by the revelation and must race against time to prevent her from jumping bail and escaping justice.

The episode ends on a cliffhanger, with Hunter and McCall trying to track down the female killer before she can disappear.

Overall, the pilot episode of Hunter is a thrilling and fast-paced introduction to the series. It sets up the primary conflict, introduces us to the main characters, and leaves us eager to see what lies ahead for Hunter and his team.