According to me:
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I like it when we meet both the MC and the LI in the first episode itself - they don’t have to necessarily have an interaction, but I like it when I can get a glimpse into their lives.
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The first episode is supposed to be the pilot where the characters and their lives are introduced. Many make the mistake of “telling” and not “showing”. If it’s said that the MC’s life hasn’t been easy - show glimpses of some difficult moments.
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Readers have nothing to lose while reading the first episode because it’s pass-free but writers lose out on a bunch of reads if the reader chooses to exit halfway. Things like bad grammar and spelling, bad direction and overall bad reader experience are a turn-off in stories. So, all the above things should be good, if not accurate. A proofreader or an experienced writer can be of help in this section.
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Lastly, I like stories that get to the point. No authors trying to make the reader laugh in the beginning by making the MC and the author’s character fight. Most of the times, it causes me to stop reading or lose interest.
These are just my opinions and what I think of when I’m reading the first episode of any story!