Ep 1. Episode 1

The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a British sci-fi comedy series that hit the screens in 1981. It is based on Douglas Adams’ eponymous book series, which he wrote while also working as a BBC Radio producer.

The show follows the adventures of an unwitting Earthman called Arthur Dent, who hitchhikes through the Universe after the Earth is destroyed to make way for a hyperspace bypass. Along the way, he is joined by a ragtag group of intergalactic travelers, including Ford Prefect, an eccentric alien writer for the titular guide, and Zaphod Beeblebrox, the two-headed alien President of the Galaxy.

Episode 1 starts with Arthur Dent's house being destroyed by bulldozers without the slightest warning, as the city council wants to construct a bypass on that land. Meanwhile, Arthur's friend Ford Prefect turns up to rescue him before Earth is destroyed to make way for a hyper-efficient intergalactic bypass. Arthur stubbornly refuses to believe his friend's warnings as they grab a few essentials, escaping Earth just in time as it is imploded by Vogons to make way for the bypass.

As they leave Earth, Arthur Dent is plunged into an extraordinary adventure that changes his life completely. Together they embark on a journey through the galaxy, encountering planet-sized supercomputers, doomed planets, intergalactic geopolitical powers as well as the famous Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. It is in the Guide that they find a description of the way the Universe ends – not with a bang but with a whimper. They also encounter a depressed robot, Marvin, who is a genius but has become bored during his thousands of years of service.

As they all hitchhike through space, they come across a hyperspace express route that they must take to reach their next destination. However, as they're running late for their train, the friends take a teleportation device to take a shortcut through hyperspace, which is highly dangerous, and the Enterprise shuttle disappears from existence. They're plummeted into a subspace during the ordeal. Soon they find themselves inside the Heart of Gold, a stolen ship with an "Infinite Improbability Drive," which can make the impossible happen with the pull of a button. The ship is also equipped with a "Total Perspective Vortex," which is so unpleasant that anyone who enters it has their entire knowledge of the Universe replaced by one that is disagreeable to them.

They are greeted by Zaphod, who already had stolen the Heart of Gold, while they were attempting to teleport. Zaphod turns out to be Ford's brother and the former President of the Galaxy, who is now on the run after stealing the ship and destroying all the evidence against himself so that he can recover the secret of Life, the Universe, and Everything. However, little does he know that the answer he is seeking is not what he expects.

As they all embark on a journey to an enigmatic planet called Magrathea, where they hope to find the answer they seek and Arthur's true love, the situation in space starts to become perilous for them. They soon run into the police spaceship who are after them because of their part in the Heart of Gold's theft. As they dodge the patrol, the crew starts to get to know each other better, and a deep friendship is forged. However, this may not be enough to save them all from the dangers that lay ahead when they land on Magrathea.

The first episode of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy sets the stage for the show's overall tone of witty humor and absurdity. The characters are quirky, charming, and eccentric, with their stories and personalities blending together seamlessly to create a unique and highly entertaining universe. If you're a fan of the sci-fi genre, this show is definitely one that you shouldn't miss!